farewell to Takunda and Tiffany

Recently takunda and Tiffany have left to go to Invercargill and Australia. this may be a sad time but a least they will be looking on the blog and commenting too.

bye Takunda and Tiffany

from the S.E.A team :( :(

:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(

maugatautari reserve

maungatotari reserve is a reserve where introduced pest are not welcome because there is a huge gate bordering around the forest. they are home to animals from takahe, kiwi, tui, kaka, kereru, tuatara, stichbird and many other native animals. maungatotari reserve is like going back in time because it is like what new Zealand was when you could only see forest.


Located forty minutes south of Hamilton and 20 minutes south of Cambridge, Maungatotari provides extra interest for walkers due to the native flora and fauna being released and regenerated in the special predator-free environment. Native birds such as kiwi, takahe, hihi and kaka have already being introduced, as well as fish and reptiles such as the kokopu and the forest gecko. The native species continue to thrive behind the pest-proof fence that surrounds the reserve.

The reserve’s walking tracks are wide and metalled, making them suitable for all weather and walking abilities. The Southern Enclosure is perfect for one to two hour guided or un-guided walks and features a 16 metre high viewing tower 20 minutes into the reserve which provides great views over the forest canopy and the chance to get up close with native birds. A 600 year-old rata tree also inhabits the southern enclosure and cheeky kaka are sure to entertain during their scheduled feedings - check Sanctuary Mountain's website for details.

Longer walking tracks also give you the opportunity to explore the whole mountain. The 6 hour hike (7.4km one way) across Mt Maungatotari takes you from Tari Road in the south to Hicks Road in the north (or vice versa), providing amazing views over the surrounding forests and countryside all the way down to Mt Ruapehu.

Guided night tours are also available through the nearby Out in the Styx Guesthouse and allow walkers to discover the magical atmosphere of a New Zealand forest at night. The guided night tour includes a pre-set, two-course dinner at Out in the Styx, followed by a guided walk with the opportunity to see kokopu (native fish) swimming in the streams, view giant weta clinging to tree trunks and the call of the kiwi. 
to tree trunks and hear the call of the kiwi.

 

why we should stop the use of plastic bags persausive writing

Persuasive writing

Is it a good idea to stop the use of plastic bags in New Zealand?

My plan.

 

Sequence

1.           Introduction

2.           Reasons why you should/not sell plastic bags in New Zealand.

3.           Conclusion

 

Is it a good idea to stop using plastic bags in New Zealand?

Yes, it is a good idea to stop the use of plastic bags because firstly, it is harmful to the environment, and they can also impact on us.

Plastic bags are one of the many reasons nature is dying today. When plastic bags are littered on the ground they can slowly dissolve, releasing toxic fumes into the soil, poisoning bugs and other species that are suited to that environment. It can also result to birds getting poisoned because when they catch bugs it may pass on the toxic fume.

 

Furthermore if you litter plastic bags it will not only release toxic fumes but be mistaken for food by marine animals such as whales, turtles, dolphins and penguins because when they swallow or choke the food it can  hurt and poison them causing them to die. L

 

However one of the most important things is what plastic bags impact on us. Plastic bag should be banned because they can block storm water drains and dirty our landscape. Cattle can also die from accidently ingesting plastic bags when they are caught on wires which impacts on the farmer.

 

Plastic bags should be banned because on the amount of impact they put on our environment and us.

By Tira McLachlan J    

 

 

staglands

staglands

staglands is a wildlife and café tourist attraction where you can get the opportunity to see wildlife like deer, goat, waterfowl, kea, kaka and fish in there natural habitat.

In staglands there are the stables

 

forest wetlands

 

 

toe toe aviary

trout and eel pool

old bush settlement

the tarn

deer and goat look out

 

 

the secret garden

forest and bird

Earlier this year we signed up with forest and birds to there kiwi conservation club. They work all over new Zealand and have lodges in reserves where you can go and have tours around the reserve with forest and bird members.

They help save tree and plant species like Kauri, Northern rata, tree fuchsia and black beech.

 kauri tree,

 tree Fuchsia

 

and northern rata and black beech

 

They also help save birds like the:

 

 

 

 

 

There are many more animals including tuatara

 which is only in new Zealand

Bye

 

 

 



Pukaha Mount Bruce

Mount Bruce is a big bird sanctuary home to many native birds and reptiles too.  Pukaha means strong winds.  Now that the reserve is being looked after, the numbers of pests and predators are being reduced, this however is a never ending task that the reserve rangers are constantly working on.  There have certainly been some good results, in that the reserve is now home to loads of animals and birds that before were on the edge extinction.  The reserve has nine aviaries which are home to sparrow sized orange fronted parakeets, red crowned and yellow crowned parakeets too. It has male and female stitch birds (Hihi) who sing beautiful tunes that make them one of my favourite native birds. Another bird at Mt Bruce is a female kokako named kahurangi . Kahurangi is quite lonely and she was not in her aviary when I visited this year. I was told by her ranger that they are trying to get her to breed with a new male but no success as she doesn’t appear to like his very much but they are hoping that soon there will be baby kokako getting all of the attention.  At the moment the visitors’ attention is focused on the brown and white little kiwis in their dark kiwi house.  Manukuri; the white Kiwi can be seen very easily due to her colour in one of the two enclosures.  In the other is brown kiwi.   Also you can see New Zealand’s living dinosaur, the tuatara. There are 5 Tuatara in mount Bruce and 4 of them are in enclosure and one out in the reserve.  There are also a number of geckos too and one of the coolest birds to see is one of New Zealand’s parrots the kaka. There are 160 thriving at Pukaha mount Bruce and you can see them being feed and see baby chicks.  One of pukaha’s rangers will be there to give you more details about the kaka.  We got some wonderful photos of the Kaka as they are come pretty close to you in the feed area and they are very impressive birds.  The ninth aviary beholds one of New Zealand’s native duck the blue duck (whio) these are one of the highlights at pukaha mount Bruce. There are many things to experience and see with the rangers at hand to answer any questions you many have.  Like seeing the eels getting feed or watching the tuatara getting feed in their enclosure or the kaka feeding.

 

 

 

This is a brown kiwi at pukaha mount Bruce. There is one brown kiwi in the kiwi house and some out in the mount Bruce reserve and this picture was taken out in the reserve. Did you know the kiwi is the only bird with nostrils at the end of its nose? Mount Bruce is a just over an hour drive from Palmerston North over the rangers via the gorge turning at Woodville on to state highway 2. Mt Bruce is about 10 km south of Eketahuna. Mount Bruce is a tourist attraction because it was the first reserve in New Zealand to make the captive breeding programme for threatened species. Mount Bruce was once a big 70 square mile forest but just ten years ago it was silent, with not many trees, but now it is home to many birds, fish and animals.  There are now big rimu, maiti, tree ferns and many more happily growing. Within the Mt Bruce information centre you can also experience the interactive gallery and look and hear what the forest was like millions of years ago and see what has changed since then. Check out the sound of the now extinct moa and huia. Kids can check out the virtual night experiences in the massive rata tree. When you are at mount Bruce stop at takahe café’s outside area look down and see if you can see a takahe!

Mount Bruce is a cool place so remember to stop there!
 
 

 

 

How can we save our endangered animals

We can save our endangered species by....

Recycle reuse and reduce

plant trees for native species and introduced animals too.

Protect animals by stopping pest populations grow.

put them in zoos, reserves or pest free islands.

[for example mount Bruce NZ]

donate money

donate money to save endangered animals from whaling and hunting and all of that