Mark
Ika Makimaki
Mark and 1 other boosted
Jon Sullivan
@joncounts@mastodon.nz  ·  activity timestamp 2 days ago

they paved Seagull Pit, put up a parking lot...

I was disappointed to find this week that the seagulls have all been banished from the Christchurch "Seagull Pit" and it's now another car park.

After the Christchurch earthquakes, the badly damaged PricewaterhouseCoopers Building was demolished, leaving the remains of the foundation, which filled with water. To everyone's surprise, a group of tarāpuka , black-billed gulls, found it and formed a breeding colony, right in the middle of the city. They're the rarest of NZ's seagulls and typically breed on temporary gravel islands in braided rivers.

On Google Maps and Apple Maps the site was listed as a Tourist Attraction called "Seagull Pit", open 24 hours.

The area was always going become another building eventually. In the meantime, instead of gulls, we've now got another carpark.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christchurch_Seagull_Pit

https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360791815/laser-beams-and-electro-magnetic-fields-seagull-pit-fight-goes-hi-tech

#seagulls #birds #nz#Christchurch#Ōtautahi#PeopleVSnature

A screenshot from Apple Maps that I made today. It shows the satellite image of the foundations of the old building, labeled as "Seagull pit". The pop up window adds that it's a "Tourist attraction" and there are photos of it and under details is says "Hours: Open 24 hours". Unfortunately, this is now out of date as the site has been converted into a carpark while it waits for a new building to be built here.
A screenshot from Apple Maps that I made today. It shows the satellite image of the foundations of the old building, labeled as "Seagull pit". The pop up window adds that it's a "Tourist attraction" and there are photos of it and under details is says "Hours: Open 24 hours". Unfortunately, this is now out of date as the site has been converted into a carpark while it waits for a new building to be built here.
A screenshot from Apple Maps that I made today. It shows the satellite image of the foundations of the old building, labeled as "Seagull pit". The pop up window adds that it's a "Tourist attraction" and there are photos of it and under details is says "Hours: Open 24 hours". Unfortunately, this is now out of date as the site has been converted into a carpark while it waits for a new building to be built here.
A photo of three adult black-billed gulls, and a red-billed gull, nesting on a concrete beam in the remains of the foundation of a demolished city building. Under one of the black-billed gulls you can see a fluffy grey chick. I took this photo in February 2020.
A photo of three adult black-billed gulls, and a red-billed gull, nesting on a concrete beam in the remains of the foundation of a demolished city building. Under one of the black-billed gulls you can see a fluffy grey chick. I took this photo in February 2020.
A photo of three adult black-billed gulls, and a red-billed gull, nesting on a concrete beam in the remains of the foundation of a demolished city building. Under one of the black-billed gulls you can see a fluffy grey chick. I took this photo in February 2020.
A photo from 2020 of the three people watching gulls through a wire meshed viewing window in a fence. The gull colony was somewhere between an attraction and a curiosity and a nuisance, depending on who you talked to. The photo shows my daughter and two visiting animal behaviour experts from the US, so it was definitely an attraction for them.
A photo from 2020 of the three people watching gulls through a wire meshed viewing window in a fence. The gull colony was somewhere between an attraction and a curiosity and a nuisance, depending on who you talked to. The photo shows my daughter and two visiting animal behaviour experts from the US, so it was definitely an attraction for them.
A photo from 2020 of the three people watching gulls through a wire meshed viewing window in a fence. The gull colony was somewhere between an attraction and a curiosity and a nuisance, depending on who you talked to. The photo shows my daughter and two visiting animal behaviour experts from the US, so it was definitely an attraction for them.
Jon Sullivan
@joncounts@mastodon.nz  ·  activity timestamp 2 days ago

they paved Seagull Pit, put up a parking lot...

I was disappointed to find this week that the seagulls have all been banished from the Christchurch "Seagull Pit" and it's now another car park.

After the Christchurch earthquakes, the badly damaged PricewaterhouseCoopers Building was demolished, leaving the remains of the foundation, which filled with water. To everyone's surprise, a group of tarāpuka , black-billed gulls, found it and formed a breeding colony, right in the middle of the city. They're the rarest of NZ's seagulls and typically breed on temporary gravel islands in braided rivers.

On Google Maps and Apple Maps the site was listed as a Tourist Attraction called "Seagull Pit", open 24 hours.

