Mark Ayre

A keen birdwatcher for most of his life, Mark began working as a volunteer warden as a teenager at Titchfeild Haven Bird reserve. Originally from the UK Mark emigrated to New Zealand 38 years ago. Having lived in Central Otago for over 20 years, Mark now live by the Motueka coast, Nelson.

Mark has been very active in the New Zealand Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society and was recently a local branch chairperson. He is particularly involved in the conservation management of the endangered Mohua (Yellowhead), managing and maintaining trapping and monitoring programmes in the Haast region and the Makarora Valley. Mark is also involved in bird surveys and bird counts for the Department of Conservation and other private groups.

Mark has led birding trips for Nature Quest since 2002 and enjoys showing visitors the unique birds and the amazing land formations of New Zealand.