Sunday 19th December 2021

The southern Rata in Christmas colours.

​Hello friends and family.  Season’s Greetings!
I wish you and your family a safe and happy Christmas. After a difficult year I have much to be thankful for. From Endometrial cancer and too many dead chicks, to wonderful support from my family and Penguin Rescue team members, it has been a bit of a roller-coaster ride. 

Warm, dry babies

​On Tuesday, Jordana and Jim joined Robbie and I to do the weighing and dosing of the chicks down the hill and a check of the Moeraki Colony. It started out a bit damp but soon cleared to a sunny afternoon – great to get the washing dry.

Yes, I really did it! Zip lining in the canopy

​Then the rain started. On Thursday, Robbie and I squelched our way around the reserves. With all this rain, the grass is now chest height and full of wet pollen. It was on with the dryer when we got home – 26 stinky pillowcases were not going to be left in my flash new laundry!

home time for busy parents - 10 pm

The chicks are all making progress at the moment, some faster than others, but having the nest boxes means they stay dry which is a real plus. The chicks now have nice, thick down but it is not waterproof. Currently they are easy to find, but hard to see. Hiltrun came up and we did the rounds yesterday. It was sunny with a stiff breeze which dried out the grass in no time.
Have a great week and a wonderful Christmas
Rosalie