The area was always going become another building eventually. In the meantime, instead of gulls, we've now got another carpark.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christchurch_Seagull_Pit

https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360791815/laser-beams-and-electro-magnetic-fields-seagull-pit-fight-goes-hi-tech

#seagulls #birds #nz#Christchurch#Ōtautahi#PeopleVSnature

A screenshot from Apple Maps that I made today. It shows the satellite image of the foundations of the old building, labeled as "Seagull pit". The pop up window adds that it's a "Tourist attraction" and there are photos of it and under details is says "Hours: Open 24 hours". Unfortunately, this is now out of date as the site has been converted into a carpark while it waits for a new building to be built here.
A screenshot from Apple Maps that I made today. It shows the satellite image of the foundations of the old building, labeled as "Seagull pit". The pop up window adds that it's a "Tourist attraction" and there are photos of it and under details is says "Hours: Open 24 hours". Unfortunately, this is now out of date as the site has been converted into a carpark while it waits for a new building to be built here.
A screenshot from Apple Maps that I made today. It shows the satellite image of the foundations of the old building, labeled as "Seagull pit". The pop up window adds that it's a "Tourist attraction" and there are photos of it and under details is says "Hours: Open 24 hours". Unfortunately, this is now out of date as the site has been converted into a carpark while it waits for a new building to be built here.
A photo of three adult black-billed gulls, and a red-billed gull, nesting on a concrete beam in the remains of the foundation of a demolished city building. Under one of the black-billed gulls you can see a fluffy grey chick. I took this photo in February 2020.
A photo of three adult black-billed gulls, and a red-billed gull, nesting on a concrete beam in the remains of the foundation of a demolished city building. Under one of the black-billed gulls you can see a fluffy grey chick. I took this photo in February 2020.
A photo of three adult black-billed gulls, and a red-billed gull, nesting on a concrete beam in the remains of the foundation of a demolished city building. Under one of the black-billed gulls you can see a fluffy grey chick. I took this photo in February 2020.
A photo from 2020 of the three people watching gulls through a wire meshed viewing window in a fence. The gull colony was somewhere between an attraction and a curiosity and a nuisance, depending on who you talked to. The photo shows my daughter and two visiting animal behaviour experts from the US, so it was definitely an attraction for them.
A photo from 2020 of the three people watching gulls through a wire meshed viewing window in a fence. The gull colony was somewhere between an attraction and a curiosity and a nuisance, depending on who you talked to. The photo shows my daughter and two visiting animal behaviour experts from the US, so it was definitely an attraction for them.
A photo from 2020 of the three people watching gulls through a wire meshed viewing window in a fence. The gull colony was somewhere between an attraction and a curiosity and a nuisance, depending on who you talked to. The photo shows my daughter and two visiting animal behaviour experts from the US, so it was definitely an attraction for them.
Jon Sullivan
@joncounts@mastodon.nz replied  ·  activity timestamp 2 days ago

Here's what the Seagull Pit looks like now. There is blue mesh around the walls of the carpark to stop the seagulls from finding anywhere to perch.

Sigh.

#carpark #nz#Christchurch#ArmarghStreet
Jon Sullivan
@joncounts@mastodon.nz  ·  activity timestamp 2 days ago

they paved Seagull Pit, put up a parking lot...

I was disappointed to find this week that the seagulls have all been banished from the Christchurch "Seagull Pit" and it's now another car park.

After the Christchurch earthquakes, the badly damaged PricewaterhouseCoopers Building was demolished, leaving the remains of the foundation, which filled with water. To everyone's surprise, a group of tarāpuka , black-billed gulls, found it and formed a breeding colony, right in the middle of the city. They're the rarest of NZ's seagulls and typically breed on temporary gravel islands in braided rivers.

On Google Maps and Apple Maps the site was listed as a Tourist Attraction called "Seagull Pit", open 24 hours.

The area was always going become another building eventually. In the meantime, instead of gulls, we've now got another carpark.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christchurch_Seagull_Pit

https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360791815/laser-beams-and-electro-magnetic-fields-seagull-pit-fight-goes-hi-tech

#seagulls #birds #nz#Christchurch#Ōtautahi#PeopleVSnature

A screenshot from Apple Maps that I made today. It shows the satellite image of the foundations of the old building, labeled as "Seagull pit". The pop up window adds that it's a "Tourist attraction" and there are photos of it and under details is says "Hours: Open 24 hours". Unfortunately, this is now out of date as the site has been converted into a carpark while it waits for a new building to be built here.
A screenshot from Apple Maps that I made today. It shows the satellite image of the foundations of the old building, labeled as "Seagull pit". The pop up window adds that it's a "Tourist attraction" and there are photos of it and under details is says "Hours: Open 24 hours". Unfortunately, this is now out of date as the site has been converted into a carpark while it waits for a new building to be built here.
A screenshot from Apple Maps that I made today. It shows the satellite image of the foundations of the old building, labeled as "Seagull pit". The pop up window adds that it's a "Tourist attraction" and there are photos of it and under details is says "Hours: Open 24 hours". Unfortunately, this is now out of date as the site has been converted into a carpark while it waits for a new building to be built here.
A photo of three adult black-billed gulls, and a red-billed gull, nesting on a concrete beam in the remains of the foundation of a demolished city building. Under one of the black-billed gulls you can see a fluffy grey chick. I took this photo in February 2020.
A photo of three adult black-billed gulls, and a red-billed gull, nesting on a concrete beam in the remains of the foundation of a demolished city building. Under one of the black-billed gulls you can see a fluffy grey chick. I took this photo in February 2020.
A photo of three adult black-billed gulls, and a red-billed gull, nesting on a concrete beam in the remains of the foundation of a demolished city building. Under one of the black-billed gulls you can see a fluffy grey chick. I took this photo in February 2020.
A photo from 2020 of the three people watching gulls through a wire meshed viewing window in a fence. The gull colony was somewhere between an attraction and a curiosity and a nuisance, depending on who you talked to. The photo shows my daughter and two visiting animal behaviour experts from the US, so it was definitely an attraction for them.
A photo from 2020 of the three people watching gulls through a wire meshed viewing window in a fence. The gull colony was somewhere between an attraction and a curiosity and a nuisance, depending on who you talked to. The photo shows my daughter and two visiting animal behaviour experts from the US, so it was definitely an attraction for them.
A photo from 2020 of the three people watching gulls through a wire meshed viewing window in a fence. The gull colony was somewhere between an attraction and a curiosity and a nuisance, depending on who you talked to. The photo shows my daughter and two visiting animal behaviour experts from the US, so it was definitely an attraction for them.
Ika Makimaki
Angela Antunovic
Ika Makimaki and 1 other boosted
Guy
@phlogiston@mastodon.nz  ·  activity timestamp 2 days ago

