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The youngest volunteer of a group that cares for wetland birds in Christchurch is calling on others to step up and help out.
Willow, 10, spends her Saturday mornings helping the Styx Purakaunu Living Laboratory Trust, and says it is a rewarding way to start her weekend.
She is one of about a dozen people who meet on the first Saturday of the month to record bird numbers and their species. Along with bird monitoring, volunteers carry out water quality monitoring on the Styx River catchment, a spring-fed ecosystem in Harewood, on a monthly basis.
The trust also organises regular forest restoration planting days in the area. The Styx River is home to paradise shelduck, New Zealand scaup, herons, cormorants, pukeko, and pied stilts among other species.
Willow has been volunteering for the group for four years with her parents.
She says it’s a great way to learn about the environment. "I enjoy being outside and looking at the birds.
"I also enjoy getting a quiz from Chris [another volunteer] on the tree names every time I go.
"I’ve learnt bird names and lots about them. I feel good about helping.”
She is the only child in the group, but the atmosphere is friendly and everyone is willing to share their knowledge about wildlife and native plants, she said.
Willow's mum Jess says her daughter has been interested in the environment and animals since she was a toddler.
"We took her along to Summer in the Styx [an annual public event organised by the trust] and she liked the idea of helping in some way.
"She has been back each year, taking part in all the activities available, collecting donations and planting trees - some are now taller than her.
"Even though she hates getting up early on a Saturday morning, once she gets to the bird monitoring, Willow enjoys watching and learning how the environment changes.
"She loves seeing how the birds and their babies grow and change, as well as finding new discoveries. She doesn't talk much but soaks up all the information that the other volunteers share with her.”
Jess said the group's members have gained a greater connection with the area through volunteering.
“We, as a family, see it as very important to give back to our community and bird monitoring, and the trust has allowed Willow to find her own way of doing this. The other volunteers have been amazing with her.”
National Volunteer Week began on Sunday. It celebrates the collective contribution of all volunteers in New Zealand through the theme, Te Hua o te Mahi Tahi - The benefit of working together.
Council biodiversity team leader Antony Shadbolt, who works closely with the trust, said the bird monitoring information collected by volunteers is used by the council and also given to the ebird New Zealand Bird Atlas.
The trust receives funding from the Papanui-Innes and Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood community boards. It has also secured Ministry for Primary Industries Matariki Tu Rakau funding (part of the One Billion Trees programme) to plant 900 native trees - mainly totara and kanuka - this season and another 1900 next year.
Children from Marshland School, Ouruhia School and volunteers from Conservation Volunteers NZ and corporate groups often help out with the planting off Marshland Rd.