Fantail News Number 3

​News
What progress we made for the fantails in the bush! In fact the forest looks lovely, new growth everywhere and an energy almost palpable. Seed production in full swing. Saplings pushing up in the undergrowth and of course busy birds feeding the young ones. And everything has a better chance of survival. The seeds will be there for the birds, the new plants will grow into bigger ones all because there are fewer possums around as we have now removed more than 200 of them! Now that is good news. 

Our traps extend now from our access point at Terrace Downs down the river for about 1k to the lookout above the Rakaia. There are now over 40 traps which we check three or four times a week. We have three lines: Piccadilly Line, Circle Line and the newest one: Waterloo Line. Our access point is called Central Station. Makes it all more fun! And I can better remember where all the traps are!

Fantail Nest

Some bird lore

A Tui couple gently wings through the forest and he calls to his wife: who, who is this? It is I, the pretty one, the lovely one and he shakes his white tassel and sings: horohoro-horo. And they both fly higher up into a kiekie climber plant and she sings to him: let us eat of the sweet fruit of the kiekie: ma taua, ma taua. And they both feast on the fruit and he sings again  like a flute, like a long soft whistle: hu hu e, whio-o, whio-o. 

Such is the song of the Tui in the forest of Tane. Sadly there are no Tuis in the forest in the Rakaia Gorge. But hopefully it will not be long before they return. So thank you all again for your support and interest in the fantail trust.
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Tui

​Also we have now a lovely greeting card for sale. You might need some for upcoming Christmas! They sell for $5.00 each and all proceeds go to the trust. In Christchurch you can buy them at Scorpio Books!