Viewing a robin at Rotokare

While collecting some Lizard traps in the Reserve I was lucky enough to be in the company of a very friendly North Island robin. It happily searched in the leaf litter for anything to eat and didn't mind me getting quite close for this photo.

Possibly the same robin has been seen in this spot during the late summer-we hope it has a mate out in the bush as well.

Birds I have seen often at Rotokare include fantail, woodpigeon,tui and bellbird plus various ducks and shags on the lake.

Bushy Park

Bushy Park is approx 30 minutes out of Wanganui.

Within the grounds there is a lovely old homestead plus a large amount of native bush.

I enjoyed some easy short walks and the native trees-a fantastic old Northern Rata,which started life as an epiphyte-being hosted by another tree!

At Bushy Park there is a predator-proof fence-similar to Rotokares and a shorter rodent fence as well.

Lake Rotokare Scenic Reserve website

Check out what is happening at Rotokare by visiting http://www.rotokare.org.nz/

This website gives you a map of where Rotokare is and some background information plus what's been going on out there recently.

It also tells you about 'the fence',what you might see and do and the interesting history of this special Reserve.

Collecting Lizard traps

Three types of Lizard traps have been out in the bush at Rotokare. Two of these- the tree covers and onduline ground traps can stay out all-year round but the pitfall traps need collecting and sorting before being set again next summer.

The pitfall traps are basically old paint cans baited with pear, set in the ground with a slim wooden cover over the top that hopefully any lizards at Rotokare will be attracted to.

On this day we were collecting traps up in the control area and on the bush ridge.

John had fun carrying these back to the carpark!

Otari-Wilton's Bush Reserve

While in Wellington we got the chance to visit Otari-Wilton's Bush Reserve. This is a huge bush area that includes native Botanic gardens within Wellington city.

There is an informative visitors centre, places to cook a barbeque and many walks-one of which took us to see this 800 year old rimu tree.

Kapiti Island Visit

The sun shone and there was barely a ripple on the sea as we went by boat out to Kapiti Island. Along with two other Primary Teacher Science Fellows I was fortunate to be able to visit Kapiti Island Nature Reserve.

Kapiti was made one of New Zealand's first nature reserves in 1897 and has developed into a success story in terms of its restoration and eradication of pests over this time.

Keruru are abundant and we saw many feeding on Coprosma near the waters edge. It was fantastic to see and hear saddlebacks and watch robins scratching amongst the leaf litter.

Rotokare Art Auction

The Trust ran a very successful Art Auction in Eltham at the beginning of May helping raise $11,000 towards the great work happening at the Reserve. Art By Janet Marshall, Prime Minister John Key and others sold well.

Over 150 locals attended to support this worthy cause.

Getting up close with bugs

I have worked from home this week sorting through invertebrate samples collected earlier this year and comparing this to samples collected two summers ago. Apparently the health of the soil can be told by what can be found in it. Another Fenced Reserve in the Waikato called Maungatautari did a study that found the number of beetles in the soil increased once pests and predators were fenced out.

Zealandia

The Karori Sanctuary-called Zealandia is quite unique in being so close to the centre of Wellington. One of its aims is to restore the Reserve to its original habitat-this includes translocating some bird species and even replacing introduced trees with natives. I was particularly interested in the 'fence' and seeing how it compared to Rotokare's.

Zealandia is a special place that has been developed over 10 years-I particularly liked the areas where you hear individual bird sounds through pushing buttons,the variety of bird nesting boxes,weta hotels and the new information centre and interactive/educational area.

Nga Manu and Pukaka Mt Bruce Reserves

Another highlight from visiting Mt Bruce and Nga Manu was observing during the feeding times of the Kaka and Longfin eels. If you are ever visiting these Reserves try to be there to see this. We couldn't believe the number of Kaka that seemed to appear from nowhere once they knew their dinner was to be served!

The sheer size and number of eels is amazing during their feeding time.When they spawn these eels travel way up into the Pacific near Fiji to reproduce and the common old longfin NZ eel is actually an endangered species.