Nigel Binks

I enjoy the natural world and taking walks in the dark searching spiders - for research of-course. Photography enables me to share what I find.

[Nigel Binks @spiderguynige]

https://t.co/l4lGCbHMhb an occasional blog series I've written featuring the development of a wetland I'm creating on my property.

[Department of Conservation @docgovtnz]

In the first blog of a new occasional series, Nigel Binks - Senior Biodiversity Ranger at DOC, reveals how his love for nature and travel inspired him to build a wetland zone in his backyard.

Read all about phase one of the project: https://t.co/JhE1F0bCtZ
📷: Nigel Binks.

[Department of Conservation @docgovtnz]

In the first blog of a new occasional series, Nigel Binks - Senior Biodiversity Ranger at DOC, reveals how his love for nature and travel inspired him to build a wetland zone in his backyard.

Read all about phase one of the project: https://t.co/JhE1F0bCtZ
📷: Nigel Binks.

[Nigel Binks @spiderguynige]

@NZClarke Did it look like the native forest species tattooed on my calf just before lockdown? I'm an arachnologist from the Waikato.

[Nigel Binks @spiderguynige]

If each flower represents a plum we'll all be gorging ourselves on my orchard fruit this season. https://t.co/6QZGh5CE05

[Nigel Binks @spiderguynige]

Dolomedes minor female. Spotted a good number on our driveway hedge while out last night for a walk with my dogs. https://t.co/HRh1GxjsYq

[Nigel Binks @spiderguynige]

Oftentimes the best way to experience the beauty of our forests is to hike a mountain, and on Monday we climbed 3 peaks of amazing Mt. Maungatautari. Challenging and incredibly rewarding! Highly recommended. @… https://t.co/42r7AgllCC

[Nigel Binks @spiderguynige]

A slow-mo action shot of me slamming my soil corer into the ground using amaul, to collect forest soil samples for arthropod extraction https://t.co/f6tSxBSDhO

[Nigel Binks @spiderguynige]

Example snaps of my recent adventures in the mighty Waikato https://t.co/exGXJ4rRio

[Nigel Binks @spiderguynige]

My gal Velma https://t.co/YsJ4V18KpI

[Nigel Binks @spiderguynige]

A couple of quick snaps from the Animal Behaviour field trip to Hamilton Zoo this past Saturday. Students were there to practice their observation skills before beginning their own wild observations as part of their… https://t.co/LfqlpIamDo

[Nigel Binks @spiderguynige]

I saved this rather large bird-dropping spider last night as I was tightening up the fence lines at home. The largest Celaenia sp. I've seen in person. They really are quite unusual. https://t.co/Tqj5gOENmR

[Nigel Binks @spiderguynige]

A couple of interesting specimens from my forest research sites. A brutal looking fly and a spring tail with a death mask on its head. https://t.co/xtUnubUFyd

[Nigel Binks @spiderguynige]

First time I've seen native giant mealybugs (Coelostomidia sp.). Seen in mature native forest in central North Island. https://t.co/OKUBFetkct

[Nigel Binks @spiderguynige]

#homelifehappyplace https://t.co/HGvykMsbja

[Nigel Binks @spiderguynige]

Today's creepy crawler, a large native centipede (8-10cm). https://t.co/WsivfDtGTm

[Nigel Binks @spiderguynige]

I love living in the Waikato and researching our little explored forest remnant biodiversity. It takes me to the coolest of locations! https://t.co/2VVXancZIp

[Nigel Binks @spiderguynige]

My emergence traps have arrived. This is what one looks like setup in my orchard. https://t.co/gsYwtPAj8F

[Nigel Binks @spiderguynige]

Inside a regenerating forest with no posts. The bird song is amazing

[Nigel Binks @spiderguynige]

Scoping out some potential sampling sites today. Cool huh!

[Nigel Binks @spiderguynige]

Does anyone know any landowners with forest remnants >5ha on their property, or with land adjacent to the mountainous DOC reserves surrounding the Hauraki basin? I'm looking for sampling sites for my biodiversity research in the Waikato. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.