It's time to count your pigeons... wood pigeons that is.

The Great Kereru Count will run later this month, to check up on the health of kereru.

The native pigeon is known as the gardener of the sky because it plays an essential role that no other bird can, by dispersing the seeds of local trees such as Tawa, Taraire and Matai.

Conservationists say without the Kereru, New Zealand native forests would find it hard to regenerate.

The aim is to work out where the birds are living and where they aren't and all New Zealanders are invited to join.