OUT F Frankley studies the Bits ‘n’ Pieces Lifeline for longfins Waiwhakaiho River Longfin eel (Tuna) numbers have been declining following years of excessive commercial exploitation and loss of habitat. The middle syndicate at Frankley School has A petition has been organized to call on the been busy learning all about the Waiwhakaiho Ministry of Fisheries for a moratorium on S c h o o l s i n t h e e n v i r o n m e n t n e w River. The wide-ranging study includedDamselfly two commercial fishing of this endangered s l e t t e r field trips studying the river’s water quality, native species. Further information at firstly near the National Park and secondly at www.longfineel.co.nz the Merrilands Domain in . Welcome Student, Thomas Fale is pictured closely Professional development

I am sure every one of us accepts that we live SITE JULY 2011 ISSUE NO.58 examining one of the invertebrates he found Biodiversity - Thursday 4 August in a beautiful but volatile country. However, at the first site. This session is sure to have value for your with the earthquakes in Christchurch, the school’s environmental education programme. tornadoes in Auckland, New Plymouth, You will learn about many biodiversity Waikanae and Northland, landslides in the programmes happening in our region and get Bay of Plenty, as well as flooding in many Hawera Intermediate a chance to have some practical action as well. places, it is very obvious that some natural Hawera Intermediate was presented with a See the flyer in this newsletter for details. events can be difficult to deal with. While we Council Environmental award at a recent may never be able to stop them all from school assembly. Pictured are students from Mini unit - Bus transport in our region happening, we have a better chance of the school’s ‘enviro group’ getting ready for We are currently writing a mini-unit focused limiting the damage, preventing injury and one of its many planting sessions at Nowells on bus transport in . Many of the indeed saving lives if we prepare ourselves Lakes, near Hawera. The school’s propagation activities will be website based. The unit for them. I know many schools are looking This issue looks closely at what a visit to the progamme produces thousands of seedlings should be available on our website within closely at how they will cope should Rotokare Scenic Reserve offers teachers and each year, for later planting at this site and the next few weeks. something unexpected happen in school in conjunction with this has developed herb their classes. While there are similar exciting time which is a very sensible course of action. resources in other parts of , it is patches, mini worm farms and its own Thank you letters vegetable gardens. a very special place and being a pest-free We really enjoy and value feedback from You may be aware of the new safety sanctuary, is at the top end of the nature students; many thanks to both the writers and arrangements we have in place when school conservation spectrum. Educator Melissa to their teachers. From time to time, I intend Teachers groups visit us or whenever groups are Jacobson is pictured with one of the kiwi to publish sentences from some of the letters Your students could win $1000 for your school with the Weedbusters 2-minute involved in field trips with my support. Rather chicks currently staying at the reserve. Film Challenge for Year 1-8 students. Get creative, learn heaps, and help save which I have especially appreciated for one than sending letters to every school en masse, reason or another. Here is the first set. the environment! More information at www.weedbusters.org.nz we have decided to send a letter to individual I learnt that we have 14 national parks in NZ, schools prior to any planned activity to advise Environmental Award - Oakura School Welbourn Environmental Award with Fiordland the largest at 1,257,000 ha, them of our requirements. This system is working well; thank you for your co-operation. Welbourn School was presented with a Council Tongariro is 75,000ha but good old Egmont is Oakura School was recently presented with a Taranaki Regional Council Environmental award. Environmental Award at a recent school assembly. only 33,000ha. Stratford High School - Year 9. Councillor Craig Williamson presented the award to teacher Ray Priest and five of the school’s The Council has just completed its annual The school has been a partner in a Forest and You showed us the dangers of the mountain environmental leaders. The school has been very involved with environmental