Bags of batteries

seabirdsDuring the past year we have had automatic cameras doing a number of jobs or us – watching the pest-proof fence for any unwanted visitors, watching the seabird nesting boxes and watching some special sites for bell-birds. The photo right shows some recent activity near the seabird sites – a pair of fluttering shearwaters showing some interest. And this video shows a couple of little blue penguins tripping in and out – we think they’re nesting so we’re hopeful of soon having some movies of chicks as well.

batteries 2The cameras are out in all weather so they have a hard life and need good batteries, and they’re out all hours as well and so you can imagine that we get through an awful lot of batteries too. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of MAXLIFE, this has so far cost us nothing. This photo shows just a few of batteries they have generously provided us with.

Maxlife-CD082013

Similar Posts

  • Forest Gecko discovered

    A forest gecko was recently discovered in the Open Sanctuary.  Whilst this species is not uncommon throughout the north of the North Island, this is a first record of one at Shakespear so we now know that we have seven of the nine species of lizards known to live in the Auckland area.   This picture shows him on…

  • | |

    Woolly Nightshade

    This month’s pest plant is Woolly Nightshade, also known as tobacco plant or flannel plant because its leaves have a velvety texture .  It has dense clusters of purple flowers, green or yellow berries about 1cm in size and oval, grey-green leaves. It is a major problem because its seeds are spread by birds, it colonises readily and it…

  • |

    What’s that bird?

    A comprehensive digital encyclopedia of NZ birds is now available online. To quote Graeme Taylor, DOC Principal Science Advisor: This new website has an excellent function that can be used to identify birds where the people concerned know very little about birds in general. It uses a system of habitat groups or broad plumage patterns…

  • |

    Robins are coming

    Now that whiteheads have been successfully re-introduced to Shakespear the next step is to bring back the North Island robin (toutouwai). These are very sociable little fellows, often to be seen foraging just a few meters away. They are also known to sing loud and long so we expect they will be a popular attraction….

  • |

    Uncommon orchid found

    In a recent visit members of the Auckland Botanical Society identified a native orchid growing in the Park. Corunastylis pumila is a tiny orchid which is described as being naturally uncommon and easily overlooked because of its small size and autumn flowering.It is most often recorded from Northern North Island south to about Kawhia, East…