Ranger and Biodiversity Project lead Tim Raemaekers on handling rare species, becoming a kiwi ranger, and the incredible things he’s seen robin/toutouwai, kākāpō and kiwi get up to.

Tim is an on-the-ground expert, whose knowledge of predator control in Fiordland is second to none. He stars in the Fiordland Kiwi Diaries, a YouTube mini-series following DOC rangers in Fiordland as they work to save the iconic tokoeka kiwi.

Tim had so many cool stories, we’ve split his interview into two episodes. Part 2 coming soon. Subscribe so you get it when it lands.

• The audio at the beginning is a tokoeka kiwi
• The music used is Let’s Get Down to Business by Cast of Characters

Content warning: mention of blood (minor) at 09m:44s.

Ranger Chris Dodd (Doddy) on what it’s like to track and monitor rare kiwi birds in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Doddy is a passionate kiwi conservationist who started his career working with seabirds on the Shetland Islands. He has years of expertise working with all kinds of kiwi.

He features in the Fiordland Kiwi Diaries, an upcoming YouTube mini-series following DOC rangers in Fiordland as they work to save the iconic tokoeka kiwi.

• The audio at the beginning is a tokoeka kiwi
• The music used is Let’s Get Down to Business by Cast of Characters

Marine biologist Laura Boren dives into her favourite topic, seals, and shares some on-the-job stories about this mischievous species.

Laura grew up in the landlocked state of Nebraska and is now one of the preeminent marine biologists in this island nation, so our first question was why? Second was how?

Laura was on the front lines saving marine species in the wake of the Rena oil spill, has recently been working to develop pup shelters, and is extremely passionate about responsible dog ownership in areas with marine wildlife. Plus, she has some top tips for hanging out with kekeno, seals. 

• The audio at the beginning is crashing waves
• The music used is 'Let’s Get Down to Business' by Cast of Characters.

Ranger Hana Harris explains how we can help protect kauri from the notorious pathogen threatening our forests.

Hana hails from the beautiful Northland region. In this episode she shares kōrero about her connection to native species and ecosystems through both her whakapapa and her role as a ranger. She covers the experience of discovering pekapeka/bat roosts, fighting to keep spaces pest-free, and of course, her work as kaitiaki kauri, teaching people about the magnificent kauri.

• The birdsong is a dawn chorus featuring tūī
• The music used is 'Let’s Get Down to Business' by Cast of Characters.

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 all around the world. If you’re a bird nerd, Michelle has the kind of work stories that’ll make you green with envy.

• The birdsong in this episode is the black-fronted tern
• The music used is 'Let’s Get Down to Business' by Cast of Characters.

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!

In this episode we’re talking about how our conservation past intersects with both our present and our future, and how our treaty commitments need to be at the heart of this.

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.

• The birdsong in this episode is a dawn chorus.
• The music used is 'Let’s Get Down to Business' by Cast of Characters.

For further reading, learn about our responsibility to give effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi under section 4 of the Conservation Act.

CITES is an international agreement regulating the import and export of endangered animals and plants. What’s this? And why is it important? CITES officer Avi Narula is going to tell you.

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. More info on our CITES page.

• The birdsong in this episode is a dawn chorus.
• The music used is 'Let’s Get Down to Business' by Cast of Characters.

Te reo Māori translation: Kia ora! Ko Erica Wilkinson tēnei. He kōnae ipurangi tēnei, e pā ana ki ngā Sounds of Science. (Hi! My name is Erica Wilkinson and this is a podcast about Sounds of Science).

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 the episode.

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. 

• The birdsong in this episode is a dawn chorus.
• The music used is 'Let’s Get Down to Business' by Cast of Characters.

Te reo Māori translation:

Kia ora! Ko Erica Wilkinson tēnei. He kōnae ipurangi tēnei, e pā ana ki ngā Sounds of Science. (Hi! My name is Erica Wilkinson and this is a podcast about Sounds of Science).

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 the more you know, the better prepared you are.

This episode has it all. Sharks that walk on land (we’re not making this up), a run through of shark reproduction which is so amazing and varied it could have come from a sci-fi writer’s brain, and an update on our work to monitor shark species in an area as complex and vast as the ocean. All this, and Clinton shares some of his shark encounter stories with us. 

• The sound effect in this episode is waves crashing onshore  
• The music used is Let’s Get Down to Business by Cast of Characters