​Hello friends and family
Sunday was cold and wet – 27mm of rain, followed by another 7mm on Monday. All I could get done outside was to pot up a few more plants. It is great having the space freed up by planting trees out, to put the new ones.

​On Tuesday we split into two groups, one for each colony, and finally released the juvenile penguin. There were several pairs of penguins home at both colonies – looking chunky and behaving normally. They are still fishing for longer each day and you will be able to see them on the repaired webcam from about 4 pm.

​On Thursday it was very windy, so we just did the monitoring rounds and spent the rest of the day indoors. The juvenile penguin that we had released on Tuesday was back by the landing, looking just fine.

​What a contrast for Friday! Robbie and I attended the Hui, which started here and then moved to the Moeraki Marae. It was so pleasant, we lingered out on the point to discus how to better protect the seals from the tourists. At the Hui, I again advocated for marine protection for the penguins. 

Yesterday I was reminded that it is not just penguins for whom this protection is so important, Murray found a dead whale.
It was twice the size of the last one. We think it is an adult, female, Grey Beaked Whale. It was bleeding, but there were no wounds to explain its death.
Have a great week!
Rosalie​

​Hello friends and family
Once again, we had a week that started with lovely weather. The temperature got up to 18 degrees and it was great weather for planting.  Each gap in the plant nursery is replaced by smaller trees that need longer to establish roots. Jan helped with the planting on Tuesday and on Thursday we went to the Bluffs to plant and were joined by Robbie and Tobi.

​The penguins are all out fishing. Thank goodness that we can see footprints to tell us that they are coming and going. With the Spotted Shags, it is not the same. There are none here on our end of the peninsula. At this time of the year, they are normally pairing off and present in the breeding areas. This year the breeding areas are empty. Jan has seen some at Shag point, so hopefully they have gone there and will be back soon.

​Jan came out again yesterday and we did more planting. Last night we got 17mm of light rain which will establish all the new plants. It fell straight down too, which means they all get a drink.

​Hello friends and family
We were lucky with the weather at the start of the week and so Dan and I planted more trees on Sunday and Monday. This time we were planting in between existing trees so were able to be a bit more adventurous with our species.
On Tuesday, Dan, Elaine, and I went on a mini holiday. We set off at 8am and after doing errands in Oamaru, took the inland route north. We had morning tea in Geraldine and lunch at the blue pub in Methven. Dan was the driver, and I was the navigator.

​We arrived in Kaikoura just before 5pm, in time to check into the backpacker’s lodge. I had never stayed in a backpacker’s before, and it was okay. We each had our own bedroom, and as the place was almost empty, our own bathroom and kitchen as well.
We got on board the 10am Whale watching trip and it was fantastic. They have catamarans which deal with rough seas very well. Fortune smiled upon us, and we saw 2 whales in quick succession. We got much closer than I did when I went 20 years ago, but with only one boat. It was not long before the weather cracked up and we headed back to shore, escorted by 200+ Dusky dolphins.

​We had a forgettable lunch at the Why Not Café and headed south to Hamner Springs. We arrived there at 3pm, just in time for check in to our holiday home for the night. Then it was off to the Hot pools for a soak, and then for dinner at the Irish Pub. On Thursday morning I went back to the hot pools while the others did some sightseeing. In the afternoon, we dropped Dan at Christchurch airport and then came south to Oamaru for Pizza at the Brewery, and then home. There was a continuous stream of traffic going north for the whole trip – that is a 300km queue of cars. Everyone must be going north to celebrate Matariki!

I fed the fledgling by the light of my cell phone when I go home. He is making great progress and is on track for released on Tuesday. Jan and Bronwyn cared for him while I was away.
Have a great week!
Rosalie

​Hello friends and family
Sunday and Monday were inside days as the wind blew from the south. Planting was put on hold as the plants would have shrivelled before I could get protectors on them.
Tuesday was a break from the wind – just gusty but okay to be out and about! Imagine our delight in finding a fledgling YEP that had returned to Okahau point – only 3.6 kgs but alive and home to be helped. He started life on Green Island and came here as an egg. We uplifted him at 70 days old to relieve his first-time parents who both needed help later on. He tested positive for Malaria so is now being treated. 

​Daniel arrived from Christchurch in the early afternoon and settled in – sorting out my IT problems in only minutes! Wednesday was our turn at the Toptip in the morning and in the afternoon, we went to the Bluffs to free up another ancient Kowhai from vines and make a Kingfisher nest. Afterwards we heard of Kingfishers eating fantails, so we won’t be building them any more nests!

​After the rounds on Thursday morning, we got stuck in and planted 51 trees in Ogden Bay. It was very pleasant without the wind and great to be able to get the job done.

We did more planting on Friday then went to the tavern for dinner. Yum.
More planting again yesterday and then off to Elaine’s for dinner – more yum!

Have a great week!
Rosalie

​Hello friends and family
I spent the first half of the week planting trees into dry ground – I was very pleased when it rained on Wednesday – proper rain – 28 mm all up, so the risk paid off. 

​Winter has arrived and I am now wearing thermals. What a fuss to manage comfort across such a range of activities. At least if I get cold there are always rocks to toss!

​I have spent the indoor time crunching the rehab numbers for the season. The impression that we helped every breeder was wrong, the true proportion was 80%. Some penguins moulted before the marine heat wave affected their food supply and they are probably okay. 

​We have begun the new season. It is time to add up our activities and the effort that goes into them. The increase in effort during the last season puts us at around 4 FTEs. For most of us, our time is a mix of solitary work and team effort. Both are essential to progress the amazing projects that we have in place.

This week we have another 50 trees to plant and Dan will be here to add extra hands.
Have a great week!
Rosalie