Laura-The-Explorer

Ecologist and conservationist | Mum | Wanderer in the great outdoors | Postdoc | Biodiversity | Kea and alpine ecology are my true passion.

[Dr Adam Forbes @adamsforbes]

If you are interested in the future of Aotearoa's native forests and some of the most pressing issues they face, you will enjoy looking through this report and you should consider joining the upcoming webinar to hear more and discuss these issues further. https://t.co/AlrYS9bCmL

[Laura-The-Explorer @LauraMYoung80]

@TimCurran8 @john_m_dwyer @jmrbrock Ooh how cool!! I notice quite a few Lincolnites into kea this year. One did his internship helping us with some Kea Database analysis and one doing her MSc and I’m even helping supervise her! I’ll get them hooked on plants through kea though - don’t you worry! 😆

[Laura-The-Explorer @LauraMYoung80]

Latest #kea blog post! Verbose but I feel like there’s good stuff to say on the topic at the mo, since most of what we’ve been in the news for lately is just bad news (lead poisoning,sheep strike)! Enjoy & hearty thanks to YOU if you’ve contributed 💚🦜https://t.co/1HhZGmVVSD

[Laura-The-Explorer @LauraMYoung80]

Two more Arthur’s Pass #kea have been chelated for lead poisoning at Sth Island Wildlife Hospital & just released back into the mountains after a month of treatment. Most are seen alive & well months-years after! If you spot Wozza & Cam the kea, report to https://t.co/SlhEUjoQ8v

[Laura-The-Explorer @LauraMYoung80]

@RobSuisted @AlisonBallance @matteastnz @RNZScience @georgemoonnz I thought we blamed them all - they all contribute and in varying degrees of severity in different areas.

[Laura-The-Explorer @LauraMYoung80]

On top of this, four more kea have died in Arthur’s pass village since (3 by vehicle and 1 looks like predation). Brilliant job by @AlisonBallance @RNZScience conveying what it is we’re trying to achieve. Thanks as always too @georgemoonnz

[Our Changing World @RNZScience]

Hot on the heels of the global biodiversity assessment, here is a story about a NZ endemic bird species struggling with habitat loss, predation & the dangers of modern life (road accidents & lead poisoning, for example)

https://t.co/IPkJM3v3zm

@LauraMYoung80 @radionz

[Laura-The-Explorer @LauraMYoung80]

@RobSuisted @AlisonBallance @matteastnz @RNZScience @georgemoonnz All the above are to blame for lead poisoning in kea and we are trying to resolve it in every way possible. There’s no one or the other here.

[Laura-The-Explorer @LauraMYoung80]

@RobSuisted @AlisonBallance @RNZScience @georgemoonnz Hence this citsci sightings project - we’re trying to get a handle on kea numbers and population change over time. Everyone says the same thing, numbers have plummeted within the past ten years or so. (And we are just volunteers in this!)

[Laura-The-Explorer @LauraMYoung80]

@RobSuisted @AlisonBallance @RNZScience @georgemoonnz Appreciate your message Rob, we don’t deny lead shot being a major lead source. This interview mainly about issues in places like AP village really. Lobby DOC too,they could be doing way more for kea! Probably we’re taking a lot more notice of every issue now since numbers so low

[Laura-The-Explorer @LauraMYoung80]

Oh bless @kimi_collins !

[Laura-The-Explorer @LauraMYoung80]

Amazing timing! Out on field work today with my 3 yr old conservationist girl who declared “I love this” 💚 #mustvedonesomethingright #mumsinecology #womeninscience

[Laura-The-Explorer @LauraMYoung80]

#summerfieldworknz #kea #mountainlife #conservation

[Laura-The-Explorer @LauraMYoung80]

@mc_stanley1 Ooh you used our kea database on your travels!! You rock 💚

[Laura-The-Explorer @LauraMYoung80]

This is well worth reading.
Great job @alexeidrummond

[Alexei Drummond @alexeidrummond]

After reading your latest article in the NZ Herald I had to go on a massive rant @HDPA :)

https://t.co/el2NrMMQSr

[Laura-The-Explorer @LauraMYoung80]

@DrCuriosity @edmuzik Awesome work! However, I'm verifying sightings now & going with Ken Joe https://t.co/c88ZEnNRYH White J on Pink. He currently rules the roost at Candys Bend. Also in this pic his big long upper bill (= male) c.f. Chief Justice (similar band White L/Pink, but female) @georgemoonnz

[Laura-The-Explorer @LauraMYoung80]

@TimCurran8 @nzecology @adzebill @SiobhanLeachman @DrSJNZ I bet DK would love to help with some thing like this - a chance to mash those spreadsheets for some history and summaries

[Laura-The-Explorer @LauraMYoung80]

Latest blog post on https://t.co/98sihdwpQx - https://t.co/kHjv6OYT9V @georgemoonnz

[Laura-The-Explorer @LauraMYoung80]

Yay us!! @georgemoonnz