Today I was meant to jump on a ship and head north to do some research on the Kermadec islands. But all of my fieldwork for the rest of the season has been cancelled. Instead I’m watching birds outside the window of my bedroom, and processing photos that I haven’t got around to looking at for two years! Stay home, stay safe Aotearoa. We’re doing this for all of us, so that we can fight this virus off without too high a cost. Grey ternlet, Meyer islands 2018 #birdsofisolation #birdventurenz #nz_birds #birdsofnewzealand #aoteatoa #stayhomestaysafe #kermadecislands #seabirdscience #seabird #fieldbiology #fieldbiologist #nuts_about_birds #your_best_birds #birds_adored #birds_captures #bird_brilliance #birdstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/B-ShXHXJ5DZ/?igshid=b62fygxosrhf

Our juniors had the pleasure of a presentation by Scott Smyers, senior scientist at Oxbow Associates, Inc. His slide presentation covered topics related to the working life of a professional biologist including what should be in one's field pack and how to take proper notes in one's field notebook. Thank you so much Scott! #bristolaggienrm #scientists #working #fieldbiologist #biologist #pack #notes #notebook #guestspeaker #realword #thankyou #takesavillage #learning #education (at Bristol County Agricultural High) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtR_VF4nyf5/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qwwimase9q2u

After spending months watching these gentle giants from afar, it was such a treat to see one up close! ⠀ .⠀ It’s important not to become emotionally attached to the subjects you are studying (even the ADORABLE babies!) to prevent bias. This giraffe was from another reserve and not part of my research 🦒 ⠀ .⠀ Stay tuned for details on my next study on wildlife behavior! Hint: It does not take place in Africa or the US 😁 . .⠀ .⠀ #sondela #sondelanaturereserve #belabela #travelsouthafrica #visitsouthafrica #animalbehavior #ecology #biology #giraffeconservation #dreamsdocometrue #upcloseandpersonal #natureblogger #adventureblogger #animaladdict #africanwildlife #girlswhosafari #girlswhotravelsolo #dreamdestinations #wildlifedestinations #dametraveler #passionpassport #fieldbiologist #africansafari #travelmore #adventurousstorytellers (at Sondela Nature Reserve & Spa) https://www.instagram.com/p/CD3lGdUAQOY/?igshid=ggc9wi0g87oc

When it's finally spring so you can bae go shopping for new field gear 😄👍✔️❤️ #fieldbiologist #biology #ecology #pollination #bees #entomology #fisheries #fish #toronto #conservation #trent #york #university http://ift.tt/2nnRyz4

New Zealand storm petrels are such enigmatic birds. Thought extinct for over 100 years. Their colonies (as far as we know) confines to one island. We see them dancing around the Hauraki Gulf through most of the year, but really we have no idea what they’re doing, where they’re going. So much of their life is still a mystery, which is exciting. We have our work cut out for us in studying them, but I love a challenge! #birdventurenz #thebrillianceofbirds #your_best_birds #seabirds #wanderwonder #seabirdbiology #ornithology #fieldworkphotos #petrelhead #aotearoa #wildnz #newzealand #haurakigulf #nikonnz #nuts_about_birds #bird_lovers_daily #eye_spy_birds #fieldbiologist #conservationphotography #birdsofaotearoa #nzbirds https://www.instagram.com/p/CALvUMaJ_L7/?igshid=1e3f5m99dyodu

I’m always on the lookout for the tiny details of the landscapes I’m in, and I absolutely love finding our native orchids! I think this is tutukiwi (Pterostylis banksii), one of our many greenhood orchid species. #fieldbiology #fieldbiologist #orchid #orchidsofinstagram #greenhood #nzflora #botany #smallthings #aotearoa #wildnz #macrophotography #macro_brilliance #macro_captures_ #newzealand #islandlife #olympustg5 https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Xr3dlpWup/?igshid=17hztwmv0hmbn