programmes recognition of the special environmental Bird project on the Te Henui Walkway, has a erupting and clearly explained that having a including growing plants in its nursery, its waste minimization programme, riparian planting, efforts made by individuals, professional or well established waste minimisation system in plan is a very important key to surviving. making boxes for blue penguins and studying local rivers and the coast. In addition the school community groups, companies, local operation, promotes walking school buses and Stratford High School - Year 9. authorities and schools. Nine awards were has conducted a beach clean-up each year, for thirty-nine years. grows its own vegetables for sale. Pictured with I found heaps and heaps of snails, so many that made this year with three of them going to Councillor Tom Cloke (second from left at the when we went to empty the bugbox (that’s schools. Congratulations to the students, the rear) are Mrs Carolyn Brough (Forest and Bird), where you put the aquatic invertebrates) they staff and the school communities of Oakura, teacher Kelly Collins, Council Education Officer wouldn’t come out. It was an awesome day! Welbourn and Hawera Intermediate for your Kevin Archer and senior pupils Kaylee and Robson. Ratapiko School - Year 4. fantastic work over many years. In most cases, There is a lot about wetlands that I have learnt nomination for a school award is made by me Ratapiko visits the Council with you, I now know how special wetlands are but it certainly doesn’t have to be that way. and how much we need to care for them. We would welcome nominations from schools Mangorei School - Junior student themselves or at least some contact bringing to our attention the possibility of a future Answers from page 3 nomination. You have plenty of time to think Bird Quiz about this as nominations for next year’s 1.C 2.C 3.B 4.B 5.D 6.A 7.B 8.A 9.A 10.D awards close on 31 March 2012. Bird sayings match-up 1.E 2.H 3.J 4.D 5.G 6.I 7.A 8.B 9.F 10.C While winter tends to be the time for Native and Introduced Birds The native birds are Kiwi, Keruru, Tui, Fantail and classroom visits rather than teachers testing Morepork whilst the introduced birds are Sparrow, the weather with outdoor field trips, it has Mynah, Starling, Thrush and Canadian goose. been great to be involved with many classes studying rivers, lakes, wetlands and rocky shore areas in recent months. As all teachers know, the secret behind a successful field trip often lies in the length of the study with a short, sharp and focused session being more productive than one which is dragged out.

We recently hosted an enthusiastic group of students, parents and teachers from Ratapiko School. Make the most of your term. The biolaboratory visit followed field trips to Lake Ratapiko and to a stream adjacent to the school. Kevin Archer

SITE JULY 2011 ISSUE NO.58 Juni r Environmentalists Page

Photo match up Wetland quiz Pictured are five native birds and five birds 1. This is New Zealand’s famous bird icon. 7. Which of these ducks is which have been introduced to New Zealand A. penguin B. pigeon C. kiwi D. falcon not a native? from other parts of the world. Can you name A. grey duck the five native birds as well as the five which 2. Which of these introduced birds is not B. mallard have been introduced. generally regarded as a problem? C. blue duck A. magpie B. mynah D. paradise shelduck C. blackbird D. Canadian goose 8. This bird is extinct? 3. This is New Zealand’s smallest native bird. A. moa A. bellbird B. sparrow B. rifleman C. kaka Facts and figures Education programmes C. yellow eyed penguin D. hummingbird Lake Rotokare Scenic Reserve There are two options available; whatever D. black robin Is situated 12 km east of Eltham. programme you pick you can be assured that Tui Canadian goose 9. This bird is Consists of a 230ha forested hill-country it will be unique to Taranaki and offer students 4. This is the only mainland bird something of catchment, with extensive wetlands and an opportunity to experience what pre-human which builds a roofed nest? a thief? a 17.8ha natural lake. New Zealand may have been like. A. kiwi B. warbler C. tomtit D. taiko A. kea Is home to many native plant, tree, insect, B. starling bird and fish species. 