 Ch 67 back in the wild Hello friends and family The weather goddess shone on us again this week – clear skies and light breezes. It was, however, chilly, and no more so than at Yoga on Monday morning. The hall refused to warm up and it was a case of either freezing to the spot or attempting the poses with cold muscles. As a result, I was quite sore on Tuesday.  Mr 125 back home on guard It made the afternoon escape even more enjoyable as I left home with Jan, Robbie, Michelle and Charlie on the job (I did rescue one penguin first!). Marian and I drove to Dunedin for the funeral of Shona McTavish. She was a doyen of a bygone time and her send-off was a loving dance performed by friends and family. She was not one to value stereotypes so now I have drunk champagne in a Presbyterian church hall!  You look interesting On Wednesday I was back off to Dunedin again, this time with Robbie, to talk about mosquito proofing enclosures for penguins. There is an advantage in having dead rat odour in the truck still – no one wants to travel in it! We met with representatives from other penguin groups and hopefully added value to the conversation.  That unmistakable profile On Thursday while I was analysing blood, Jan and Robbie rescued another penguin. This was another young one with a sore throat. I now have 2 in care. I actually did some cleaning on Friday and Hiltrun came up for the rounds on Saturday. We only got 10 mm of rain in June – lets hope it does not all arrive at once.
Have a great week! Rosalie  And I am going this way. Hello friends and family This is becoming a habit! Another quiet start to the week. Sunday and Monday just drifted by and I did a few jobs, but nothing of note. Robbie came out on Tuesday and we did the rounds before he up-graded the aviary for next season.  Our early Kowhai attracts bellbirds On Wednesday I did a fill-in at the Toptip. It was very cold, but full of cheerful people so quite fun really. In the afternoon I prepared for my Thursday meetings. On Thursday I set off for Dunedin nice and early so I could drive at an easy pace and enjoy the trip. It was beautiful – frosty white paddocks and vivid trees, standing out in greens, reds and golds. Wow!  Patient patients The first meeting was with the scientists from the Micro-biology department at Otago University. They are our heroes and committed to supporting our work to save the penguins. The second was with our amazing benefactor who sponsors our mosquito control programme and is willing to bring all his extensive expertise to help us save the penguins.  "and the moon doth shine as bright as day" On Friday I enjoyed the bellbird song while chopping out the flax that was growing through the heat pump. I also walked the coast because I knew that on Saturday, we were having a meeting in Hampden and I would not be doing it then. We are currently facing a lot of challenges and needed to sort out some issues so we could move on as a team to deal with the new problems going forward.  An epic liverwort Have a great week!
Rosalie  Getting ready ... Hello friends and family I started the week by dropping a backpack of weed spray at the Moeraki colony. As I walked past the main landing, I was surprized to see a juvenile Yellow-eyed penguin waiting for me to save it. I reassured it that I would be back and finished the spraying first.  Fewer people - more pups! My surprize was compounded when I realised that she was not one of our penguins – in fact she came from the Otago peninsula. She had an odd patch on her back, consistent with a dog bite and tested positive for Malaria. She is making good progress.  Every feather is just right On Tuesday Robbie, Jan and I did the rounds. We picked up another juvenile and Mrs 10. Mrs 10 had been released before her positive Malaria test came back so it is great to find her alive. She now tests negative so her Malaria must be in remission. We released 4 penguins at the Moeraki colony so we then had 3.  Oamaru on Wednesday On Thursday Robbie Jan and I braved the wintry conditions. We constructed another 50 tree protectors and did the rounds, all the while battered by a cold wind. It had died down a little by Friday, but I blobbed anyway.  Another pup in a tree! On Saturday I picked up 2 of our recent releases and Elaine came out and we did the bloods on them both. Both have been treated for Malaria but still have it in the blood. They will be treated with another Malaria drug, and let’s hope this one does the trick. Now we have 5 penguins in care!
Have a great week! Rosalie  Ch 44 and Ch 103 just chilling Hello friends and family Sunday’s weather was very pleasant but by Monday winter had arrived. The mountains look spectacular! On Tuesday Jan and I picked up 2 juvenile Yellow-eyed penguins. They were both suffering from Fungal throat. Fortunately, they responded well to the meds and will only need to stay for a short while to fatten up.  Beautiful in my eyes - a cut hedge Wednesday was my day at the Toptip and I really thought it would be quiet as it was so cold – not the case! All the regulars turned up plus a few besides, so it ended up being busy. Robbie came on Thursday and we did the rounds, protected another 20 trees, cleared a path and updated 2 old nest boxes.  Taking shelter in the reserve This week we were proud to be the recipients of a “cupcake” fundraiser held at Sancta Maria College in Auckland. The students heard our story through Dan, our Trustee and the French couple who visited them and showed the video they had made here. It is very heartening to be supported by young people as it gives hope for the future.  Young supporters buying cupcakes The last 2 days have reminded me of why I have the hedges. With a storm raging all around, the garden is an oasis of tranquillity – a good time to get some pruning done!
Have a great week! Rosalie  Coming home with full tummies Hello friends and family This has been another quiet week. I started the back hedge on Sunday and then we had light rain so I stopped and will try again later today. Robbie came on Tuesday and we did some track clearing and protected another 20 Cabbage trees, as well as burning a felled Boxthorn.  ready to go! Note the small trees in the foreground I went to Oamaru to do the shopping on Wednesday and when I called in to Mitre 10 to order ply and reinforcing for the concrete, they made Penguin Rescue trade customers, so we now get a discount on all purchases there. Jan joined Robbie and I on Thursday and we did the rounds and put out 6 new DOC 200 traps in the colonies. These traps meet the safety standards and are not a risk to non-target species.  Robbie cutting the wire After lunch we constructed another 50 tree protectors. Robbie cuts the wire into 1 m lengths, using his grinder.  Jan clipping the circles Jan uses netting clips and the applicator tool to close the circles. If we make them any bigger, the sheep will flatten them to eat the plants, yet they leave the 1 m circumference ones alone. We can make 50 in an hour.  one year on and the trees are doing well On my way home from Oamaru I noticed a smell – dead rat - so I stepped outside my comfort zone and opened the bonnet of the truck. Sitting on top of the motor was a rat’s nest. I was lucky that I did not have a fire! I have not been able to find the dead rat yet. Hopefully it will stop smelling soon.
Have a great week! Rosalie |
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