Hidden Secrets of South Invercargill - a 2 hour walk. Meet at Kew Bush North Entrance (back of Kew Hospital off Elles Road). Looking at Kew Bush with John Tait and Alan McPherson, going on to the Kingswell Creek walkway and the Estuary Boardwalk. Leader Sheryll Ashton, ph 214 2319.
Visit Forest and Bird’s Te Rere Penguin Reserve in the Catlins for the annual full day penguin count. Two shifts 10am-4pm and 4pm-10pm. Contact Brian Rance [Enable JavaScript to view protected content] or ph 213 1161.
Eglinton Valley restoration project working bee. Accommodation bookings should be made asap with PC Taylor at Knobs Flat, if required. The Eglinton River bed is an important habitat for several species of birds and other fauna. Nowadays this habitat is significantly altered by human activities and as a result is overgrown by lupins, thistle and other weeds, and introduced predators are causing havoc at nesting sites. A volunteer group has been established to protect black-fronted terns, which are classified as endangered, and other species such as banded dotterel, lizards, etc. Now, in the beginning of our second season we have got a trap line on the site and hope to get as many volunteers as possible! Knobs Flat is great place to stay with magnificent views and the valley is one of last refugees of short-tailed bat!
Check out about this project at http://www.fiordlandrestoration.co.nz/projects/eglinton-river-habitat
If you would like to assist with this great project then join us for the weekend from Friday 26th November at Knobs Flat. Discounted accommodation prices are being offered for F&B volunteers. Cost per room will be $60 per night for queen size double bed. (half the cost to be donated to the project.) Please contact PC Taylor - [Enable JavaScript to view protected content] to make your reservation asap.
A Trip around Central Southland Restoration Sites. A bus will leave Feldwick Gates, Queens Park, at 9.30am. First stop is at Forest Hill to hear about the future plans to reduce pests in this significant DOC reserve. The second stop will be at the nearby Turnbull’s Sherwood Forest, an area that had restoration work started in 2003, with weed & pest control and revegetation - a chance to check out how progress is going. Lunch will be here from 12 noon to 12.45pm. Third stop will be John Cowie’s restoration site on the Otapiri Stream. The Cowie’s have a QEII covenant that follows a ribbonwood lined bank with a number of threatened plant species present, which John has encouraged the regeneration of by spraying out the grass sward underneath. Fourth and final stop for the day will be at The Donut, a small remnant of the Heddon Bush on the de Wolde’s property. The Heddon Bush School adopted this area and undertook restoration plantings there, as well as encouraging the owners to protect the remnant long term with a QEII covenant. To book your place on the bus, email either Chris Rance - [Enable JavaScript to view protected content] or Gay Munro - [Enable JavaScript to view protected content].
Otatara Bush Haven and Southland Community Nursery Open Afternoon 1pm-4pm. Helping Otatara’s Native Wildlife
Bush Haven bird rehabilitation centre (49 Bryson Road, Otatara) will be open - see kaka, kereru, kakariki being cared for ready for release. At 1.30pm three kereru will be released into the wild.
Southland Community Nursery (185 Grant Road, just round the corner from Bryson Road) will be open for native plant advice - plants to attract native birds, shelter plants, pond restoration. Bring along any plant, native or exotic to be identified and take away a free local native plant.
At both venues Otatara Pestbusters will give advice on the best traps to use for pest control - put your name down for information, traps or poison for use on your own Otatara property.