 winter penguin views - footprints Hello friends and family Wet, wet, wet! I planted some trees on Monday and that was it until Thursday when the rain stopped. We got 40 mm over Tuesday and Wednesday and amazingly, there is very little damage. The sea is brown with the flood waters. State highway 1 was flooded both north and south and other than a few trips to plant seedlings in the hothouse, I stayed inside all the time.  finding a dry spot I did the rounds on Thursday morning to make sure that all was well and then went to Oamaru on Friday. The trip was even more spectacular with lake reflections of the snowy mountains and even swans in some of the flood waters.  Elaine has begun her training in the microbiology lab Saturday was the annual, Yellow-eyed Penguin symposium. Seven of us headed down to Dunedin on icy roads and spent a day hearing the annual update of the season. Attendance was down with about 80% of the usual attendees and there was one, very good student research project presented which was about communication with dog owners.  this pair look very pleased with their site selection I presented our annual report, but DOC and the Yellow-eyed penguin Trust presented all the data accumulated into one presentation, including ours. There was a separate report for Rakiura.  winter colour I also presented our Malaria update, and both my talks were scheduled together which gave me more time. Janelle gave a presentation which identified a Rotavirus in association with the unexplained chick deaths. As always it was great to catch up with the other front line penguin workers. Other than the Charities report, we can now put last season to rest and focus on the new one. Have a great week! Rosalie   eye candy Hello friends and family On Sunday, Dan and I headed off to Christchurch where I left him to head home and then I went to the airport to pick up Maria, Bryan and Daniel. They had come down so that Daniel could check out the university for next year. What a lovely visit! We ate wonderful food and caught up on the news.  prime, predator free, real estate On Thursday we met 2 new volunteers – Tamsin and Kate. They, like us, are committed to making a difference and we look forward to sharing the journey with them. In the afternoon, Robbie and I went to the Bluffs and planted 100 Cabbage trees. It is a bit of an experiment because we did not put rabbit protectors around them, rather we are relying on the lower rabbit numbers there and long grass to deter them from eating the trees while they are small.  One legged Oyster catchers On Friday morning I finally got to walk the coast and was very pleased to see such minor damage after the big weather event. Yesterday Murray and I harvested native seedlings which I brought home and began to put in the pots emptied on Thursday. They are mostly Akeake of both red and green shades.  ominous clouds behind the lighthouse It was clear and sunny – very nice out of the breeze!  These penguins use the seal's access to get off the beach Have a great week Rosalie  heading home Hello friends and family Dan and I arrived back from Akaroa to a stormy week. Fortunately, we had indoor jobs to do and creating new tee shirts for the symposium was a combination of learning and creating. By Thursday we had had over 50 mm of rain – about an average years’ worth.  the Shags are looking serious There was surprisingly little damage in the colonies – a few fallen trees, but no slips. Most of the penguins stayed out at sea which was very rough. On Thursday we went to the Tavern for tea and met up with Elaine who had braved the weather and been to Dunedin for a training day.  A request from Dan's niece who is 3 years old On Friday, Dan went off with Robbie to get wire netting from the kind people there who have offered us some. Hiltrun came up and we checked out both reserves and the coast in between. Hiltrun has finished the annual report and worked on my presentation for the symposium. Thank you Hiltrun.  waiting for the rest to come home Saturday was a fine day at last! Dan and I went to the Hampden house and planted the 5 roses that we had purchased on our way home from Akaroa. Dan is away home today after a week of working and creating on behalf of the penguins. Thank you, Dan.  all white ones Have a great week! Rosalie  A Spotted Shag in full breeding plumage Hello friends and family The week began with glorious weather, getting up to 15 degrees in glorious sunshine. The big downer was missing out on Otago Regional Council funding. To justify their choices, the rest of us must endure random criticisms of our applications. There seems to be no understanding out there of the urgency of the penguin’s plight.  winter beauty in my garden It was my turn at the Toptip this week and after a quiet start, there was a rush on at midday that I did not indulge. It is always the same people who think it possible to be fashionably late. After the rounds on Thursday, Robbie and I went to the Bluffs and put out a trap line into the larger DOC area. It is very uplifting to be in a place that will ultimately offer sanctuary for penguins and other wildlife.  Oh dear! On Friday we had the Katiki Point Management meeting which started here in awful weather and then moved to the comfort of the Marae. On the way home, I was blocked by a tree blown across the roan and a short phone call to Dave solved that problem. Then I got home to a power cut. A phone call to Waitaki network solved that problem too, but it took a couple of hours. The silver lining is that the corrosion breakdown up the pole happened before I went away, because other wise I would have come home to rotten fish.  me with Hugh Wilson - an icon of conservation in New Zealand I set out first thing on Saturday morning to pick up Dan in Christchurch. I arranged to meet him at the Riccarton Mall and was able to drive straight there without error which was an auspicious start to a fantastic weekend in Akaroa.  The lighthouse at Akaroa On Sunday we were able to visit Hinewai and meet the founder – Hugh Wilson. Then later in the day we went to Pohatu to see the home of Whitte-flippered penguins. Today we drove home via the Bluffs to see the great work that is being done there. Tomorrow we are expecting a year’s rain in one day – watch this space!  The wild side - south of Banks peninsula Have a great week Rosalie  At home for the day Hello friends and family It has been colder this week so it can feel warm at 11 degrees! After a quiet start to the week, I went to town on Wednesday and on the way home, picked up my new toy – a cricut machine. Like all crafty things it is going to be and ongoing cost to run but I have great ideas to personalise things and was very excited to get started.  12mm of rain brings beauty Step one was to clear out a space for it. It is connected to the computer, so had to be close. I am trying to reduce the clutter in my life and it took several hours to clear a shelf and connect to the computer.  north Otago in the winter Then I discovered there is a whole lot of learning to do before I can produce anything. Sigh! On Thursday we did the rounds and saw sign of penguins exploring unused nest boxes which is always a buzz. When I see them on the camera, they look in great condition which is reassuring.  of course we are entitled to be here - the signs are for other people Now the new season has begun. We have worked out better ways of doing things so we can save more chicks. Roll on spring!  winter beauty Have a great week! Rosalie |
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