Dear Friends of Flora (FoF) and supporters, Happy New Year and here's our email newsletter, the first for 2005, bringing you news of our efforts to bring the birds back to the Flora.

Whio breeding in Pearse River! Further to our December newsletter, Tim Shaw of DoC Motueka reports: "There are two clutches of 3 ducklings each. The second clutch was particularly suprising - we had not been focusing on that piece of river and did not know of the second pair. The second pair at this stage is only a male and three chicks. Presumably a female was involved somewhere along the way however she has not been seen - either being elusive or has departed / deceased. It is very unusual for a pair to be separated whilst fending for a brood so the latter of the possibilities is more likely".

Meanwhile DoC are re-releasing the four remaining captive-reared whio, who failed to thrive in the Flora Stream last year, into the Rolling River this coming weekend. A survey last year discovered that the Rolling and Pearse Rivers are better stocked with the aquatic invertebrates whio depend upon for food.

Kahurangi NP nominated for World Heritage. The New Zealand government has compiled a list of potential sites for World Heritage listing, including Kahurangi National Park and the adjacent Farewell Spit. Comments, suggestions for alternatives and submissions are called for by 31 March. Go to www.doc.govt.nz/Conservation/World Heritage/010~Suggest-NZ-World-Heritage-sites/index.asp FoF chairperson Chris Potter is drafting a submission in support.

Pest kill exceeds 1,000. Unnoticed by us, the 1,000 milestone for all pest kills since Feb 2002 was passed at some point last year! Total kills of major pest mammals now stand at exactly 1100, comprising:

Stoats: 188 (8 killed December 2004) Rats: 373 (12 killed Dec.) Mice: 481 (just 1 killed last month) Possums: 58 (7 killed Dec.) Plus a smaller bag of cats and weasels and 19 wasp nests destroyed.

Work in progress. Always trying to make things easier, safer and more enjoyable for volunteers, we will be over the coming months:

- moving traps on "I" line closer to the track where practicable,

- progressively replacing corroded and stiff old traps with new,

- ensuring team leaders have current first aid certificates, and

- looking at carrying (medical advice is being sought) epinephrine kits in case of anaphylactic shock from wasp stings.

That's our news for January. We'll be in touch again soon.

Ivan Rogers FoF Committee