Author: southernlight

Are there more tūī in Wanaka, and other NZ towns?

Over the last few weeks a funny thing has been happening to me re. our New Zealand bird, the iconic tūī.

Perhaps because I’ve been able to spend sometime with a few and apart from taking the opportunity to capture the way light reflects from their stunning feather colours and texture, I’ve also used their speed and aggressiveness as they chase other tūī and other species away from food sources, to learn better ways to get my camera to focus faster and more accurately.

New Zealand Tui

And then as if by coincidence I started to learn via word-of-mouth and social media that they seem to be on the increase, especially in the Wanaka and nearby Lake Hawea areas.

Tui

Is this because of my own heightened awareness of the species, or are there simply more about? Could it be due to a healthy increase in the variety of native trees and shrubs providing a year-round food supply for them, along with a decrease in predators?

NZ Tui

They are an indicator species – a good sign of a successful habitat restoration programme.

Tūī are unique [endemic] to New Zealand belonging to the honeyeater family, feeding mostly on nectar from flowers of native plants such as kōwhai, puriri, rewarewa, kahikatea, pohutukawa, rātā and flax. Occasionally they will eat insects too.

If you feel inclined to leave comment here, please feel free to do so.

Or better yet, or as well as, go online and be a part of Landcare’s the NZ Garden Bird Survey 24 June – 2 July 2017

Today’s News: New Zealand native birds in a desperate situation, says Environment Commissioner

The takahē was once thought to be extinct, but in 1948 it was rediscovered by Dr. Geoffrey Orbell, [who incidentally I remember meeting as a child, when he was the next-door-neighbour of my grandparents]. He found it high in the tussock grasslands of the remote Murchison Mountains, Fiordland. Currently there are just over 300 left in the world - approx. half in the wild. photo Southern Light

takahe
The takahē was once thought to be extinct, but in 1948 it was rediscovered by Dr. Geoffrey Orbell, [who incidentally I remember meeting as a child, when he was the next-door-neighbour of my grandparents]. He found it high in the tussock grasslands of the remote Murchison Mountains, Fiordland. Currently there are just over 300 left in the world – approx. half in the wild. photo Southern Light
Today a very timely report was released by Parliamentary Commissioner for the environment. Dr Jan Wright. It follows on from a very succinct series of non political reports including the use of 1080 poison to help our birds:

In a new report, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment says New Zealand’s native birds are in a desperate situation.

“Despite the efforts of many, most of our native birds are in trouble.” said the Commissioner, Dr Jan Wright.
“A third are in danger of becoming extinct. This includes the kea – the only alpine parrot in the world. Another is the wrybill – the only bird in the world with a beak that curves to the side. And another is the whio – a duck that paddles through rough water like a white water kayaker.”

Wrybill
Wrybill in the Makarora braided riverbed, Mt Aspiring National Park. photo Southern Light

The Commissioner’s report is based on a vision of restoring abundant, diverse, and resilient birdlife on the New Zealand mainland.
Dr Wright says the Government’s aim of eradicating possums, rats, and stoats by 2050 is good because it focuses attention on the most pressing cause of the decline of native birds – predators. But she says a plan of action is urgently needed.

“We need sustained control of predators over more large areas, so that bigger populations of birds can thrive. Small isolated bird populations can become inbred. We must not let our birds drift to the shallow end of the gene pool”, said Dr Wright.
The Commissioner also stresses the need for action on feral cats.

“These bird killers now almost certainly number in the millions in the countryside and along forest margins.”
The last chapter of the report contains seven recommendations to the Government. They include high priority research on controlling predators, increased protection of important bird habitats, and investigating new sources of funding.

“Ninety-three of our bird species are found in no other country”, said Dr Wright. “We must look after them. Our birds need help not only in national parks, but on farms, along rivers and coasts, and in cities. This is a battle for all New Zealanders.”

