Blogger: Top of the South Conservation Advocate, Debs Martin
“You’ve got it lucky”, a West Coaster said in reference to the weather forecast. And indeed we had. This river receives 6 metres of rainfall a year –half of this usually falls in the month of October.
Labour Weekend – and we were set for an in-depth, in your face, exploration of the Mokihinui River. Along with Whitewater NZ, Forest & Bird organised this trip to once again highlight the proposed plight of the Mokihinui River.
In April this year, state owned Meridian Energy was granted resource consent to dam the mighty Mokihinui River – the 7th most important river in New Zealand for its natural values.
The dam – equivalent to a 20 storey building – would flood 330 hectares of riverbed and public conservation land, and create a deep and inhospitable reservoir 14 kilometres long.
He has spent umpteen hours examining their anatomy, observing their family life and dishing up various foods to them so he can develop a deep understanding of their palette.
Indeed, if you searched through the filofax of his brain under ‘all things possum’, it’d be crammed with a bounty of facts, anecdotes and deep musings.
Did you know that the possum to person ratio in NZ stands at 7.5: 1
Did you know that the West coast is the fat capital of NZ for possums?
Did you know that a possum’s brain accounts for a mere 1.4% of its body mass, whereas our brains account for about 18%?
Blogger: Web Manager for Forest & Bird, Mandy Herrick
The extinction status that was slapped down on our South Island kokako in 2007 no doubt set off a wave of furrowed brows, disgruntled sighs and shouty letters.
The orange-wattled South Island kokako
Prior to 2007, it hovered on the cusp of extinction for nigh on 40 years – and despite sightings from trampers and hunters all of the search missions executed by DOC returned empty handed.
Unsatisfied with the search-efforts and cognisant that cash-strapped DOC doesn’t need any unnecessary distractions, believers have recently taken the matter into their own hands.
In the past few months they have set up a charitable trust and launched a website that they hope will help them to garner intelligence on the South Island kokako’s whereabouts and bankroll new expeditions
The website, grey ghost , aims to become a repository of sightings and a communications hub between these fervent believers and the rest of the world. Scraps of information and recordings can be shared amongst believers, whilst a map of recent encounters helps those that are hot on the trail.
Blogger: Forest & Bird’s Conservation Advocate, Nic Vallance
I’m a fan of anything that is just a little quirky, and I have to say that the wrybill or ngutuparore has got the quirk factor all sewn up when it comes to New Zealand birds. It’s the only bird in the word with a bill bent sideways, and almost always to the right.
Wrybill, Photo: Peter Langlands
Nobody’s really nailed down the purpose of the wonky beak, but some seem to think it’s for digging around under river stones to get at it’s favourite food – underwater invertebrates. I’m unsure, that seems like a great adaptation… unless you happen to find a big juicy caddisfly larvae under a rock to your LEFT… which presumably results in much turning in circles to get to it. I’m prepared to be corrected on this though – so if anyone truly knows the reason that wrybills have a bendy beak, I’m all ears.
The Government is sharpening bulldozer blades and oil-rig drills. It’s prioritising digging and drilling for non-renewable resources over regulation and protection of the natural environment that our economy depends on.
Undeterred by the embarrassing u-turn on Schedule 4, Minister Brownlee is charging ahead with efforts to facilitate mining wherever possible. A review of the Crown Minerals Act, while quite technical, means making mining permits easier to get. More alarming is the Minster’s blatant advocacy for mining, unmatched by Government advocacy for the environment.
From the intoxicating fumes of the petroleum industry conference, the Minister announced a massive funding boost Crown Minerals – the agency that calls the mining industry “clients”. Unsurprising there is no corresponding boost for the Department of Conservation to advocate for the other side of the coin (just a $13.5m p.a. cut). This reflects the priorities in the proposed Energy Strategy: “develop resources” first, “environmental responsibility” fourth.
