North Canterbury News: October 31, 2019

NEWS
4 North Canterbury News, October 31, 2019
YOU’RE INVITED TO
CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE
Silver Ferns Farms 2018 Plate to Pasture winners, the Galletly family,
invite Silver Fern Farms suppliers and the local community to an
on-farm Field Day.
Come and see how they farm with the consumer in mind and hear
about their key learnings from their China market visit.
Also hear an update from Richard Young, Chairman of our Co-op.
ON-FARM FIELD DAY
Wednesday, 6November
10.00am –2.00pm
Hossack Downs Farm
63 Lyndon Road, Waiau
To assist with catering please RSVP to:
gemma.fraser@silverfernfarms.co.nz
Floodingwoes... Black­billed gullnests justasthey werebeingwashed out by the
October 19 floodinthe Ashley­Rakahuri River. The gulls seemed determined not to be
washed out and were still bringingnestingmaterial to their doomednests. PHOTOS: GRANT DAVEY
Gulls opt for abetter
river spot after flood
Black­billed gulls have been gathering
over the lasttwo months in preparation
for breeding on the Ashley­Rakahuri
River.
Theirprogress towards nestinghas
been an interesting but chequered
journey, as it has beeninprevious years.
Ashley­Rakahuri RivercareGroup
member Grant Davey says, at first,the
birdssettled not farwest of the Cones
Road bridge,
‘‘Buttheir choice was not good,asit
involved low islands very prone to
flooding.
‘‘Fortunately, only asmallpercentage
of them were on nests because, as
feared, afresh on October 19 forced
them to move, he says.
Within aday, they had congregated
againabout 3km downstream, on amuch
more suitable site, and by October22at
least2200 birdshad beencounted.
‘‘It was ahigherweed­free island
offering protection fromboth floods and
predators. The numberpresent is very
similar to that whichinitiallyarrived on
the river last year,’’MrDaveysays.
Elsewhereonthe river, there has
been avariable start to the breeding
season for other species.
One of the firsttoarrive was the
banded dotterel. Mostnow have young
chicks, while the pied stilt and blackfronted
tern are only just starting to lay
eggs.
‘‘There are at leastsix pairs of wrybill
present. Four havealready hatched
chicks, includingthat of the onlybanded
bird,BW­BW.
‘‘He is present at his usual sitefor his
10th season.’’
Wrybill are the most iconic birdof
braided rivers and only breed in
Canterbury.
GroupChairman NickLedgardsays,
despite its unique status, comparatively
little is known about the species.
‘‘Forthis reason, we are askingthe
public to vote for the wrybill as New
Zealand’sBird of the Year —a
competition which gets under way
towards theend of thismonth.’’
Hands-on activities forall ages:
• Guided walk to Tūtaepatu Lagoon
• Kids mountain bike ride
• ‘Know your Park’ scavenger hunt
with prizes
• Meet our rare Canterbury ry Mudfish/
Kōwaro
• Pesky
pests trapping demonstration
• Learn about volunteering and local
conserv rvation projects
• Refreshments available and
Sausage sizzle
Freshthinking ... Theblack­billedgulls were initially reluctanttomove on.
Moteliers humbled by win
2219426
AHanmer Springs motel has been
recognised as the country’s best for the
second year running.
The St James Premium
Accommodation in the alpine village
has been named ‘‘Best Motel’’ in the
2019 Hospitality New Zealand Awards
for Excellence.
Owners Paul and Rae Baigent are
thrilled to win the title again.
The award was presented at the
recent Hospitality New Zealand
Awards for Excellence gala dinner in
Napier.
‘‘Our motto is ‘our difference is the
detail’ and we genuinely enjoy
providing afriendly hospitality
experience with quality
accommodation for all our guests,’’
Paul says.
‘‘To be judged Best Motel two years
running by our industry peers is an
honour.’’
Paul and Rae opened The St James in
the village in October 2010.
The pair say they could not have won
the award without the passionate
efforts of their staff.