The world is a changed place with tragic losses of people and jobs, creating a reason for a reassessment of the way we live. Hopefully we can recalibrate on a global scale and make some corrections for a more sustainable future.
Lockdowns gave people time to exercise and get back in touch with their bodies and with nature, as they walked in local parks. Home gardens have been well tended and I even started to feed the birds in mine! Tui now regularly visit my city garden and sip sugar water from an inverted bottle feeder. They chase each other at lightning speeds through a titoki tree, unbelievably missing branches. A flock of silvereyes squabble over cut up oranges. Spotted turtle doves, with their pretty pink chests and patch of spots on their necks, feed on seeds alongside yellowhammers, greenfinches and sparrows. I lie on the deck and observe the activities of these delightful little creatures with my binoculars, missing Tāwharanui’s diversity of species.
A big thank you goes to the Auckland Council Rangers who have worked doubly hard in the Sanctuary in the absence of volunteers during Covid-19 lockdowns. Amidst an enormous list of chores, rangers Maurice and Amy were busy catching very clever and evasive predators, while we volunteers were stranded at home, missing the regular fix of bird song, open spaces and fresh sea air the Sanctuary provides. Now, back at the Sanctuary, volunteers are on the job assisting rangers with catching takahē to be moved to other conservation parks; monitoring birds and geckos; checking the pest proof fence and trap lines.
The Forest Bridge Trust and Takatu Land Care are back in action too, so we look forward to the benefits of their trapping work in Tāwharanui’s buffer zone.
The September planting day was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions and the TOSSI AGM has been postponed to Sunday 4 October, to be held after our volunteer workday activities. Hopefully, restrictions will have dropped a level or two so that we can have more people onsite.
Rain has softened the forest floors, so kiwi are back feeding there and no longer being seen in large numbers out in the paddocks. The grubs that attracted the kiwi into the paddocks were most likely a seasonal alternative during the drought months. Birds are heading into their nesting season. A pair of variable oystercatchers already has two chicks on the Jones Bay lawn. We’re able to look forward to enjoying spring back in the Sanctuary.
Alison Stanes
TOSSI chairperson comment Spring 2020
Published by Jackie Russell on
The world is a changed place with tragic losses of people and jobs, creating a reason for a reassessment of the way we live. Hopefully we can recalibrate on a global scale and make some corrections for a more sustainable future.
Lockdowns gave people time to exercise and get back in touch with their bodies and with nature, as they walked in local parks. Home gardens have been well tended and I even started to feed the birds in mine! Tui now regularly visit my city garden and sip sugar water from an inverted bottle feeder. They chase each other at lightning speeds through a titoki tree, unbelievably missing branches. A flock of silvereyes squabble over cut up oranges. Spotted turtle doves, with their pretty pink chests and patch of spots on their necks, feed on seeds alongside yellowhammers, greenfinches and sparrows. I lie on the deck and observe the activities of these delightful little creatures with my binoculars, missing Tāwharanui’s diversity of species.
A big thank you goes to the Auckland Council Rangers who have worked doubly hard in the Sanctuary in the absence of volunteers during Covid-19 lockdowns. Amidst an enormous list of chores, rangers Maurice and Amy were busy catching very clever and evasive predators, while we volunteers were stranded at home, missing the regular fix of bird song, open spaces and fresh sea air the Sanctuary provides. Now, back at the Sanctuary, volunteers are on the job assisting rangers with catching takahē to be moved to other conservation parks; monitoring birds and geckos; checking the pest proof fence and trap lines.
The Forest Bridge Trust and Takatu Land Care are back in action too, so we look forward to the benefits of their trapping work in Tāwharanui’s buffer zone.
The September planting day was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions and the TOSSI AGM has been postponed to Sunday 4 October, to be held after our volunteer workday activities. Hopefully, restrictions will have dropped a level or two so that we can have more people onsite.
Rain has softened the forest floors, so kiwi are back feeding there and no longer being seen in large numbers out in the paddocks. The grubs that attracted the kiwi into the paddocks were most likely a seasonal alternative during the drought months. Birds are heading into their nesting season. A pair of variable oystercatchers already has two chicks on the Jones Bay lawn. We’re able to look forward to enjoying spring back in the Sanctuary.
Alison Stanes
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