Kia ora
Water - the number one environmental issue in Canterbury
800 to 1000 litres of water is needed on an irrigated farm in Canterbury to produce 1 litre of milk. Recently a dairy farm in South Canterbury was given resource consent to draw3.6 million cubic metres of water per annum from beneath the ground for 10 years - the equivalent to 7% of the total water demand of the city of Christchurch. In the 1980’s our family swum in the Selwyn River at a place called Coes Ford. There are warning signs there now about the dangers of swimming in water because of high bacterial concentrations. Around the same time this river was a famous trout fishery – a spawning run measured up to 40 000 fish. Nowadays I am told finding 40 fish in the lower reaches would be difficult. Urea application to farmland has increased 10-fold between 1999 and 2004. It has been calculated that a herd of 244 cows produces the same amount of effluent as 3416 people. Extrapolating this figure would suggest that the New Zealand dairy herd produces the same amount of effluent as 55 million people. It would appear that we have been spectacularly unsuccessful in convincing the rural sector that to sustain our so called “clean green” image requires more than just expensive tourism marketing campaigns. Maybe farmers who are environmentally responsible should be rewarded for their stance – incentives are always a better option than penalties. And to bring the issue right home we are continuing to fight new schemes aimed at damming and depleting the Ashburton River and its tributaries. The latest would see canals removing water at Buicks Bridge, just above the area where two pair of Wrybill and a small colony of Black-fronted Tern are holding on. This is a good illustration of the divergence of attitude towards our braided rivers. Are they an economic resource to be utilized or a natural resource to be valued and protected? (Marita says “Good, now you have got that off your chest”).
Tussock & Beech News
SIT & Odyssey Travel Programmes
We ran two successful Lost World of Erewhon programmes in November and December and one Akaroa Idyll programme in March. (Check out Odyssey Travel for more information on our programmes and the extensive list of programmes they and SIT run). We also hosted again two Elderstudy (USA Elderhostel) groups who enjoyed a day on the Mt Somers Track and a climb of Mt Sunday – with a little river crossing thrown in. This group is led by Brien and Pauline Mahoney but in November of this year they will be led by John Jordan will lead the group. John's Search & Rescue work was recognised in the New Year’s Honours list when he was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Mt Somers Track
- The new Woolshed Creek Hut which we thought would open in November 2004 was finally opened for use in May, 2006..
- The upgrade of the Sharplin Falls Track did not occur this season.
- Lake Heron Conservation Park This may be announced and opened in December 2006. In the meantime we have been able to enjoy the improved access on the Department of Conservation land on the southern shore of the lake. A walk up Lake Hill provides spectacular views of the Taylor Range and the lake.
Images of a Frozen Landscape
After thinking that we would “can” this programme with low numbers over the last two years, interest has been such that this year in July we are running the 7-day programme twice. The second programme will be for photographers – with plenty of cold, early starts.
Collective Nouns
I frequently ask guests if they can think of a suitable collective noun for a group of Crested Grebe. I am still seeking this. Here are some avian collective nouns which I found: murder of crows; cast of falcons or hawks; charm of finches; conspiracy of ravens; exaltation of skylarks; parliament of morepork; siege of herons; tiding of magpies; ubiquity of sparrows; vein of goldfinch; peel of bellbirds (the last one was mine).
Summer Highlights
Cameron River - By far the greatest highlight would be the discovery of a number of pairs (at least 8) of Wrybill nesting on the Cameron River. This river rises in the Arrowsmith Range. It is a “mini” braided river and over its 24 km length has all the stages of the large Canterbury braided rivers which rise in the Southern Alps. It is glacier-fed (Cameron and Douglas Glaciers), passes through a high alpine basin, enters a 10km gorge and emerges to form a fan of braided streams before flowing into Lake Stream, the outlet of Lake Heron. Wrybill obviously enjoy the weed-free habitat the braided fan provides – as well as an absence of 4WD vehicles.
Visit to Tiri tiri Matangi
I spent some time in Auckland during December 2005. I was there for brachytherapy treatment for prostate cancer (it seems to have been successful, but I will have regular check-ups). I treated myself after the operation to a trip to Tiri tiri Matangi, an open sanctuary in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf. What a place, it was a very special day. I was last there 18 years ago when the revegetation was just getting underway. I saw and photographed North Island Saddleback, Stichbird, North Island Robin, Kingfisher, Morepork, Brown Teal and Takahe. I heard Kokako – and what a beautiful sound that was. This island is a must-visit for all who wish to see something resembling our bird fauna before human destruction.
