Sunday 2nd October 2022

The Kowhai is glorious

​Hello friends and family
The week stared off with spring-like weather which always inspires me to plant stuff. I needed a home under cover for my many Pohutukawa seedlings so have converted the old chook house. They need to stay under cover for another 4 years, so I am putting them in planting bags big enough to last them that long.

one of many beautiful Kakabeak

​On Tuesday we were 2 weeks into egg lay and more able to identify the missing breeders. It is a reality of our work, that it does not matter how hard we work, if the nest numbers are not maintained, we are not saving the species. It is a nervous time. Kate was back with the team so we split into 2 groups to do the rounds so other jobs could get done. The hospital is now ready for the new season.

a true heroine - starting a new colony

​Thursday’s round revealed that the female here at Katiki, who always lays last, has changed her partner and is still to lay. No surprizes there! In the afternoon, Robbie and I went to the Bluffs and found an egg at Kawariki Bay. This is now a new colony. We are all thrilled that this has happened so quickly after the place was made safe for them.

A dummy egg will stop this penguin assaulting his neighbours

​I am filling up the days potting up tiny trees for future planting. We have an endless supply now, because of the July rain. Yesterday revealed the sad truth. We have lost 10+ breeding females. Our current best estimate of our total nest number is 39, down from 47 last year. Thank goodness for the 5 new recruits. We have not yet found any nests along Katiki Beach. On Tuesday we will begin thorough searches in our colony areas.

sitting tight - chicks expected any day now

Have a great week!
Rosalie