Picton Dawn Chorus

In 1770 Captain Cook’s botanist John Banks recorded in his diary the dawn chorus that would awaken him each morning in the Queen Charlotte Sound was the most melodious wild music he had ever heard. If you have ever been fortunate to wake up deep in the sounds you can appreciate the beauty of our native birdsong echoing through the bush. Now imagine never hearing it again. After noticing a significant reduction in the birdsong around Picton and Waikawa two like minded residents decided to take action. In six short years we have grown exponentially and many others have joined the efforts of Picton Dawn Chorus whose mission is : Restoring our native birdlife together. We are a volunteer led registered charity working tirelessly to reduce the amount of introduced predators in a 4,815 ha area surrounding Picton and Waikawa. Dozens of native bird species are fighting a desperate battle for survival against these predators. We have already lost more than 40 bird species! For us doing nothing is not an option. Volunteers are always welcome as are donations. Please visit our website to find out more. www.pictondawnchorus.nz