DOC Sounds of Science Podcast
A behind the scenes look at how the Department of Conservation cares for New Zealand’s unique native species and natural environment.
Episodes
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
#21 Banding banter
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
Ecologist Michelle Bradshaw discusses what we can learn from the data we get from banded birds and shares some cautionary tales about on the fly identification. Michelle is in charge of the National Banding Scheme in Aotearoa and brings hands-on banding experience from bird colonies around the world. If you’re a bird nerd, Michelle has the kind of work stories that’ll make you green with envy.
For the shownotes and transcript visit www.doc.govt.nz/podcast
Wednesday Aug 31, 2022
DOC Sounds of Science bonus episode, the trailer
Wednesday Aug 31, 2022
Wednesday Aug 31, 2022
The DOC Sounds of Science podcast is a behind-scenes-look at conservation in Aotearoa New Zealand. Every episode we chat with one of our experts about their greatest achievements and most interesting days on the job.
Watch our trailer animation! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84_QK5NYemU
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
#20 Conservation and culture
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Aroha Gilling is an academic specialising in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and an experienced Treaty Ranger. She’s passionate about education, and this episode contains a wealth of expertise about nature and being a good Treaty Partner. Aroha is also a superfan of all creatures great and small in the Rangitahi Molesworth Recreation Reserve. It’s her happy place.
For the full shownotes and transcript go to www.doc.govt.nz/podcast
Monday Aug 01, 2022
#19: Wildlife warrior
Monday Aug 01, 2022
Monday Aug 01, 2022
Avi has worked with big cats, endangered turtles, and renegade scamps like skunks and racoons. Now he’s here in Aotearoa New Zealand making sure wildlife goods don’t illegally cross the borders.
The most important thing he wants you to know is that before you shop or travel, please check if your item needs a wildlife permit.
Note: We had some sound difficulties with this recording. We’re sorry and have resolved this for future episodes. Avi’s stories are still top notch, and we hope you enjoy them.
For shownotes visit www.doc.govt.nz/podcast
Monday Jun 27, 2022
#18 Cryptic critters
Monday Jun 27, 2022
Monday Jun 27, 2022
Stories about velvet worms, tiny frogs, crooning bats and more from ecologist Jess Scrimgeour. Jess knows that The Fab Five—in this case we mean kākāpō, kiwi, whio, takahē, and kererū—are easy to love, but she wants to light your spark for the hard to see, hard to hear, or hard to find critters too: like pekapeka/bats, wētā, pepeketua/frogs, and even the peripatus/velvet worm which fires a sticky substance when it feels threatened. How iconic. Shownotes and transcript at www.doc.govt.nz/podcast
Thursday Mar 10, 2022
#17 Shark talk
Thursday Mar 10, 2022
Thursday Mar 10, 2022
Renowned shark expert Clinton Duffy shares niche knowledge and on-the-job stories. Sharks have a little bit of a PR problem. They’re fascinating, intelligent creatures, and most of them mind their own business. But they are predators, and their reputation has become a bit mythical. In this episode, we break it down.
We talk about how we monitor shark species in an area as complex and vast as the ocean, their reproduction methods which are so incredible it could have come from a sci-fi writer’s brain, and a shark species that walks on land. Not once have we told a lie.
Clinton Duffy is a Technical Advisor, Marine Species, and he works at the Department of Conservation in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Transcript and shownotes: www.doc.govt.nz/podcast
Tuesday Nov 30, 2021
#16 Learning on the Job
Tuesday Nov 30, 2021
Tuesday Nov 30, 2021
There aren’t many jobs with us that Jack hasn’t turned his hand to. Remote island ranger, species monitor, trapper, hunter, ranger trainer, systems designer, operations manager—you name it, Jack has probably done it. He’s deeply passionate about conservation and has accumulated a lot of great stories.
In this episode Jack shares stories about powelliphanta, kōkako, tūturuatu, Canterbury mudfish, Mana Island flax weevil, alseuosmia the mimic plant, akeake the giant daisy, ongaonga the serious stinging nettle; as well as diesel grass, rockhopper penguins, sea lions, kiwi, and parea/Chatham Island pigeon. It’s a very full 39 minutes.
Show notes available at www.doc.govt.nz/podcast
Monday Nov 01, 2021
#15 The rare kākāriki karaka
Monday Nov 01, 2021
Monday Nov 01, 2021
Did you know that Aotearoa’s rarest parakeet is a small, forest-dwelling bird, and there are only about 360 estimated to be left in the wild? The kākāriki karaka, or orange-fronted parakeet are in serious trouble. Listen and learn about the work to monitor and track this species, control predators in critical areas, and boost numbers with captive breeding.
Show notes available at www.doc.govt.nz/podcast
Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
Episode 14: Predator Free and me (part two)
Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
This is the much awaited second part of Brent Beaven’s Predator Free interview. In this episode, we’re talking about upcoming innovations as well as current predator control tools, and yes that includes 1080. This episode is a big swing and we hope it gives you some important context. Show notes available at www.doc.govt.nz/podcast
Friday Apr 30, 2021
Episode 13: Predator Free and me (part one)
Friday Apr 30, 2021
Friday Apr 30, 2021
Brent Beaven tells us everything we need to know about New Zealand's goal to be Predator Free by 2050. How will we? What is this? Is it even possible? Brent has the answers. In fact he has so many, we’ve split his interview in two.
Brent is an expert on predator control and has decades of hands-on field experience. He's herded sea lions, been hounded by kiwi, and caught mohua in his socks. In the world of threatened species conservation, you name it and Brent has done it. Listen and learn. Show notes available at www.doc.govt.nz/podcast
Every episode is a new adventure
The Department of Conservation is charged with caring for Aotearoa New Zealand's natural and historic heritage. This means species, places and ecosystems: all things nature. Every episode, a new expert sits down with our host Erica Wilkinson and we go behind-the-scenes on their work. We've been regaled with so many good work stories. Catching mohua in socks, getting chased by sharks, building a helmet to capture kākāpō sperm (yes, really) our experts have done it all and have the yarns to prove it. This show is produced and directed by Jayne Ramage, edited by Lucy Holyoake, with graphics by Belle Gwilliam.