Sunday 1st November 2020.

New life - new hope

​Hello friends and family.
Sunday was warm as predicted, so in the morning I checked the chicks and, in the afternoon, I did the bees. In the process I discovered that Owen’s cow has calved and in 2 weeks’ time I will be able to get some fresh milk. I have all but forgotten how to make cheese, so the excitement is fresh, all over again! On Monday we even got some 20 mm + of rain. 

The Shag chicks have doubled in size this week

​Tuesday was one of those crazy days when things just all happen at once. We did the rounds in the morning and found 12 chicks.  We moved an egg from a penguin with flipper damage and then got a call about some precious eggs that needed a home as their mum had just died. Their lay date was not known so they had to stay together. That meant swapping the morning egg back out and giving the experienced pair 2 eggs to raise. Then I got a call about a penguin beached in Moeraki. I looked high and low – stumbling over moving rocks and was just about to abandon the search when the penguin called. 

Crowning glory - cabbage trees in bloom now

​It was in the thick of a Boxthorn bush. I had made the mistake of coming out without my hat and ended up caught in the middle of the bush by my hair and sliding in the mud. After about ½ hour, we managed to rescue the penguin and I made it home for tea with Marian about 45 minutes late. I was so remorseful for being late, I just got stuck into delicious pizza and wine, planning to shower and change later.

Hatching brings spare males home to find out what the fuss is about

​After she had gone home, I looked in the mirror and a boxthorn in my ear had been bleeding down my neck and I looked like I had had my throat cut. I do not know how Marian kept a straight face!

The pair are both home for the hatching!

Yesterday we did the rounds and found 28 chicks but also Diphtheria at the Moeraki colony. Our commitment is to have 2 people doing the rounds each day for as long as it takes to save as many chicks as possible. It was a good day because there were no deaths!
Have a great week
Rosalie
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