Current Projects
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Ray's Background in a GlimpseMy early research was on threatened waders of mountain riverbeds including Wrybill, Double-banded Plover (Banded Dotterel) and Black Stilt in New Zealand, Ibisbill in the Himalaya and Diademed Sandpiper-Plover in the Andes. Ecological studies of Stilts formed the basis of my PhD at Otago University, New Zealand (1983) and the Recurvirostridae chapter for Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 3 (1996). My research has since expanded to include threats and threat management for seabirds and forest birds in New Zealand (as Conservancy Advisory Scientist for Department of Conservation 1990-2001) and as a consultant in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands (since 2001) and Australia (since 2008). Island restoration in the Pacific has included feasibility studies and outcome monitoring for invasive species work. I have maintained a high citizen science link with Community Groups in New Zealand and Australia by helping to develop restoration plans and outcome monitoring. Current collaborative projects are in the Solomon Islands (threatened fauna of Rennell and Santa Cruz Islands with Birdlife Pacific and CEPF), Kiribati (biosecurity, invasive species management and bird monitoring with Pacific Biosecurity, Derek Brown and others), French Polynesia (SOP Manu and Birdlife Pacific), and northern Australia (bird and habitat projects with e.g. BirdLife Australia).
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