A FLOCK OF 520 BIRDS AT KAIAUA

The weather was perfect and the view of the distant Coromandel Peninsula was stunning. The Kaiaua foreshore was just the place for our Labour Weekend FLOCK appearance. Thanks to Louisa who was much involved with planning this event.
It took an hour or so to put the 500+ birds in the ground. Lots of the birds come from local schools as did many of the spectators, along with their mums and dads.

 One small FLOCK had just come from Mangatangi School's Calf Day held the day before..

There were also a few live birds that joined the FLOCK like these red-billed gulls.

The South Island pied oystercatchers were a bit more standoffish.

Luckily we had a couple of scopes along so that visitors could get a good close-up view of the real birds.

A highlight of the occasion was the arrival of a coach load from Auckland, members of the Chinese community with involvement in conservation activities.

Earlier this month a FLOCK of 50 "godwits" was welcomed onto the Piritahi Marae, Waiheke Island. The powhiri was witnessed by some real godwits down on the shore. Trudy Lane, one of the FLOCK team, was there to accept the gift of these "birds" for our FLOCK.

Across the Tasman there is a big event planned, the Shorebird Festival at ST. Kilda on 30th October.

Dave and Mick from Pooraka Farm Mens' Shed produced cut-out birds to be decorated.

This weekend there was a big painting session at the Port Adelaide Information Centre.
Here at Pukorokoro Miranda we have been welcoming back our Arctic migrants from their breeding season.
 Here and down South our endemic birds are busy breeding. Great efforts are underway on the South Island braided rivers to protect against predators.

 Can you find the Wrybill nest among the river pebbles, in this photo from Nick Ledgard?

Predators find it easily. Hedgehogs are a major problem for ground nesting birds, both in the braided rivers and coastal sites.

We have just received this video from young Jamie Tully. Jamie was at Devonport recently when  Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. John Key and Hon. Maggie Barry, Minister for Conservation, visited. Thanks Jamie.

 This is a good place to give advance notice of 2 events happening in Devonport. All the schools in Devonport are making birds for the FLOCK. Their birds and others will be on display in Windsor Park, Devonport from 18-28 November. It will be a spectacular, in fact majestical, FLOCK appearance.

Also in Devonport on Sunday 20th November there will be a special film show and commentaries from Adrian Riegen and Keith Woodley at the Victoria Theatre. Don't miss out you can book online now www.thevic.co.nz

The FLOCK team would love to see you in Devonport.

IT WAS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY

A chance to show off the FLOCK to 20,000 people, young folk and family members. Meticulous plans were made, FLOCK team members rose before dawn and drove in cars packed with FLOCK birds. The occasion was Ambury Park Farm Day on Sunday October 2nd, a great happening on the edge of Auckland city.
Unwilling to accept the tyranny of the weather the team battled on and planted the FLOCK in dawns early light. Then the wind strengthened, the rain became horizontal and thunder and lightening threatened.Hardly anyone was there or likely to come. Time to pack up.

Trudy, Wendy,Louisa and Krystal still smiling though after a heroic effort.

It was a busy weekend for the FLOCK elsewhere. In the city itself was the Australasian Shorebird Conference. We scraped together a small FLOCK to welcome them on the AUT campus.

At the Shorebird Centre was another FLOCK to welcome those on Monday on their field trip from the ASC .

Also a new FLOCK member, mascot and money collector AKA "Noddy"

The same busy weekend and yet another small FLOCK appeared at Miranda's Farm Gallery.

The Farm Gallery is promoting the work of Derek Onley who painted the illustrations for the latest Field Guide/Hand Guide to the Birds of NZ.

Back on the North Shore the weather on Sunday 2nd was a little kinder. The Holy Trinity Church in Devonport celebrated St. Francis of Assissi Day. Jim Eagles talked to the congregation about shorebird conservation.

The church group made many new FLOCK members and also donated to the cause. Thanks to Rev. Charmaine Braatvedt and her team for their great contribution.

In the eastern Bay of Plenty a FLOCK of over 200 birds from six schools were being planted in the Ohiwa Dunes.

It looked like a lot of fun! Thanks to Meg and Mike Collins who organised it and sent these photos.

We are thrilled with the latest recruits to the FLOCK campaign. Last Friday at the Devonport Naval Museum our Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. John Key, and the Minister for Conservation, Hon. Maggie Barry, spent some time with members of Pukorokoro Miranda Naturalists' Trust.

As you can see they also painted and signed some new FLOCK members.

It is great to have their support and also that of all you folk out there who are making the FLOCKNZ project such a success.

BRaid in the S.I. continue to do remarkable things. Their Flocks have been touching down in a great number of spots. Here are just a few of them. 

Kaikoura

Methven

Rakaia

Twizel Area School