Source: Native birds in desperate situation, says Environment Commissioner

The whole document “The report, Taonga of an island nation” is available here as a pdf >>

Snow in May does not stay, so old timer skiers in Wanaka say

Chain fitting in the Cardrona Valley today, for going over the Crown Range Road to Queenstown
Fitting chains in the Cardrona Valley
Chain fitting in the Cardrona Valley today, for going over the Crown Range Road to Queenstown

A selection of photos of the early season snow around Wanaka- most of them are in the Cardrona Valley. Click on any image to begin a manual slide show…

Hillend, Cardrona Valley and snow
Branch Burn, Cardrona Valley and snow
Sheep in the snow, Cardrona Valley
wanaka-snow-may'17-21
Branch Burn, Cardrona Valley and snow
Branch Burn, Cardrona Valley and snow
Willows in the snow, Cardrona Valley
Branch Burn, Cardrona Valley and snow
Sheep in the snow, Cardrona Valley
Cardrona Hotel and snow
Cardrona Hotel and snow
Cardrona Hotel and snow
Cardrona Valley snow
Cardrona Valley snow
Cardrona Valley road and snow
Branch Burn, Cardrona Valley and snow
Branch Burn, Cardrona Valley and snow
Cardrona Hotel and snow
Willow, Cardrona Valley and snow
Fitting chains in the Cardrona Valley
Chain fitting in the Cardrona Valley today, for going over the Crown Range Road to Queenstown
Cardrona Valley snow

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Mountain Landscapes of late

Tor and rainbow, Central Otago
Central Otago tor and rainbow ~ It’s all about the journey after all!

Immersion in solitude, awareness of self, quietness of the spirit, and sometimes the odd challenge – all these and more are there in our mountain landscapes, just waiting to be seen, and better yet felt.

Sometimes we’re so goal driven and yet whatever it was sometimes gets replaced: to get past stinging rain in the face, a tired body or something new and unimagined.

Here is a little slide show of my favourites scenes over the last several months. Each has a story, and the best journeys are the ones we can relive and savour as needed, or when the whim takes us.

Enjoy… just click on any thumbnail to get the show going. With exception of the featured image, a tor and rainbow in Central Otago [taken yesterday], all were captured in the West Matukituki Valley, Mt Aspiring National Park…

above: Diverse weather with a rainbow on Mt Glengyle in Mt Aspiring National Park ~ photo Donald Lousley, Southern Light

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“The Boss” and Edwin – a tale of two kea in Mt Aspiring National Park

above: "The Boss" of three kea resident near Aspiring Hut in the West Matukituki valley, Mt Aspiring National Park Mar 2017 ~  photo southern light
above: “The Boss” of three kea resident near Aspiring Hut in the West Matukituki valley, Mt Aspiring National Park Mar 2017 ~  photo southern light

A few weeks ago I was involved in the capture and subsequent banding of a young kea. Probably a male, but that is not a certainty with any youngster.

At the time while recording the banding with a camera, I was struck on how he took being held in his stride, and when relaxed started looking about the hut we were in, sizing it up with what seemed like a daunting intelligence.

The plastic band was coloured green and printed on this bling was the character “E” in white. So on the books he became “white E on green”. Since then he’s become quite my friend so I’ve named him Edwin. Time and again ‘tho he’s tried as one of a party of three, to enter the hut once more, perhaps feigning friendship to do so!

He showed his true colours for my camera on a rainy Sat. recently when three experienced trampers called by on their way out of the valley…

Edwin again
Edwin somewhat precociously approaches a tramper, and at this point he’s like a kid in a candy store challenged by many choices that engage his curiosity
Kea boss edwin 3
The game continues as the tramper moves off the deck
Edwin again 2
It’s game on – he knows all about hands (that held him gently and firmly), but these ones are different, and he’s not afraid to do a “beak” test on the consistency and texture
Kea boss edwin 2
Since the owner of the hand is well aware Edwin could draw blood, to Edwin’s satisfaction a wet boot and assisting lace is offered
Edwin again follows
As the trampers depart, perhaps fearful of their boot’s being eaten, Edwin decides to follow
Kea boss edwin 4
But Edwin returned! I think he knew his value as a “bad hair day” model! Either way he is an endearing character

So that’s an insight into Edwin’s personality, but what of the squadron of like minded kea he is a player in?

As it turns out the other two birds ignore him until his (superior) intelligence manifesting as curiosity finds him poking his nose into anything new.

Suddenly the others sit up and take notice and if the subject of his attention is deemed worthy, a much older kea brushes Edwin aside and takes ownership of the situation. Edwin is smart enough to back off from the aged and experienced beak of the bird I now call “the boss”. Anyway he (Edwin) has a greater purpose, and is soon off to the next phenomena demanding his attention.