FW: Ashley Update, 31/10/10

[Frances Schmechel]

News from the Ashley below and Christmas gift ideas!

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From: n.le...@xtra.co.nz [mailto:n.le...@xtra.co.nz]
Sent: Sunday, 31 October 2010 10:26 p.m.
Subject: Ashley Update, 31/10/10

Hi All

 

At long last things are warming up on the river, with more birds around and into breeding - although numbers are still below what we would like to see.  There would be 20+ terns nesting on three islands off the end of Rossiters Road.  An unbanded pair of wrybills are just below them.  Up between Groynes 1 and 2 there is YO-RO / UB with nest or chicks, plus a lone male bird (WO-M).  B-YO and banded mate should be still around the G2 area, but as usual she is hard to locate.  Then John D found a UB female on a nest around the Tulls Road stretch.  Plenty of BDs, most with chicks of various sizes.  There appear to be no black-billed gulls nesting this year. And, as yet, no sign of the 'Black Bomber'.  But we have not really looked between the Okuku and Dalziels and over parts of the river between Marshmont and the SH1 bridge.

 

Geoff Swailes has met with  ECan ranger Simon Woods about blocking off more 4WD entrances, and Jane Buxton, Gary Johnson and I met with a journalist about an article to appear in Avenues magazine - hopefully before Christmas (good book promotion).  Thinking of the book ('Ria, the Reckless Wrybill'), if you want one they are available from the DOC office here at Rangiora, and at least the Childrens Book shop in Ch/Ch.  But also ask after it at your local book store - that way they will order it in, and the message can be spread further.  A great Christmas present with a strong local flavour.

 

Regards

 

Nick L.

Chariman

Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group Inc

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