Welcome to the Friends of Flora (FoF) newsletter with more news of our efforts to bring the birdsong back to the Flora. It’s been another big year for us, as FoF Chairperson Maryann Ewers reported at the….

Friends of Flora AGM. At a well-attended and lively affair this year, Maryann delivered a report on our year’s work, making special mention of our close links with DOC through Chris Golding and new area manager Martin Rodd. New initiatives such as stoat monitoring through footprint tracking tunnels are well underway, as is the replacement of old Fenn traps along the Flora Road, our “I” Line. Maryann spoke of our plans to extend predator control west towards the Cobb and thanked our many supporters, such as Ewings Poultry and the Motueka Tramping Club. Bird song data gathered by volunteers was presented showing a steady increase in small bird numbers over the past five years (see graph below – thanks Peter Adams!). Chris Golding reported on DOC’s whio work, Powelliphanta snail monitoring and possum control. Chris Potter welcomed Nelson (among many other things) mayor Kerry Marshall, who spoke entertainingly on conservation issues and for his efforts was presented with a bottle of FoF-er John Newton’s organic Sunset Valley pinot noir.

From possums to pandas - Paul’s off to Xi’an. One of the “founding fathers of FoF”, Paul Ewers is leaving us for two years to work in China for Global Hort, teaching the locals how to grow kiwifruit (an irony teaching Chinese how to grow Chinese Gooseberries!). Paul has been a stalwart on 'the hill' as a leader for the past 6½ years. While we will miss his input for the next couple of years, we are sure he will also miss his monthly trips up to the Flora.

Paul will be living an hour and a half from the city of Xi'an (population over 8 million!) in the province of Shaanxi, so things will be a little different from living in Motueka! Shaanxi is the home of the famous Terracotta Warriors and in the nearby mountains there is a population of giant pandas. With his expertise maybe he will be able to lend a hand in their protection!

Meeting of the conservation groups - FoF - FoC - B&B and DoC! This month Chris Golding from DOC in Motueka organised a meeting between DOC Motueka, DOC Golden Bay, Friends of Flora, Friends of Cobb (FoC) and Bush and Beyond (B&B). The idea of the meeting was to have all groups talk about what they are doing and what their trapping extension plans are and to build closer links, especially now FoF are looking to extend our lines towards the Cobb. When all the groups’ efforts join up, this will be the largest trapping program in the country.

FoC have a stoat trap line on the true left of the Cobb River, from the reservoir to Chaffey hut, up to Lake Cobb, Round Lake and along the bush line then down Chaffey Stream to the valley floor. Another line runs up Thorns Creek and the track from Mytton’s hut to the bush line on Cobb Ridge. They also have a line from the Cobb road into Asbestos Cottage, with a further extension to come along the track to Lower Junction.

Bush and Beyond have a line on the true right of Cobb River from the Trilobite Hut to Chaffey hut in the valley and about a third of the way along the Cobb Ridge. Further extensions will see this line all the way over the ridge to Lake Peel and from the ridge down to Lower Junction via Peat Flat, to meet up with FoC and FoF.

There will be something to really celebrate when all groups meet, certainly a bottle of bubbly popped!

Monthly pest parade Totals for May 2008:
Stoats: 10 (total 482 since Feb 2002),
Rats: 6 (total 1586),
Mice: just the one (total 828)
Possums: 6 (total 374 since June 2004).

Apart from stoats, all down on the totals for the same month last year of 2 stoats, 52 rats, 4 mice and 11 possums. DOC staff got rid of 6 stoats, 9 rats and a possum off their lines during May.

Whio news. A second pair of Flora Stream whio has been identified by DOC rangers. The pair has been netted, banded and the female fitted with a tail-mount transmitter for monitoring when she (hopefully) nests this spring. Dubbed “Rain” and “Jake”, the pair hang out around Horseshoe Creek. Meanwhile “June”, one of the juveniles translocated from the Pearse into the Flora in January, has turned up in the North Branch of the Riwaka River, paired up with a wild male. She too has had a transmitter fitted, although at just a year old this coming spring, she is probably too young for motherhood.

Health and Safety – Boots. Thinking of boots as personal protective equipment, in the same way as you think of safety glasses or chainsaw helmets, will help you make the right footwear choice for your work in the Flora. Uneven terrain, ice on rocks and slippery roots are the hazards there and can lead to slips, trips and falls resulting in sprains, breaks and tendonitis. The boot for the job is a lace-up tramping boot with good ankle support. They’ll probably cost a bit - most good boots are in the $250 - $400 range – and if you’re spending that money, make sure they fit. It is estimated 7 out of 10 of us wear poorly fitted boots, leading to blisters and shin splints. Make sure they are worn with good socks, which should be a proper fit too.

Slip-on boots No! Gumboots No! Well-fitted lace-up tramping boots Yes!

That’s all for this issue. Remember, monitoring weekends are the last two weekends of each month.

Ivan Rogers, FoF committee