Welcome to the April/May issue of our newsletter - there really is something for everyone! No Images? Click here Festival of Nature 2017Celebrate Dunedin's beautiful coastline, night skies and incredible wildlife with a series of wonderfully wild events from Friday 21 to Tuesday 25 April. A variety of activities have been planned to cater for all ages and budgets. From flying a kite, walks and talks, train trip, open days, displays, conservation events and getting up close to wildlife. Festival deals will be offered by local nature tours and attractions. Check out what the festival is all about
NoticesWriting CompetitionThe New Zealand sea lion is a beautiful but endangered creature. Take us in to the world of our native sea lion with a piece of writing: fiction or non-fiction. 500 words max. Wild prizes for the winners of each category. Age groups: 10-13 years, 14-17 years and adult 18+. Botanical Society of Otago Photographic Competition 2017Love taking photos of nature? Why not enter this years Botanical Society Photographic Competition!! Entries close Monday, 1 May 2017 This year the categories are: Plant portrait More information about the competition
Clutha District Council Biodiversity FundFunds activities that protect or enhance biodiversity in the Clutha District. For more information see the Biodiversity Funding Policy and download an application form or phone 03 419 0200.
Dunedin’s Big Green Challenge 2017Sustainable Dunedin City are on the lookout for exciting projects and creative initiatives that will strengthen Dunedin’s community resilience and foster stronger sustainability principles. These grants are available to implement projects within the DCC boundaries of Waikouaiti in the north, to Brighton in the south, and to Middlemarch in the west. Applications are now open and will close on 30 April 2017. See the Sustainable Dunedin website for more information. Dunedin Biodiversity FundThe April 2017 Funding Round is now open for applications. The purpose of the fund is to maintain a network of viable habitats and ecosystems in Dunedin. The maximum grant is $5,000 per project. Each application will be assessed on its merits on a case-by-case basis. Applications close 5pm on Sunday April 30 2017. More details and application forms on the DCC website or phone 477 4000. Events Botanical Society of OtagoField trip to Mt BengerSaturday, 8 April 2017 Meet at the Botany Department car park at 8:00 am. The Himalaya: History of a habitatWednesday, 12 April 2017, 5:20pm Elizabeth Whitcombe is a physician, historian and a skilled, knowledgeable gardener, who has travelled widely in India and has a lifelong interest in the Himalaya and its flora. This talk will outline the geomorphological history and climate of the region and how these factors influence the flora along the east-west axis of the Himalayan mountain chain. Benham Seminar Room, Rm. 215, 2nd floor, 346 Great King Street. For further information, contact Robyn Bridges, 03 472 7330. AGM and Photography SkillsWednesday, 10 May 2017, 5:20 PM Learn what makes a good photograph and how to improve your photographic skills from our panel of expert judges. Benham Seminar Room, Rm. 215, 2nd floor, 346 Great King Street. For further information, contact Robyn Bridges, 472 7330. The Inaugural Orokonui ChallengeSaturday, 22 April 2017 7.30am Earth DayA beautiful 18.5km run that includes the Ecosanctuary forest, Doctor’s Point beach and the McKessar track. For walkers there is a scenic 11km walk through the Ecosanctuary and around Orokonui Estuary. Get Your Bird Nerd On With Birds NZSinclair Wetland Autumn Bird Survey Saturday, 8 April Head along to Sinclair Wetland to help the Bird NZ team carry out the Autumn Bird Survey. You will be teamed up with experienced counters to count waterbirds (spotting scopes provided), survey forest birds on the islands, and count fernbird using call playback. Carpool leaving Dunedin 9.00am. Backup Sunday April 9th. To join the survey teams and for information contact Mary Thompson Guided Bird Watch at Tomahawk Lagoon Sunday, 23 April 2017, 10am - 12 noon Don't miss your chance to attend a free-guided bird watching session at Tomahawk Lagoon during as part of the Wild Dunedin Festival Meet by the large Tomahawk Lagoon just after the bridge on Tomahawk Road. For more information see the Birds NZ website
Otago Museum Wildlife Photography CompetitionUntil Sunday, 23 July |