Guest blogger: Campaign manager for the White-faced Storm Petrel, Chris Gaskin
We’ve all been amazed by the trans-Pacific journeys of godwits, Alaskan breeders that make their way to our shores. For my mind, the migration journey’s prize must go to this bird – the white-faced storm petrel – my contender for Bird of the Year.
White-faced Storm Petrels, Photo: Chris Gaskin
Come February through to March, these diminutive seabirds (45g) will depart our waters and then hop, skip, flutter and glide their way across to the eastern Pacific (off Ecuador) to feed in the rich waters of the Humboldt Current before making the return journey in August-September.
Guest blogger: Co-campaign manager for the Fernbird, Anne Fenn
Fernbird (Bowdleria punctata to science, Matata, Kotata or Toetoe to Maori, and swamp sparrow to early European settlers) is truly deserving of the title ‘Bird of the Year’.
Fernbird, Photo: Craig Mckenzie
This bird is unique to New Zealand and spends the large majority of its time in the tangled scrubland of our wetlands.
Indeed, the Fernbird is also one of the few native birds in the list of nominees that tolerates life in saline estuary mangrove areas, although for those whose love goes to high country he has been seen there as well.
He doesn’t claim dominance in the North Island or the South Island, in urban areas or rural areas, as do a number of his competitors, which their campaign managers point to with some sort of pride. Go figure?
Blogger: Campaign Manager for the kea, Tiff Stewart
It’s hard to understand why anyone’d consider any of the other birds.
Kea, Photo: Andrew Walmsley
The kea have it all – attitude, physical prowess, grace, style, strength, stamina, curiosity, brains. And to top that off, they spend their lives playing! What more recommendation is there? A kea’s day is taken up with soaring over pristine snow-fields, executing dare-devil stunts above lofty mountain peaks, checking out the taste of the tyres of new 4WDs, and playing rough-house with one another.
And they’re great comedians. Everyone who’s spent time in the mountains has a kea story. It’s as if they show up when you’re tired just to give you a laugh, a flash of that glorious underwing, and grab a couple of your sammys.
Who wouldn’t want to end every day relaxing in an alpine meadow, with a handful of friends and family, and a glorious view of nature’s finest playground spread before them?
Blogger: Campaign Manager for the kokako & co-leader of the Green Party, Russel Norman
Why vote for just a bird when you can have a new national park as well? That’s right. As a politician, I can promise you a new Giant Totara National Park to go along with your support for the hauntingly beautiful but endangered North Island kokako.
Kokako, Photo: Simon Fordham
This crazy bird is the Robin Hood of our local fauna. Behind its bandit mask lies a heart of gold…and a song to leave all other birds looking a little out of key.
The last best stronghold of the kokako is in the Pureora Forest Park just west of Lake Taupo. Most of our lowland forest has now been destroyed along with the giant totara trees that once were everywhere.
Pureora is today in pieces, split up by one of the Crafar farms. These farms are up for sale so we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy the farm and join back up the Park. With a little planting, we can create a single national park to protect the kokako and the giant totara. This is my dream…and your vote would sure help.
So don’t vote for the pukeko — it’s the poster child for coal and we all know how bad coal is for climate change. And don’t vote for the tui either. How many times have I found a tui in my garden drunk and disorderly? The kahu (hawk) might look like a safe bet but, given the chance, he’d have sent our birds off to fight in Iraq.
Blogger: Campaign Manager for the kakariki, Phil Bilbrough
My green crimson friend
You are bright bubbly beautiful
My grandson; see these birds
They used to play in my orchard.
I didn’t mean for you to go
I’m pleased to see you again.
My young fellow
These birds are bright and full of life
Yes, like you.
They aren’t meant to be here not really
They are for the forests.
If I could I would let you free to feed again on my orchard
Like flames bouncing between the trees.
When my time is come, and if given a choice
I’ll be back as Kakariki
For my measure is to ignite, inspire and bring happiness.
And this is you kakariki.
