Welcome 2015

Happy New year everyone.  

Hope that you are all safe and looking forward to another wonder year. 

Tira.

donation time

This year the S.E.A group are making collages to sale so we can raise money to give to world wildlife fund. This has a high chance of making animals numbers increase and will also help get rid of the pest killing animals too.

If people buy these this will help wwf. we will sale these at galas, school and many more.

bye readers

should animals be kept in cages!!!

cages are a object designed to keep expensive, special belongings inside but as the world became more diverse they are now used as a deathtrap for innocent animals. this is upsetting and mean because every year the are killed by this threat. we need to stop this now!!!

I truly believe this because it not only limits there ability to exercise, live with freedom but decrease there years of living. a macaw can live around 90 to 100 years in the wild but in a cage it shortens it to an estimated 50 years.


Another reason is that the most commonly found reason of animals being stuck in cages is that they are used for science experiments. If you find wierd, out of this world liquid or machinery in your household they are most likely given to animals to drink or lick in any kind of way so they can discover if it is safe or not. 


In conclusion this is why it is a stupid idea to keep innocent, mostly fluffy animals in cages because of my evidence and that it is 100% mean and instead of increasing animals number it is decreasing them.

Please leave a comment about your oppinion on this topic

thank you.

Kiwi kids news at the herb farm

On saturday the 6th of july we went to the herb farm with the kiwi conservation club. we did all sorts of things like a talk with our tour guide Lin who taught us how to make some haeling cream which can help you keep your skin smooth and heal your bruses and sores. She told us that herbs are very important because they help you with sores and give flavour to your food. She also showed different types of herbs to us like cumphrey and lavender. 

To start our cream we used some base cream and fulled the bottled to the half point. Secondly we used CALENDULAR OIL in our cream and did five-seven drops in there. thirdly we used CALENDULA TINCTURE and did the some thing but with five drops in to the base cream. These are all healing, saftening and have antiseptic. thirdly we dropped in 1-3 drops of carrot all which is made by the seed and when mixed it will become a lemony colour and dropped in 3-5 or 6 drops of Alkanet oil which is made from the root of the herb and is a very dark red. It won't turn dark red but a delicate pink. Alkanet is slightly antispectic too. If you also mix these herbs together it will create a peach colour. 

Herbs will give us a good source of vitiman A. With those steps done Lin Talked to us about the essential oil. we had Lavender and Lemon essentials. These essentials are both antiseptic and uplifting. When you mix these in you have to have 15 drops in them if you like to have a strong smell but if you don't have less drops in your cream. After you have done that you full it up with some more Base cream. you mix it and them we were done and off to the garden tour.

kiwi conservation club

hi it's Tira here..

do you remember the forest and bird I posted earlier well kiwi conservation club is another name for it. Every now and then they send out newsletters to each member relating to the region they live in. they tell us a brief summary on what they are doing this term which could be a field trip or a talk but you can still learn about nature and have FUN!!!!!!!

me and my family might get the chance to go to the herb farm on Saturday and maybe the week after Kapiti island

YAY!!!  

here are some pictures

they help

lodges

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

An old friend

Can you guess who has come back....

Can he fly.... now he can

Is he colourful.... yes like a rainbow red, orange, yellow and whatever


he is.... Rio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

he has come back but sadly he is not going to be with us in the meeting :(

But anyway we could also be having a person from the wild base will come but I will talk about closer to the next meeting.

Bye

The S.E.A

 

The Meeting of the S.E.A

Well,  we had our 3rd meeting of the S.E.A and in this meeting we watched the documentary movie 'The Last Ocean'.  It was fantastic, very informative and really gives you all the information and a view on what is occurring in the Ross  Sea.  

It certainly give you a lots to talk and think about.  

As a group we discussed what we can do to help with making the Ross sea an protected area as it truly is the most pristine place in the world.

We urge everyone to watch this movie and voice your opinion to those who can help. 

As you maybe aware there was a meeting of those who can make this happen recently but unfortunately they could not agree.   There is going to be another meeting mid 2013 we are hoping they can may the right choice but in the meantime we can let them know how we feel.

Our final meeting will be late November and we are hoping to have a special guest from Massey Wild base to talk to the group.  Will post more detail in the next week.

Many thanks for taking the time to read our blog - Tira.

Next meeting 3rd November

Hi there,

Our next meeting will be Saturday 3rd November at the usual place.  Please let one of our members know if you are able to attend. 

There will be a couple of presentations.  Kiwa will be doing one on the Cheetah.  

We will also have the 'The last ocean' available.  This documentary is about the race to protect earth's last untouched ocean, the Ross Sea Antarctica, from our insatiable appetite for fish.  It is really informative.   

Bye:]

Arahi's Sea Turtle presentation

To follow is the presentation that Arahi gave to the group at our last meeting:

Enjoy:

The Sea Turtle

Facts about the sea turtles :

Sea turtles are one of the Earth's oldest creatures. There are 7 types of turtles that can be found today.  They have been around for 110  million years, since the time of the dinosaurs.

