Welcome to the National Pollination Survey

Why conduct the survey

The purpose of the National Pollination Survey is to measure the health of bird-plant mutualisms throughout New Zealand, using the pollination service for tree fuchsia as an indicator. In future years we will resurvey sites and see if the pollination service has changed. This is part of ongoing research (jointly run by Landcare Research, Department of Conservation and University of Canterbury) estimating the health and wellbeing of our native ecosystems by monitoring plant-bird interactions.

In New Zealand birds (especially tui, bellbirds and silvereyes) are important flower pollinators for a number of native plants. Decline in bird species and densities could be limiting plant regeneration. Recording pollination on fuchsia will let us measure whether this is a widespread problem.

Key aim of the survey

The key aim of the survey is to provide a measure of the level of pollination services provided by birds, and to track these over time using tree fuchsia as an indicator species.

Here we provide you with the information you will need to complete the National Pollination Survey.