With the 6th World Seabird Twitter Conference on, I couldn't not post a seabird today! I'm really proud to be part of an international community of seabirders: researchers and conservationists who communicate their work in such an accessible way! Check out my story for my own presentation on the importance of storytelling in our field, and enjoy this young Southern Royal Albatross from wild Campbell Island.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ #birdventurenz #seabirdscience #albatross #subantarctic #scicomm #conservationphotography #conservationphotographer #wildernessculture #seabirds #birdventure #subantarcticnz #aotearoa #womeninSTEM #fieldbiologist #fieldbiology #biologistlife #wanderwonder #nzbirds #birdsofaotearoa #nikonnz #your_best_birds #birds_adored #thebrillianceofbirds #bird_brilliance #nzfinds #wildnz #travelnz #nuts_about_birds #bird_lovers_daily #expeditionguides https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ySel9JkFb/?igshid=vbrje1b3xubw

I want to diversify my feed a bit, and show some of the other photos I take. It's not all birds! Okay, it's mostly birds. But the places they inhabit are pretty stunning as well.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ #birdventurenz #conservationphotography #conservationphotographer @nikonnz #nikond500 #nikon #aotearoa #subantarctic #nature_brilliance #eathcaptures #wilderness #explore #adventure #fieldbiology #fieldbiologist #campbellisland #albatross #islandlife #thebrillianceofbirds #fieldlife https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Fm0d7pZrm/?igshid=51sbaa60or51

Dent island, the sharp toothed island refuge of Campbell island teal while rats ravaged the main island. Now the flightless teal are thriving thanks to the rat eradication, and aren’t confined to this rugged offshore rock. It’s amazing to think they clung to existence there, just too far away for rats to swim out to them. #birdventurenz #conservationphotography #conservationphotographer @nikonnz #nikond500 #nikon #aotearoa #subantarctic #nature_brilliance #eathcaptures #wilderness #explore #adventure #fieldbiology #fieldbiologist #islandlife #moody #travelgram #aotearoa #wildnz #islandvibes https://www.instagram.com/p/B9w5PCPJMYj/?igshid=1mskdw0sg4j3e

That golden eye...⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Campbell albatross, 2020⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ #birdventurenz #conservationphotography #conservationphotographer @nikonnz #nikond500 #nikon #aotearoa #subantarctic #nature_brilliance #eathcaptures #wilderness #explore #adventure #fieldbiology #fieldbiologist #albatross #seabird #seabirdstory #nuts_about_birds #raw_birds #birdstagram #bb_of_ig #bird_lovers_daily #eye_spy_birds #nz_birds #ocean https://www.instagram.com/p/B-IL4nIp1-W/?igshid=1ewe794kaf1zm

It’s not just birds that inhabit our predator free islands, there’s also an abundance of native reptiles like this Duvaucel’s gecko! They’re the largest gecko species in Aotearoa, but they’re still extremely vulnerable to being eaten by invasive mammals... #herpetology #herping #gecko #geckosofinstagram #lizardsofinstagram #reptilesofinstagram #reptilelover #nocturnal #duvaucelsgecko #poorknightsislands #fieldbiology #fieldbiologist #seabirdscience #birdventurenz #naturephotography #naturelovers #intheforest #reptilephotography #nz #aotearoa #nznative #wanderwonder #wildlifeonearth #nzwildlife (at Poor Knights Islands) https://www.instagram.com/p/B56PVHpJ4od/?igshid=tsxj5nxthl3b

I love being at sea in the evening, watching the sun slip away behind a distant horizon, and being surrounded by skimming seabirds as the day fades. On the way to the Kermadec islands, Black-winged petrels were our constant companions, whistling calls to one another as they circled the ship. #birdventurenz #nuts_about_birds #seabird #fieldbiologist #fieldbiology #seabirdscience #kermadec #sunset #petrelhead #birdsofnewzealand #nz_birds #birds_adored #bird_brilliance #eye_spy_birds #birdsonearth #aotearoa #ocean #expedition #nikonnz https://www.instagram.com/p/B-VF6kaJzhM/?igshid=15f09ya22ejq5

