Sunday 13th March 2016

Hello friends and family
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A pair of moulting Yellow-eyed penguins.

​On Monday we had a meeting with DOC, TRONT and TROM. These are the people who are responsible for the land here and we met with them last in early November. When we left the November meeting I had a glimmer of hope that something would be done to protect the wildlife but all that happened was that I was stopped from enforcing the closing hours.

An intruder who has just emerged from the seal breeding area into Hide Bay.

​After many hours of preparation, we met again on Monday and did a site visit. I left this meeting hoping that something will be done to protect the wildlife before the next breeding season or the colony will collapse even faster than it currently is. The animals and the cultural values of the land are being sacrificed to the tourists behind the veneer of bureaucracy. 

Looking fantastic with all new feathers

​On Tuesday Hiltrun and I did a beach search and found 2 YEP chicks in need of a helping hand. Tuesday was also Tobi’s last day. Thank you Tobi for your help, skills and great ideas. A fresh viewpoint is always valuable!

1% of the south island YEP population visible from the pubic viewing area.

​Wednesday was my turn at the Top Tip shop and Thursday was town day. Thursday night was very windy. It blew many leaves off the trees and small branches were all over the drive. When we got a power cut at about 9pm, I just went to bed. When it is windy here, the TV reception is terrible anyway!

Mr and Mrs 111 moulting together after she was injured in February.

​Kat, the vet came on Friday to check out all of our patients (8 YEPs) and to trim the beak of one of the chicks. I have been doing daily beach checks in case more chicks need a helping hand.

The headland in the morning before all of the seals have been chased away.

Yesterday was harvest time for the bees. Walter came down from Wedderburn with his worker, George, and they made short work of our honey crop. The bees get treated for Varroa at this time and are all set for winter. Some of them will need feeding with old honey because they have been so busy they have not got a lot of honey left for themselves.
Have a great week!
Rosalie
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