Wishing all our volunteers and supporters a very Meri Kirihimete & a Happy New Year! A huge thank for helping and enabling us to do the good mahi that helps to restore this outstanding pocket of paradise. In spite of it been a challenging year, we have achieved some big milestones. Cancelling the Okura Forest Festival was a big shame,…
Brown Teal/ Pāteke successfully breed again
The resident pair of locally rare and nationally recovering pāteke at Weiti lagoon have produce four ducklings this year. This is a tremendous result for the trappers because these endemic ducks only survive and breed when mammalian predators (cats, mustelids, and rats) are controlled to low levels. I noticed the ducklings when they were disturbed by a Banded Rail/moho pererū,…
NZ Dotterels are breeding (8/11)
Great news on the breeding front with a two-week old (approximately) NZ Dotterel chick at Karepiro Beach, and pairs of NZ Dotterels with nests (both with single eggs) at the Weiti and Okura cheniers. No sign of the Variable Oystercatchers nesting yet, but the Paradise Duck pair have four ducklings on the lagoon at the Weiti chenier and Pete Townend…
Spring Bird News
International migrants The Bar-tailed godwits or kuaka have returned. These waders breed in Alaska during the brief arctic summer and then fly non-stop back to us to spend the southern summer recovering and preparing for the next breeding season. You can read more at Tracking godwits to understand the migration of birds to New Zealand. We are very lucky to…
Pest Plant Workshops November and December
Community Parks Plant pests (weeds) pose significant threat to our native flora and fauna. If you would like to learn more about how to identify and control weeds in your local park or backyard, please join us at one of our FREE upcoming workshops:
Changing seasons
Some days you can almost feel spring in the air – and then the next squall comes over to remind us that winter is still with us. The pied oystercatchers certainly think that spring is here as many of our winter flock have departed for their breeding grounds on the braided rivers of the South Island (or Hawke’s Bay). There…
AGM 2021 Reports
from Friends of Okura Bush AGM held 15 August 2021 at Okura Hall, Okura River Road. Chairperson’s Report Welcome everyone. It’s great to see you all. Thank you for coming this afternoon. Tena koutou katoa. Just a briefing of what FOOB has been up to over the last year and we’ll then go on to listen to our inspiring guest…
Stillwater Reserve and Okura Bush Walkway planting day a Success!
More than 65 people of all ages turned up at the Stillwater Reserve on Sunday 8th of August 2021 for the annual Friends of Okura Bush planting day. Two sites were planted this year after weed control measures to prepare the sites: 1. Areas along the creek at Stillwater Recreation Reserve behind the hall and 2. Cheniers at Weiti River…
AGM 15th August 2021 at 3pm
Friends of Okura Bush warmly invite you to their Annual General Meeting. A short meeting reporting back on activities and achievements over the past year will be followed by a talk from our Guest speaker: James Dale, Professor of Zoology at Massey University. When: 3 pm Sunday 15 August 2020 Where: Okura Hall, Okura River Road, Okura Topic: The Wildlife…
Planting Day 8th August 2021
It’s that time of the year again and we have 2000 native trees to plant! This planting day is dedicated to Peter Buckley who recently passed away. He gave so generously to looking after this special area and to the community. He will be remembered fondly and sorely missed. Where: Meet at 1A Duck Creek Road, Stillwater. We have two…
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