Nightlife on predator free islands can be extremely reptile-y! Our native skinks and geckos don’t do well with mammals around, but the Poor Knights islands are a safe home for them - like this chunky Duvaucel’s gecko. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ #conservationphotography #conservationphotographer @nikonnz #nikond500 #nikon #aotearoa #nature_brilliance #eathcaptures #wilderness #explore #adventure #fieldbiology #fieldbiologist #herping #gecko #reptiles #reptilesofinstagram #geckogram #nznative #wildnz #nocturnal #nighshift #whatwedointheshadows #wildislands #islandlife #biologistlife https://www.instagram.com/p/B9pPqrWpPcC/?igshid=1gk5qndmniv0o

2019 Highlights: Another year working with the best birds - seabirds! I'm one year in to my 3-year PhD project on shearwaters and prions, and I'm also working on a number of projects for the Northern New Zealand Seabird Trust, which means lots of time in the field. The best part of this year was installing some nest boxes that were immediately taken up by pakahā - fluttering shearwaters. This little baby is the first one to hatch and grow in one of these nice new nest boxes! Does that make me a bird mum? It totally does. Part of my research is checking on these chicks to see how healthy and fat they are before they fledge - this little one is doing very well, which is very encouraging. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ All my bird handling is done with the appropriate Wildlife Act authorities and permits for working with wild animals, as well as being cleared by research ethics approval. Please never open nest-boxes or handle birds (or any other critters!) if you don't have the permits to do so - disturbing wildlife is illegal, and our native species have a tough enough time without being disturbed by humans. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ #birdventurenz #thebrillianceofbirds #womeninstem #fieldbiologist #your_best_birds #birds_adored #birds_brilliance #conservationphotography #nzbirds #birdventure #conservationphotographer #biologist #docgovtnz @docgovtnz @forestandbird #wildnz #birdstagram #birdsofinstagram #eye_spy_birds #nuts_about_birds #aotearoa #explorenz #seabird #scientist #seabirdscience #newzealand #discoverearth #wanderwonder ⁠#petrelhead #shearwater #fieldbiology #bird_lovers_daily https://www.instagram.com/p/B6tTz0EpLw8/?igshid=10i1ff0sfedcn

It's starting to feel like summer, with clear blue days and sunshine! I can't wait for long days out in the field or on the water! Antipodean albatross | Kaikōura, 2018 #birdventurenz #seabird #albatross #seabirdscience #fieldbiologist #eye_spy_birds #nzbird #reflection #ocean #nikonnz #nuts_about_birds #wildocean #newzealand #aotearoa @albatrossencounterkaikoura @nikonnz #wanderer #explorenz #birdventure #birdphotography #seabirdstory #birdoftheyear #wanderwonder https://www.instagram.com/p/B2p66fSp3x5/?igshid=nm6rkxzz6f1n

I can’t wait to start the first season of my PhD fieldwork with these gorgeous birds - titi wainui, fairy prions. They’re one of three species that I will be working with over the next few years to understand how climate change will impact some of our northern Aotearoa New Zealand seabirds. ⠀ ⠀ titi wainui fairy prion | Tawhiti Rahi, 2018⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #birdventurenz #raw_birds #scicomm #womeninstem #fieldbiologist #seabirdscience #explorenz #eye_spy_birds #bird_lovers_daily #birdstagram #your_best_birds #birdsadored #birds_brilliance #nzbirds #fujix100s #climatechange #threatenedspecies @docgovtnz @forestandbird @fujifilmxseriesnz #conservationphotography #conservationphotographer #lovenature #seachange https://www.instagram.com/p/B2FXAkcp0HT/?igshid=4gvfic5o3yug