The Catlins Summer Programme 2020 All welcome!

Contact details Programme director Jim Young 03 415 8532/027 440 9529 [email protected] For changes or updates Information about an event may be changed at short notice. Check with the organiser(s) of the event and/or our Facebook page:www.facebook.com/ForestAndBirdSouthOtago/ - Events Important information • Before taking part in outdoor activities you must pay careful attention to the safety briefing and sign the register. • Most activities are suitable for children, but children must be accompanied by an adult. • Make sure that you have clothing and footwear suitable for our changeable weather. • Activities may have limited numbers of participants so advance booking is recommended. • Most activities don’t have set charges, but a gold coin donation is appreciated.

Events 2020 NB Most outdoor events last 2–3 hours Wed 01 Jan 7pm The wee, the weird and the wonderful Penelope Gillette Meet: Shanks Bush, cnr Hway & Valley Rd Contact: Penelope 0223 841048 [email protected] Investigate the quirky track at Shanks Bush with an expert on hand to introduce you to the living things that you observe.

Thurs 02 Jan 2pm Lichens at Lenz Penelope Gillette Meet: Lenz Reserve car park, Rapid 614 Chaslands Highway Contact: Penelope 0223 841048 [email protected] Discover the fascination of these lowly life forms and learn how to identify them.

Fri 03 Jan 10–11am Papatowai Fergus Sutherland Meet: 5 Mirren St, Papatowai Contact: Fergus 03 415 8602 [email protected] Moa were here! Hear Fergus talk about moa, their bones and their hunters at his home at Papatowai.

Fri 03 Jan 1pm Fossils at Papatowai Fergus Sutherland Meet: Papatowai picnic ground car park Contact: Fergus 03 415 8602 [email protected] Discover fossils including ammonites, shells and worms as you walk along the rocky shore.

Sat 04 Jan 10am Mohua at the Wisp Fergus Sutherland Meet: Museum to car pool/get directions Contact: Fergus 03 415 8602 [email protected] Fergus will lead an exploration along the top end of River Walk to view life in the beech forest, especially the endangered mohua (). Approx 4 hours – bring binoculars if you have them and lunch.

Sun 05 Jan 10am Predator Free ? Jim Young & Roy Johnstone Meet: Foreshore opposite the playground Contact: Jim 03 415 8532/0274409529 [email protected] Learn about efforts so far to achieve predator free Pounawea. Help make trap boxes for rats, stoats etc for possible distribution in the local area.

Sun 05 Jan 1pm Heritage Tour – The Catlins Railway History Owaka Museum Meet: Owaka Museum. Return to the Museum for afternoon tea (inc). Cost $10. Booking is strongly recommended. Contact: Leadman Ibbotson 03 4158889 or Mike McPhee at Owaka Museum 03 4158323 [email protected] Follows on from the successful 2019 tour of Catlins Railway history. The 2020 tour is billed as “Puketiro to Tahakopa”.

Wed 08 Jan 7:30pm Coal, Conservation and Climate Change Jane Young Meet: Owaka Community Centre supper room Contact: Jane 03 415 8532 [email protected] Eighty per cent of NZ’s coal resources are found in -Southland. So why would it be a really bad idea to dig it all up? Jane presents the findings from her latest book Fuelling Dissension: Coal and coal mining in 21st century .

Fri 10 Jan 10am Exploring Bush Roy Johnstone & Jim Young Meet: Otanomomo Scientific Reserve, Telford Dairy entrance, 615 Owaka Hway Contact: Roy Johnstone 03 418 1319 021 174 9019 [email protected] A rare chance to explore the remnant lowland podocarp forest at Otanomomo and visit an historic grave site. (Marked route, not a formed walking track.) We’ll be checking a few predator traps and doing some not-too-energetic weed busting en route. Fri 10 Jan 5–7pm Attracting wildlife to your garden Gordon & Janine Thompson Meet: Earthlore car park, 129 Hinahina Rd Contact: Gordon & Janine 03 4158455/027 3853182 [email protected] Head along to Earthlore for inspiration and ideas on making your own garden a wildlife haven. Plants, wildflower seeds and bird- feeders for sale.

