Here we are again with our Friends of Flora (FoF) newsletter, sent to keep you informed of our efforts to restore the birdlife to the Flora Stream catchment of Kahurangi National Park.

Snail Mail. Al Hendrickson of Blenheim emailed us to say: 'Recently we tramped thru the Flora on our way to the Karamea Bend ... while tramping up to Salisbury Hut and around the Growler area we noticed two live Powelliphanta snails on the track, which was great to see. We couldn't help but notice the large amount of stoat traps, which was also great to see ...in all the time I have been tramping in that area I have never seen a live Powelliphanta and to see two in short succession was a great bonus to our trip... I just wanted to pass on my appreciation for the great effort your group is doing.' (abridged)

Nestor's Nest Success. FOF members Maryann and Bill recently spent a night camping at the Growler shelter to see how kaka (Nestor meridionalis) numbers are doing in the Flora. After news they nested last season, they were keen to see if numbers had risen in the area. They were thrilled to count a flock of nine flying in the valley, enjoying the early morning sun! There may well have been others, but that was all to be seen together at one time. This is a huge increase in the odd bird or two they have been encountering over past years.

Cloud Cuckoo Land. Both the shining cuckoo/pupiwharauroa and the less frequently encountered long-tailed cuckoo/koekoea can be heard, but seldom seen, in the Flora at present. Both are brood parasites of small bush birds (grey warblers, fantails, tits, silvereyes etc) and breed only in New Zealand. Each spring they fly south from their winter homes in the Solomon Islands and Bismarck Archipelago (shining cuckoo) or Pacific Islands from the Marquesas to the Marshalls (long-tailed) to mate and seek out their hosts. Although common, much of their breeding behaviour is still unknown.

Pop go the weasels. Now for October's pest kill figures: 7 stoats (total since Feb 2002 = 245) 23 rats (total 577) 19 mice (total 554)

The catch for the same traps over October last year was 9 stoats, 9 rats, 4 mice and 5 possums. No possums were caught this month, probably due to a DoC 1080 drop on the edge of our trapping area. But the strangest catch was that of two weasels - in the one trap! This brings our weasel total to 6 since Feb 2002. The weasel (Mustela nivalis vulgaris), although widely distributed, is uncommon and control is considered unnecessary according to "The Handbook of New Zealand Mammals' (Oxford University Press Auckland 1990).

K Line cut. A second attempt to cut a new trap line on the true left of the Takaka river from Upper Junction to Lower Junction was successful. Earlier this month Gavin Udy of DoC and FoF-ers Bill Rooke, Andy Woodall and Ivan Rogers bashed their way through with rolls of pink tape to mark the track. The new trap line covers 2.3 km of steep and rough country and will, once traps are installed, assist in protecting the next introduction of blue duck/whio, bringing us to..

Whio breeding up. All of the clutch of six whio eggs taken from the Pearse River last month have hatched at Peacock Springs in Christchurch. As hoped, the female has laid another clutch. These birds, once fledged around mid-February, are to be released in the Flora/Upper Takaka. Meanwhile, 'Fiona' a survivor of last year's whio release into the Flora, is nesting in the Rolling River. DoC's Gavin Udy reports there are now 24 whio in the Rolling/Pearse/Flora and what looks like being a successful nesting season could shortly double this number!

What's My Line? This month we take a closer look at 'C' Line: 'C' line runs almost to the bush line (200 metres below the mine) on the Cluston Mine track which is on the flanks of Gordon's Pyramid. There are 68 trap stations on this line and from station 41 it drops off (quite steeply to start with) and joins the Flora track just north of Gridiron Creek. The off track part levels off to a wonderland of Aleria laucunosa groves in the top section, through to giant Red Beech lower down. It meanders through a myriad of fascinating limestone outcrops. A magic wonderland full of riflemen and bellbirds. A great track, but be prepared for wet feet!

Regular monitoring. We will now have the last two weekends of each month as the standard monitoring weekends. This should make it easier for our volunteers (you!) to make time to get 'up the hill'.

More from FoF next month.

Ivan Rogers FoF Committee