Monday 27th August – Some
special patients at Bird rescue
So, I mentioned the poorly Giant
Petrel patient last week? Sadly, that one didn’t make it, but imagine my
surprise to find not only another Giant Petrel inpatient this week, but also a
completely new species for me, a Sly Mollymawk, which is apparently another
word for Albatross:
I had no idea.
The presence of these two gigantic ocean cruisers gave a whole new
dynamic to the hospital. There was a strict no talking policy inside
to minimise the amount of stress to the shy birds. Lyn the manager decided to
let the two giants take over a section of her back garden giving them more
space for their recovery and a chance to get regular showers:
 |
| Sly Mollymawk |
 |
| Giant Petrel |
The Petrel
is missing the skin between its toes, possibly from a chemical burn or similar
and the Mollymawk was found on a beach in a weak state, potentially with a
virus. Everyone is hopeful that they
will both recover to be fit for release.
Wednesday 29th August – A washout
Tramping was cancelled for today,
so I filled my day with a session at the gym, replacing a broken headlight bulb
and other exciting admin.
 |
| Lucky I ate everything and found this special plate! |
Friday 31st August
and Saturday 1st September – Socialising with the Kellas’s
Si headed straight round to
Steve and Huihana’s after work on Friday and after a night of drinking we left
his car there to head home. S&H
popped in for a drink at ours whilst in town on Saturday afternoon and offered
us a lift to collect Si’s car, so we invaded their home for the second time in
one weekend. They really are very welcoming!
I headed to a meeting about Kauri dieback at Hunua village hall nearby
(that’s especially geeky for a Saturday night I know!) whilst Simon chilled out
and we had a few games of cards on my return before we finally bid our
farewells for the weekend.
 |
| The Mollymawk is getting stronger |
Monday 3rd September - Bird rescue
The two giant birds are still
there but both are recovering well. But even more amazingly, I got to handle my
first little blue penguin which had been bitten by something. I didn’t manage to get a photo as he was
extremely shy and scared, it was more important for him to be fed and put back
into a dark warm box to start to feel better.
Randomly, at a bird sanctuary, I did manage to get a surprise cuddle
with a puppy.
Rex who works here has a litter of nine to look after and rehome. Aaaaahhhh.
Rex who works here has a litter of nine to look after and rehome. Aaaaahhhh.
Tuesday 4th September
– food shop for Tiritiri
Today was my last full ‘day off’
for the next eleven days and the best chance for me to sort out everything I
would need for my week on TTM in the way of groceries. The challenge – there are no shops at all on
the island (apart from the small gift shop), therefore I need to take enough
food to keep me going for seven days without it weighing a tonne as I will have
to be able to carry it all over there with me on the ferry. The answer? Packets
of rice/pasta/noodles, fruit, protein bars and porridge sachets for breakfast
with nuts and sultanas. Forgot to mention the box of wine that I will be taking
to buy people’s friendship. All sound tasty? Well, it’s only for a week. Let’s
see if it gets me through.
Wednesday 5th
September – Replacing DOC200 traps at Hunua habitat.
I was put in the girls’ group
with Kath and Gemma today, carrying five heavy new stainless-steel traps to
replace the rusty metal ones as far along the Massey Track as we could go.
There was no chance of seeing any shy, endangered wildlife with all the chatting
and clanking of traps against each other - you could hear us coming from a mile
off.
Once I’d got home and showered
it was time to scrub mud and any trace of seeds and dirt from all my tramping
and camping equipment and start stockpiling my gear for the weekend ahead.
I’m not expecting to have access
to much internet or have much phone signal on the island, so I was relieved to
complete every section on my Duo Lingo Spanish up to Level 2 (right)! I also thought I’d post a map online for
anyone back home worried about where exactly I am going to be spending my week, I don’t think anyone will be worried about me anymore! |
| I can handle living on this island for a week.... |
Then it was time to get my
packing finished. I didn’t think I was being particularly greedy with the
clothes that I had chosen for the trip, however the sleeping bag I had borrowed
from the Hurrells’ took up half of my rucksack. It then became clear very
rapidly that my food rations weren’t going to fit in a day pack, I would need
to use Simon’s full-size rucksack. So, in effect, I will be taking BOTH of our
big rucksacks and my larger day bag AND my camera bag. I don’t think I have
enough arms, hands and shoulders to carry all of that?! Ah well, I’ve only got
to manage to get it all on the boat one end and off at the other, it’s not like
I must walk very far with it all.
I checked and re-checked my
lists of things to take and then DOC’s list of things I should take, and I was
ready. It didn’t leave much time for
going out to watch the rugby as I’d hoped though. We had to compromise and
watch it an hour later than everyone else on the telly. Time for All Blacks versus
Argentina (the Pumas). What an awesome match! The Pumas came on hard and fast
and somehow managed to keep the pace up for the whole 80-minutes. But the AB’s
had an answer every time. The final 46-24 score line was very flattering for
New Zealand and not truly representative of how close the match was, but I
doubt the ABs were worried about that!
No comments:
Post a Comment