5. The tui is capable of making the C. owl The Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust was OPTION 1 following sounds, D. tui formed in 2004 by a group of local people Rotokare Sanctuary Nature Trail Programme A. a cough B. a laugh who were concerned that the Rotokare (Early Childhood - Year 10) C. a sneeze D. all of them 10. This bird is not a Starling Kiwi type of parrot? habitat was in decline. This programme consists of nine unit options OPTION 2 6. Birds migrate mainly. A. kakapo The construction of the pest-proof fence for classes. Suitable spots on the walkway A. to find food B. kaka started in November 2006. The fence are used for hands-on interactive learning. Forest/Wetland Health Programme B. to escape from hot weather C. Parakeet (Years 11 - 13) encircles the reserve and was built at a cost The broad units for primary and intermediate C. to get away from other birds D. Black Stilt of almost two million dollars. classes offer cross-curricular learning with This programme is designed to introduce D. to see how far they can fly Bellbird activities based on the Living World (Science) more complex ecological themes and makes Rotokare newsletter use of Rotokare's distinctive features for the strand, the Place and Environment (Social Match up Match the ‘bird sayings’ with their meanings. A very informative newsletter is issued to practical components of the biological Science) strand and the Technology and Fantail Mynah all schools in the first week of each term. If Society (Technology) strand. Refer to the sciences curriculum. 1. A bird in the hand A. Make no runs at all teachers would like their own personal copy diagram of units available. The programme caters specifically for 2. The bird has flown B. A one-under-par golf score they should contact Melissa. Each unit is made up of a series of micro- achievement standards in NCEA levels 1-3. 3. Birds of a feather C. Seen from above Kiwi creche activities, simulation games and assessment The guided walk would be an excellent 4. Strictly for the birds D. Something uninteresting activity for classes camping in the area. Kiwi chicks stay at Rotokare until they reach activities. 5. Kills two birds with one stone E. Something certain 1.2kg, a size that allows them to fight off their 6. A little bird F. A stupid person number one predator - the stoat. Currently Duration and pricing options 7. To get a duck in cricket G. Achieve two aims at once There are many options available, from those there are six kiwi chicks living at Rotokare Thrush Sparrow 8. A birdie H. Someone or something has gone lasting one hour up to a full day. In addition and all are doing well. 9. A bird brain I. An unnamed informant there is a guided night-time excursion of up 10. A bird’s eye view J. People of similar character to two hours. Prices reflect the length of the programme. Not very funny jokes ... Not very funny ‘bird’ jokes. In fact some of them aren’t funny at all. Contact details: Melissa Jacobson What language do birds speak? Answer - Pigeon English. Email: [email protected] Did the owl worry when it lost its voice? Phone: (06) 764 8500 Answer – No, it didn’t give a hoot. What do you call a bunch of Morepork Keruru Address: P.O. Box 33, Eltham chickens playing hide and seek? Answer - Fowl play. Website: www.rotokare.org.nz What happens when ducks Chester Borrows helps to release kiwi (Photo: T Green) fly upside down? Class debate Answer - They quack-up. Why did the parrot wear a raincoat? Answer - Because she wanted to Become a volunteer Topic - Spending all that money on How doe s a bir have a new name - Polly Unsaturated. The Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust is always saving the life of ‘Happy Feet’ was wing manag d with a br oken Where do birds invest on the lookout for volunteers. Every Sunday is money well spent. Ans e to land sa wer - It uses a sparr fely? their money? a working bee for those who can make it. If you ow-chut You probably have heard e. Answer - In the stork market. or a student in your class is keen, please give about ‘Happy Feet’ the Melissa a call, she would be delighted to hear penguin that was found What is a duck’s favourite TV show? from you. Already this year she has enlisted on a beach near Wellington Answer - The feather forecast. new volunteers from classes (both students recently. You could use this Which birds steal soap and teachers) that have visited the sanctuary event as a topic for a class from a bath? ot to talk pr operly? for the first time. debate. Answer - Robber ducks. How do you get a parr Students from Sacred Heart Girls College pot native o a polytechnic. seedlings on a visit to the Rotokare Education Centre. The planting team at O’Connors Gully. Answer - You send it t SITE JULY 2011 ISSUE NO.58 SITE JULY 2011 ISSUE NO.58