Kia ora
It has been 5 seasons or 16 months since we last produced a Newsletter. In response to a number of requests, here is Tussock & Beech Newsletter Number 15. I have no doubt that it will be received with the same response as have the 14 that have preceded it. Good Newsletter Warren - loved Marita’s recipe. Yeh right!

Pre-human New Zealand

Ever wondered what New Zealand bush might have been like before humans arrived? Well Marita and I spent a week on an island which makes it easy to imagine. In May we spent a week on Tiritiri Matangi, an island nature reserve in the Hauraki Gulf, 4 km off the Whangaparoa Peninsula. Approximately 60% of the island is covered in forest, most of which has been planted by hand over the past 25 years. It has also been free of mustelid & rodent predators (stoats, rats & the like) for over 20 years. In other words it is like New Zealand used to be before we mucked it up by destroying most of the forests and introducing predators.

So what is it like? Your first impression is one of amazement at the number of native birds that you see and hear. Bellbird, tui, keruru, silver eye, fantail and little blue penguin are common – but you can see them on mainland New Zealand. However on Tiritiri other bush birds that are common include saddleback, hihi (stitchbird), whitehead, little spotted kiwi and North Island robin, most of which are now very rare on mainland New Zealand. Add to that takahe, kokako and brown teal and you have a bird-lovers paradise. But it is not just the number of birds that is different. Another difference between Tiritiri Matangi and the mainland was summed up by an incident that happened to us one day on the island. Whilst walking along a track I said to Marita “Oh look, there’s a blackbird.” An introduced bird was the exception!

As the week went on I also came to realise that there was something else which was very different about the island. Many of the birds we observed were on the ground and they were very tame. And why wouldn’t they be? In the short time of a few generations they had learnt that there was no need to take evasive measures when approached by something that wasn’t a bird. No advantage would be gained by such action, as their survival wasn’t threatened if they didn’t move quickly. And no bird demonstrated this more clearly than Greg, the 16-year-old takahe. One of our jobs during the week was to prune back a ground cover plant at the Visitor’s Centre.  Greg helped in this task,  frequently getting in Marita’s way as she gardened. He also found that there was more to life than just being a herbivore, feasting on earthworms all afternoon.

Marita and I worked for a week on Tiritiri Matangi as Department of Conservation volunteers and we enjoyed every minute of it. The island is an open nature reserve and visitors are welcome. Access is by a ferry that leaves Auckland each day of the week except Monday and Tuesday. It also calls at Gulf Harbour to pick up passengers. It is well worth adding to a list of things to do on a visit to Auckland.


Fauna & Flora News
Unusual mountain daisy
On our January alpine flowers programme we discovered a mountain daisy, Celmisia spectabilis with a yellow-tinted flower head. I have only ever seen white flower heads on this species of Celmisia – in fact on all species of this genus. We recorded its location and will look out for it with interest next summer.

Lake Heron Kettlehole Tarns
Kettlehole tarns on ancient moraines are uncommon in the South Island. The tarns, on the terminal moraine that forms the southern boundary of Lake Heron, are now recognised to be of national significance and we frequently include them in our programmes – particularly the Alpine Flowers. There are approximately 18 tarns and one of their significant features is the floristic difference between the sites. The ephemeral turf vegetation has a large number of (very small) species, a number of which produce quite striking flowers. It is hands-and-knees stuff as you study these plants – I liken it to a Lilliputian rainforest because of the density and variety of species.

Falcon numbers increasing?
Two and possibly three pairs of falcon were present on the south and western sides of Mt Somers this season. We enjoyed the experience of observing a falcon devouring a mid-day meal on the Cameron Fan, Lake Heron. A national survey has been conducted for N.Z. Falcon - refer http://www.ranz.org.nz/ for further information. There are three forms of falcon – Southern (nationally endangered), Bush (nationally vulnerable) and the Eastern (gradual decline). It is the Eastern that we see in our area.

Unnamed Plant
After many hours of diligent searching we finally found one specimen of the rare and unnamed Craspedia “Lake Heron”. Hard to find because it’s size (<5cm) & cryptic colouration with the surrounding vegetation. The sharp eyes of Alan Craven (U.K.) found it during our Lake Heron day on the January Alpine Flowers programme.

Mt Peel
Because of inclement weather at Mt Hutt on the December Alpine Flowers programme we visited Mesopotamia via Mt Peel. The Himalayan lilies were at their best in the woodlands beside the Mt Peel homestead and thanks to the generosity of Rosemary Acland we were able to enjoy them. Not natives but alpines none the less and very impressive.

Tussock & Beech News

Two new programmes
This year saw us introduce two new programmes – Alpine Flowers and Southern Alps Splendour. The latter we ran under the auspices of the Southern Institute of Technology & Odyssey Travel (www.odysseytravel.com.au) and was based around Arthur’s Pass National Park, Castle Hill, Korowai-Torlesse Tussocklands Park.
2009-10 Summer Programmes:
Lost World of Erewhon: 5-12 & 20-27 November 2009,
Alpine Flowers: 7-13 December 2009 & 13-19 January 2010
Southern Alps Splendour: 4-10 February 2010
Akaroa Idyll: 24-31 March 2010
Please get in touch if you are interested in any of these programmes.
Details for each programme can be found on our website. www.nature.net.nz


From the Kitchen

Citrus season is starting. Here’s a recipe using New Zealand oranges – perfect to serve with meringues or Pavlova.
Macerated oranges
Wash 4 oranges in hot water (to remove food wax) and dry.
Remove zest with citrus zester.
Make a sugar syrup by dissolving 250g sugar in 300ml water over a low heat.
Increase heat and let syrup simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the orange zest and simmer for another 5 minutes.
Take off heat and add 2Tbsp brandy or Cointreau.
Meanwhile, pare all skin and pith from the orange.
Cut into round slices about 4 to an orange and arrange in a shallow dish.
Pour the warm syrup over the orange slices and chill for at least 12 hours.

Ka kite ano

Marita & Warren

71 Flynns Road, Staveley, Ashburton 7771, New Zealand. (03) 303 0880

ecotour@nature.net.nz