Well.. I’m in Wellington right now with Sarah visiting some of her friends. However, she forgot to mention that I was coming with her- so that was a nice surprise for them 🙂
They’re quite nice though- they found me an internet cafe to wile away the time until they’re back from their concert. I suppose I could go explore Wellington, but I’ll be doing more of that tomorrow and I have this sinking feeling that I wouldn’t be able to find my way back.
I’m used to fairly small towns and Boundary Stream where when you’re in doubt either head up or find a triangle for a path that leads to somewhere.
The good thing about a place where everything’s monitored is that there are triangles everywhere. So- this week has been so hectic. Not actually much physical work after Tuesday- that was VERY physical though- Tamsin and I went to the Kaweka range (the next one over from Maungaharuru, that ours) to try and listen for a kiwi (Mack) that had lost his transmitter to call.
Luckily we got a ride in a helicopter (they were doing aerial hunting at the same time we needed to go up) to the top of Makino hill. Makino hill is a 2.5 hour hike straight up. I love that helicopter 🙂
Once we got up there we stored some of our stuff in the ranger hut and headed out to the gully that Mack had nested in before. This gully is almost straight down, completely slippery from the stream that runs through it- which makes the dirt absolutely treacherous, and half the logs are rotten- which makes it a death trap for your feet. I only took one half-controlled slide on the way out. I do have one fun image in my head off me dangling from a tree that I had been using for support after the bank disappeared under my feet.
Anyhow- since kiwi are nocturnal and I quite refused to hike out of that gully after dark we set up our sleeping bags on perhaps the only flat ground in 5 km.
Relatively flat. I was braced against a tree and a rock to make sure I didn’t roll over and keep rolling down a slope into the stream. It was so much fun though-the night was beautiful. However- that blasted kiwi never called. And I slept on a large stick all night. It wasn’t exactly restful- and neither was the hike out in the morning.
Luckily the helicopter was also running that morning- so we got a ride down the hill as well. Cut another 2.5 hours off of the trip. We’re so spoiled- they dropped us off right at the truck 🙂 So yes- after that the rest of the week was physically easy but completely draining nonetheless.
I’m used to having about 5 people at base permanently (I’ve gotten tired of saying permanent staff so they’re now perma-staff) and when Wendy, Tamsin and I got back to base on Thursday after taking a school group around the interpretation track there were hordes of people there. I walked into the courtyard area and literally almost reeled back. Sarah rescued me and brought me to people I knew. Or who knew me anyway- it’s freaky that- everyone knows me and I can’t figure out who they are for the life of me.
Oh yes, sorry- everyone was up there because we were releasing two Kiwi that day. Major event. That brings the total number of Kiwi in the reserve up to 10. So we had the Maori ceremony welcoming the Kiwi back and blessing them (again and again and again.. poor little birds), then Steve gave his little speech (with a nod to international volunteers thank you very much) and then Tamsin put on a tracking device while everyone was crowded around the poor kiwi who, from what I could see, looked traumatized.
There were about 20 school kids, probably 10 parents, at least 30 visitors (either landowners adjacent to Boundary Stream, Kokako volunteers, people from DOC in Napier, or just other random people, plus the local iwi.. that’s the Maori contingent), and the film crew who were up for the documentary they’re doing on DOC workers. All of these are crowded around the kiwi.
Wendy and I were sitting in the back cracking up laughing at the little kid who was cuddling the stuffed possum. She was rocking it like a baby. Obviously she’d miss the lecture on the fact that possums are not the good guys. Although this possum is kind of funny. It got stuffed in a position that I swear looks like he’s ready to do kung-fu (sp?). Eventually the kids left and Tams and the film crew went out to actually release Marama and Iwik (the kiwi’s.. the kids named Iwik- anyone get it?) and the rest of us cleaned up, finished the cookies, and collapsed on the porch.
It was fun though. And then today the film crew (the camera man is decidedly grumpy) attempted to get the sounds of the dawn chorus- too windy though, and then got absolutely amazing footage of the Kokako. These birds are serious exhibitionists. Sarah was nearly crowing she was so thrilled. They couldn’t have done better if we had arranged it. The female even chased down a cicada in the aviary and ate it- which they never do.
They even sang a little while we were there- mainly cause we ticked them off so much from having too many people around. Plus they were looking amazing.
The other Koks are molting right now- so they looked like plucked chickens, but these ones were just glowing. Shoot- Sarah’s rubbing off on me- I’m sounding sappy about the birds. So after two hours and two takes (I am NEVER doing film) we attempted to do robin filming. My project. My baby. For starters- they seemed to think that you could sit there for five minutes and have robins flocking to you.
Never mind I sit there for up to an hour at times listening for them. Then when a robin did come, amazingly fast and was sitting there watching us- obviously freaked because so many people were there- they start moving around being idiotic and scare the poor girl off. Then they decide we have to move again- so yes- we never did get the robin down to feed her. Poor Titania. Err- yes- I have named two of the robins. 🙂 You’d have to see the robins but they’ve got the most distinctive personalities and they’re so inquisitive.
Okay, yes, I’m attached. Oh well- being filmed was an interesting experience and watching the Kokako was worth it all. Sarah & I are trying the berry trick she used today next week to try and get pictures 🙂
Okay, I know that was so long- sorry. But this week has seriously been so crowded. Plus I’ve got a bit of time to kill so I’m catching people up some. Well as much as possible. Ohhh- and I got my pictures developed! They’re amazing! They all came out! Who knew? 🙂 I’ve got a roll and a half of just Tongariro Crossing- some amazing pictures of the mountains- and some hilarious ones as well. I can’t even try and describe some of these pictures. Let’s just take it for granted I look dirty and so happy in all of them. Umm- so yes- hopefully this makes sense to everyone and hopefully I got the right email address for The New Era. Okay, lots of love to everyone and I’ll attempt more personal emails soon I promise! Love,
Melissa