He has been involved with the Ornithological Society for New Zealand (Birds NZ) since 2001, particularly with the New Zealand Bird Atlas, a five-year project to survey every 10 x 10km square in the country, every season.
At the Birds NZ annual meeting in Nelson over King’s Birthday Weekend he was the only South Islander among five contributors to received a meritorious service award for his work with the society and the bird atlas.
"The idea was for someone who knew what they were looking at to visit each square at least once each season from June 2019 to May 2024 and record what birds were there," Mr Schofield said.
"I’ve been to about two-thirds of them and we’ve got a few dozen Otago members, but birders from anywhere can contribute."
Since 2008, Birds NZ has been using Cornell University’s eBird app to process data from the surveys.
"The app gives you a list of birds you’re likely to see in an area.
"Balclutha is on the boundary of two squares so that’s where people see me on my bike counting and listening out for whatever birds are there, including common species like sparrows and blackbirds.
"Every time you see or hear a bird or group of birds you put them in and keep adding to count relative abundance for each species.
"Some species are increasing, others are decreasing and from that various bodies like ORC can include it in decision-making about land use and environment."
Mr Schofield is not stopping just because the atlas is done. He will still moderating lists submitted to eBird for the Otago region and continuing surveying birdlife wherever he would be in the future.
"When I was about 10, a neighbour bought us a board game about bird conservation.
"I had a friend at school near Liverpool who was into birds.
"That got me started and I’ve been doing it ever since."
