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See also the publications pages for the contact details of authors of recent scientific papers dealing with the ecology and conservation of pigeons.

Peter Dostine
Biodiversity Conservation, Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, Australian National University (ANU). PO Box 496. Palmerston NT 0831
Email: peter.dostine "at" nt.gov.au

Peter Dostine, a PhD student from the Australian National University (ANU), with the support of the Australian Research Council and the Northern Territory Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment, will lead a three year research project that will examine the ecology and management requirements of the Flock Bronzewing Phaps histrionica. He will collect data on their distribution, diet, habitat requirements, and movement patterns in relation to variation in resource availability that will serve to derive conservation measures for this and other species with similar dispersal ecologies.

See also: Call to help track a nomadic wanderer in Savanna Links Issue 31, 2005.

Earthwatch (Australia)
126 Bank Street, South Melbourne, VIC 3205 Australia.
Email: earth "at" earthwatch.org or david.westcott "at" csiro.au

Dr. David Westcott (a research scientist with CSIRO - Sustainable Ecosystems, Tropical Forest Research Centre, and the Rainforest Cooperative Research Center) is running a project tracking the habits of seed-dispersing animals to predict the ecological impact of species loss. In the ancient, tropical rainforests of North Queensland David and his team study the feeding ecology and seed dispersal among a community of frugivores that includes Fruit-doves (Ptilinopus spp. - including the Wompoo Fruit-Dove P. magnificus), Imperial Pigeons (Ducula spp.) and Cuckoo-doves (Macropygia spp) (more information (3.7MB)).

New Zealand

Department of Conservation (New Zealand)
Head Office: PO Box 10420. Wellington. New Zealand
Email: see web site

The Department of Conservation is the New Zealand government organisation charged with conserving the natural and historic heritage of New Zealand on behalf of and for the benefit of present and future New Zealanders.

The Department of Conservation is involved in educating the public about the plight of the native New Zealand Pigeon Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae and encouraging local initiatives to save it. In Northland, the Department has been working with local people in an attempt to curb illegal poaching of the kukupa by educating young Maori about the effect this activity is having on the birds' survival rate. They have formulated a recovery plan for the Chatham Island Pigeon (Parea) H.n. chathamensis, a recognised subspecies of the New Zealand Pigeon.

See also the Ex Situ work of the New Zealand Conservation Management Group.

The Kereru Awhina (Care) Project
17 Lauderdale Road, Birkdale, North Shore City
Auckland, New Zealand
Email: info "at" kereru.org.nz

A small community group determined to reverse the population declines in the Kereru or New Zealand Pigeon Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae. In 2003 they established The Kereru Awhina (Care) Project with the aim of enriching the pigeon’s food supply and habitat by encouraging the planting of fruiting native trees. In addition they have also developed education programmes on Kereru for local schools and community groups.

The Kererü Discovery Project
Hokimate Harwood
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, P.O. Box 467, Wellington, New Zealand.
Email: hokimate "at" tepapa.govt.nz

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