More facts

²The sea turtle's shell is made for swimming through the water. Unlike other turtles, sea turtles cannot retract their legs and head into their shells. Their color varies between yellow, greenish and black depending on the species

 even more facts about sea turtles

üGreen sea turtles can stay under water for as long as five hours

üThey can live up to 80 years.

üThe Kemp's Ridley is the smallest sea turtle at 30 inches long and weighing 80 to 100 pounds.

üThe largest sea turtle is the leatherback - an adult can reach over six and a half feet long and weigh over 2,000 pounds.

Why are they endangered

The dead and stranded sea turtles began washing up on Gulf Coast beaches during a large oil spill

critically endangered sea turtles—which survived the oil disaster 2 years ago  now drown in fishing nets.

What you can do to help

Adopt a sea turtle:

https://wildlifeadoption.org or

www.worldwildlife.org

And select Adopt and then ‘Sea Turtle’

How Your Adoption Helps Save Sea Turtles

ØHelps protect the areas that the turtles nest.

ØEnables us to educate people to reduce their human impact on sea turtle nesting.

ØProvides the resources we need to help international laws that protect sea turtles and other wildlife.

Our Meeting

Not many people have been turning up to our meetings.(Not that I'm growling.) But if you want to join in the S.E.A please feel free to ask, Tira, Tiffany, Clementine or Takunda. Anyway, we are looking forward to the Gala, where we can promote more things about Endangered animals. See you there. Thanks!

Fun animal Fact: An Elephant trunk can grow up to 2 meters long!

Second gathering of the Fellowship

Yes, we had our second meeting of the fellowship on Saturday (8th).  There were three presentations completed.  Arahi's presentation was on the Sea Turtle, Teghan presented the Blue Penguin and Tira completed a presentation on the Right Whale. 

The presentations were great and very informative.  We will post them in the next couple of days. 

the school Gala!!!!!!

To save endangered animals we made these pegs with endangered animals on them. members of the club are going to sell these at the St James school gala in Palmerston North NZ. The money is going to be donated to the school Gala.  Just a little fact about the Gala: It is the Best gala in Palmerston North!!!

 

Bye from Tira!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :):)

Info of endangered animals

As you saw the Video of the top ten most endangered animals, here is some info of the animals:


The Kakapo

The Kakapo is a native New Zealand bird and today is one of the most endangered birds in the world. This rare bird is the Heaviest bird and is very Mysterous. Today the threats they face are Wild cats, stoats and rats and becuase of that there are only around 90 birds left.


Chinese giant salamander

The greenish, brown coloured salamander is the biggest salamander in the world growing the length of 1.8 meters. This salamander has tiny eyes so poor eyesite. These rare animals live in fast flowing streams and the threats they face today are srtream polution, deforestation and harvesting.


Tiger


The stripes of a tiger camouflage in the jungle and are also seen on the black market because we are killing  them for their fur and there meat. They prey on different things in there habitats like wild boars, deer, wild dogs, water buffalo and domestic buffalo. Today because of poaching and hunting there are only 5000 left in the world.

Leatherback sea turtle

The leatherback sea turtle is the biggest turtle in the world and is one of the most endangered animals in the world too. People are taking there eggs to cook , they get trapped in fishing nets. They also mistake floating plastic bags for jellyfish, there favourite food.  Not like other turtles they have a rubbery back. they can stay underwater for 35 minutes.

Western lowland gorilla

If you come to that moment where you are face to face to an untamed gorilla it could rip your arm off. But you probably won't because these animals are really endangered. The western lowland gorilla eats plants and because of us there are only 600 left in the world.

Right whale

The right whale is the most endangered whale in the world. they are in the group of baleen whales with other whales like the blue whale and the fin whale. these rare whales are 15 meters long and eat krill. These whales were named the right whale because they were sid to be the right whale to hunt becuase they floated when dead and had a good amount of oil. When they reach the surface there blow makes a V shape. The threats they face are whaling, whalewatching disturbing them. Today only 350 are left on the face of earth.

The greater bamboo lemur

The biggest lemur is the rare greater bamboo lemur. they were discovered in 1870 and were thought to be extinct in the early 20th century but today they are still around. they eat bamboo and live in rain forests but the rain forset are getting cleared out so there habitat is gone due to deforestation.


The Javan rhino

The rarest rhino, the Javan rhino with only 60 left lives only in only 2 national wildlife parks because of how rare they are. the threats were getting killed for their horns. The horn catch hunters attention. They eat any thing they can find., like fallen fruit, twigs and root.


The Amur Leopard

The rare cat, the Amur leopard eats Deers and Racoon dogs, wild boars and lost more. this rare cat are in zoos all around Europe. The threats they face are hunting for skins and habitat loss. this is how the rare cat is dying but we are helping them .

The Ivory billed woodpecker.

This bird has topped endangered animals list . These animals are dying because of Habitat lost and in the native american time they killed them for there long beck. There number is very low and they were thought to be extinct until recent sightings have been seen. Conservations are trying to save them. This is the third biggest woodpecker in the world at the length of 20 inches and the wingspan of 30 inches.