Sat 11 Jan 9:30am–12:30pm Homes for Bronwyn Bain Meet: Forest & Bird stand at Market Day Contact: 027 2867140 Bronwyn [email protected] Arrange to take part in the distribution of nest boxes for little blue penguins to help protect the birds in the local area.

Sat 11 Jan 2pm Papatowai Community trapping project Emma Bardsley Meet: Papatowai Fire Station lawn Contact: [email protected] Find out about the trapping network in the bush around Papatowai. Learn how to set and clear traps.

Sat 11 Jan 7:30pm Watts New in Electric Vehicles (EVs)? Tim Johnstone Meet: Owaka Community Centre supper room Contact: Roy 03 418 1319/021 174 9019 [email protected] Discussion on EV types and what’s new to the market, vehicle range, charging and more. Why you should have an EV. Dispelling the myths. EV owners will be available to take people for rides.

Sun 12 Jan 2pm Birds at the Catlins River Estuary Richard Schofield Meet: Owaka Museum to car pool Limit: 20 Contact: Richard 03 418 4415/027 281 8701 [email protected] Come with Richard to find numerous bird species around the Catlins Lake – dotterels, oyster catchers, shags, white-faced herons, spoonbills, and end up viewing the world-record holding godwits.

Fri 17 Jan 7:30pm Wildlife Rescue Sarah Irvine & Jordana Whyte Meet: Owaka Community Centre supper room Contact: Jim 03 415 8532 [email protected] Local yellow-eyed worker, Sarah, talks about her work uplifting sick, injured and starving penguins. Jordana describes the amazing job done by the Wildlife Hospital in treating the penguins and other injured native animals.

Sat 18 Jan 10am Guided walk on the Long Track at Lenz Roy Johnstone & Jim Young Meet: Lenz car park Rapid 614, Chaslands HWay Contact: Roy 03 418 1319 021 174 9019 [email protected] Hear about early logging history and current conservation efforts during an 8km bush walk through regenerating and original forest. A few muddy sections – appropiate footwear needed. Bring lunch for a stop at the log bridge.

Sun 19 Jan 10am Problem Weeds in the Papatowai Area Emma Bardsley Meet: Papatowai Fire Station Contact: [email protected] Discuss different control methods for each kind of weed. Walk around Papatowai to learn weed identification.

Mon 20 Jan 10am & 2pm Nature walk and talk at McLean Falls Penelope Gillette Meet: McLean Falls carpark Contact: Penelope 0223 841048 [email protected] Walk to McLean Falls and back taking time to stop, look, listen and touch. We’ll meet and greet plants, animals and fungi along the way.

Tues 21 Jan 1:30–3:30pm KCC family event – KP Beach Day Catriona Gower & Penelope Gillette Meet: Wilsher Bay parking area by the beach at Kaka Point Contact: Catriona 0223 914698 [email protected] Birds, sea lions, rock pools, kites - all the fun of the beach! Bring a picnic. Full details on booking.

Fri 24 Jan 2:30pm at Milburn, then optional extension to Fairfield at 5pm Fun Fossil Fossick! An Otago Museum outreach event presented by Amadeo Enriquez Ballestero Me et: Car pool from Owaka Museum at 1pm or 2:30pm at Milburn Quarry gates Contact: Jim 03 415 8532/0274409529 [email protected] Numbers limited. Booking essential. Discover the biodiversity of our place millions of years ago - and get to take your finds home! Amadeo’s enthusiastic descriptions will help bring the past to life! Full details on booking.

Sat 25 Jan 7:30pm Blue Cod Rāwaru: Past, present and future Steve Wing Meet: Kaka Point Community Hall Organiser: Jim Young 03 415 8532/027 440 9529 [email protected] Blue cod have been taonga to people in Southern New Zealand for centuries. Productive populations are linked strongly to the health of kelp forests and rocky reefs, where they are an important part of coastal food webs. Steve’s work as a marine scientist gives new insights into how best to manage the species so that there will be abundant blue cod for both penguins and people.

Sat 01 Feb 1–3pm Papatowai Forest Art Fergus Sutherland Meet: 2 Cross St, Papatowai Organiser: Fergus 03 415 8602 [email protected] Share ideas and produce forest art at the Cross Street art studio and at Shanks’s Bush in Papatowai. Drawing paper, pastels, scissors and string made from natural materials will be supplied, but bring your own if you can.