Natural History News
Fantail common
We have been blessed with large numbers of fantail this season. The following is from a monthly column I write for the Mt Somers News (our district's monthly newsheet).
Fantail – piwakawaka (Rhipidura fuliginosa) Each autumn we have pied and black fantail around the garden - one of our best known and most liked native birds. Are they two species? No, they are two colour forms of the same species. With the South Island Fantail (one of three sub-species in New Zealand – the others are the North and Chatham Island sub-species) the black phase makes up nearly 15% of the population. In the North Island, the black phase makes up only 0.1% of the population and that is mainly around Wellington where there probably has been some mixing of genes from South Island birds which crossed Cook Strait. Fantail is one of the few of our native birds to have increased in numbers following the clearance of forests. There are a number of reasons for their success. One is that they prefer to live on or near the edge of forests or where the forests are regenerating. Their nests are built around 3 metres above the ground and thus they have some protection from predators. Their food supply is plentiful – moths, flies, beetles, spiders and wasps. They occasionally add small fruit from native plants. They also have different methods of feeding: hawking, flushing and feeding associations. When hawking, a fantail flies to capture the prey it has seen from its perch. Flushing occurs in denser vegetation where the bird catches the prey it disturbs by working through the foliage. The third method, feeding association, is one we humans are familiar with. The fantail follows another bird or animal (or person) and catches the insects disturbed by their movement. So it’s their stomach which makes the fantail flit near to us on a bush track – but I still like to think that they are just being very friendly. The other reason that fantail continue to be plentiful is that they are very productive breeders. They are capable of four broods during their breeding season from August to February and each brood usually contains four eggs. Compare that breeding to kakapo. One egg a year when conditions are right – and that may only be once every four years, providing it can find a mate. Don’t be worried if you can’t find any fantail in our beech forests this winter – they have probably shifted coastward for warmer climes.
Leptinella species
I was pleased to find 4 species of Leptinella on Mt Hutt this summer during our November Odyssey/SIT programme. These were: Leptinella atrata, L. pyrethrifolia, L. dendyii, L.pectinata. All were in flower.
Ranunculus crithmifolius
The small colony we found last year on Mt Somers near the Mt Somers Hut flowered well in November. I do wonder if it is a separate sub-species. To my knowledge this is the only colony growing on rhyolite scree, and it does look different to the plants on Mt Hutt. There is still some conjecture as to whether the Castle Hill colony is a separate sub-species, being the only colony on limestone.
Yellow mistletoe
No success again – the seeds which did germinate to produce a haustorium did not survive the summer. Have tried again (only 3 seeds collected this year – the Bellbird beat me to it). This time I have made a small knick under the bark and placed the seed there. We will wait and see.
From the kitchen
Pan Fried Chicken Breasts with Sage
Serves 4
The subtle flavour and texture of sizzled sage leaves makes this simple recipe a favourite. Prepare the chicken ahead and keep it in the fridge - coat with flour just before cooking.
2 double chicken breasts, skinned and boned
a handful of fresh sage leaves
3-4 tbsp flour
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
salt
freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup white wine
toothpicks
Split the chicken breasts and cut each single breast into smallish slices 1cm thick. Secure a sage leaf on every piece of chicken using a toothpick.
On kitchen paper and using tongs coat chicken both sides with flour.
Heat the oil in a large frying pan and when it is hot, drop in the butter. Add the chicken pieces, sage side facing down, while the butter is sizzling. Cook several minutes a side until golden brown; don't overcook - the chicken should be tender and juicy. Season with salt and pepper. If the pan is small, you may need to cook the chicken in two batches, using a little more oil and butter.
Transfer the chicken to a plate. Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool a few minutes, then pour in the wine. Swirl the wine around the pan, let it bubble over the heat briefly, until any bits are lifted from the bottom of the pan, then pour it over the chicken. Serve immediately. Delicious with a potato mash, or crunchy potatoes, asparagus or a green salad.
Ka kite ano
Marita and Warren
