The Great Kereru Count: Last day to participate

  • 25/09/2016
Kereru play an important role in our forest ecological system (Getty)
Kereru play an important role in our forest ecological system (Getty)

People throughout the country are being encouraged to look to the skies and spot one of our native birds.

The Great Kereru Count wraps up on Sunday evening, and helps create a picture of where the native pigeon is and isn't found.

WWF head of conservation projects Michelle Frank says the kereru are important for forest regeneration.

"It's about find out more about our wonderful native pigeon, kereru," she says. "We want to find out where they're thriving and where they're not doing so well."

Anyone who wants to take part can lodge their sightings of kereru through an app or on their website.

With their large size and distinctive green and purple marking, the native wood pigeon isn't hard to miss.

Ms Frank wants as many people to take part in the Great Kereru Count.

"It's really hard to get those exact numbers for a species that's so widespread."

Kereru play an important role in our forest ecological system.

"They're one of the few species now that can eat the large berries of some of our native trees.

"They eat them, digest them, and then they spread those seeds around. So if we didn't have kereru, our forests would look quite different today."

The project wraps up at midnight.

Newshub.