While it seems to have rained and blown for most of the past month, I was out and about last week on a gloriously sunny day (although the wind was cool enough) and was very pleased to see that the kuaka/godwits had returned. There were forty something busy feeding at Karepiro Bay and I think they may have arrived…
Another Day in Paradise
What a spectacular run of late winter weather we’ve been having – if it weren’t for the biting southeasterly you’d think spring had arrived. Not quite, and there’s still a winter stillness about, but a feeling of anticipation permeates the ether. As I walked in from Stillwater I marvelled at the growth of some recent plantings and noticed that the…
Predator Control Report July 2025
ACHIEVEMENTS THIS PAST AGM YEAR: Volunteer mahi hours (parks & reserves): over 428 hours (many hours not reported). Council contractors continued with live cat trapping at Dacre Historic and Esplanade Reserve and thankfully started earlier in the breeding season than the previous year. A Community Conservation Day was held out at the Stillwater Boating Club, gained a few additional interested…
NZ Garden Bird Survey 2025 starts 28 June
Dates: Saturday 28th June – Sunday 6th July 2025 Choose an hour on one day during the survey period and find the perfect bird counting spot. Use our tally sheet to count the number of birds you see or hear. Website: gardenbirdsurvey.nz
Turning of the Seasons – Winter
I’ve decided to stop counting the birds at Weiti, Karepiro, and Okura because I want a more subjective experience on my walks rather than being more analytical about things. The results of the past five years breeding of tūturiwhatu/NZ dotterel and tōrea pango/variable oystercatchers can be found at https://www.birdsnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Shortnote_Michaux_722_125-127.pdf I will still update you all on what’s going on in…
Stillwater Planting Day – Sunday 3rd August
Okura Walkway, Stillwater. Join the Friends of Okura Bush and your local community at our annual planting day at the beautiful Okura Walkway in Stillwater. This is a fantastic opportunity to participate and learn more about the value of environmental restoration.
Okura Planting Day – Sunday 10th August
Deborah Reserve, Okura. Join the Friends of Okura Bush and your local community at our annual planting day at the beautiful Deborah Reserve. This is a fantastic opportunity to participate and learn more about the value of environmental restoration.
AGM – Sunday 17 August
3.00pm at the Okura Hall, 81 Okura River Road, Okura. Guest Speaker: Ben Paris – the Bat Guru. Pekapeka, the only native land mammals in Aotearoa New Zealand, are largely unknown due to their small size, rarity, nocturnal habits, and elusive nature. However, awareness and interest in these unique bats is gradually increasing.
Dacre Book Launch Saturday 19th July
Dacre Cottage and the Weiti Block: their history and preservation – by Felicity Goodyear-Smith. 2.00pm at MERC, 1045 Beach Road, Long Bay. If possible, please RSVP to info@veritypress.com for catering purposes. $39 (makes a great gift). Available online at Canoeandkayak.
Bird News for 2024/25 Season
I’m afraid we’ve gone from riches to rags as far as tūturiwhatu breeding is concerned with no chicks hatched at all this year, let alone fledged, compared to 11 last season. Fewer pairs attempted to nest (5 as opposed to 8 in 2023/4), which partly explains the difference. Neither tūturiwhatu nor torea pāngo nested this season on the Okura chénier…