The 'hoiho' (yellow-eyed penguin) is one of the world's rarest penguins. It's an iconic penguin in Aotearoa/New Zealand. And it's in severe danger. Department of Conservation (DOC) data showed the northern population had collapsed by 80 percent since 2008, with some colonies already becoming functionally extinct.

Conservation groups are calling on the government to put an emergency fishing ban in place. The government would be informed by a "scientific multi-threat risk assessment". OK. But the government awarded the tender for the assessment in September 2022 already with diddly squat action. While many things have fast tracked through legislation this year with urgency and attempts to keep things clandestine.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/571402/conservation-groups-want-emergency-fishing-ban-to-save-hoiho

Why am I saying this? Well, my #scouts name is 'Hoiho', so naturally I mentally stumbled upon this piece on the radio this morning.

#conservation#scouting #aotearoa #nz#NewZealand #penguins #extinction
Guy
@phlogiston@mastodon.nz  ·  activity timestamp 2 days ago

The 'hoiho' (yellow-eyed penguin) is one of the world's rarest penguins. It's an iconic penguin in Aotearoa/New Zealand. And it's in severe danger. Department of Conservation (DOC) data showed the northern population had collapsed by 80 percent since 2008, with some colonies already becoming functionally extinct.

Conservation groups are calling on the government to put an emergency fishing ban in place. The government would be informed by a "scientific multi-threat risk assessment". OK. But the government awarded the tender for the assessment in September 2022 already with diddly squat action. While many things have fast tracked through legislation this year with urgency and attempts to keep things clandestine.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/571402/conservation-groups-want-emergency-fishing-ban-to-save-hoiho

Why am I saying this? Well, my #scouts name is 'Hoiho', so naturally I mentally stumbled upon this piece on the radio this morning.

#conservation#scouting #aotearoa #nz#NewZealand #penguins #extinction
Rob Connolly 🇳🇿 🇬🇧
@rob@fedi.webworxshop.com  ·  activity timestamp 3 days ago

OK, gonna put this one out to the fediverse: has anyone any experience with sending kids to high school in #NZ with a #Linux laptop rather than the suggested #Chromebook. It will probably be #KDE Neon as the distro of choice.

Did it cause any issues? Did anyone even notice the difference?

(For reference, I've been a Linux desktop and server user for ~20 years, so tech support is not an issue. In fact Linux is the easiest option).

#education#NewZealand#BYOD

Eliot B
Eliot B boosted
Jon Sullivan
@joncounts@mastodon.nz  ·  activity timestamp 2 weeks ago

Here are a couple of vine weeds to watch out for at the moment that are still uncommon but actively spreading around Ōtautahi-Christchurch, New Zealand.

What's commonly known as German Ivy (Delairea odorata) is a fast growing vine from, well, not anywhere close to Germany. It's a native to southern Africa. It's been establishing in parts of the Port Hills and I saw the first one in Halswell last week. Its leaves are thinner than English ivy and it has yellow flowers.
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208256

Chilean glory creeper (Eccremocarpus scaber) is an orange-flowered vine that's been popping up in and around the city. Every year I see a few more plants.
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208250

Weedbusters has fact sheets on these, including recommendations on how to get rid of them.
https://www.weedbusters.org.nz/what-are-weeds/weed-list/german-ivy/
https://www.weedbusters.org.nz/what-are-weeds/weed-list/chilean-glory-creeper/

Please report sightings on #iNaturalist if you find them.

#nz #weeds#InvasivePlants#InvasiveSpecies #iNaturalistNZ

A photo of a green-leaved vine growing up the side of a macrocarpa shelterbelt by a small farm shelter. This is a Chilean glorycreeper. It's likely escaped from a nearby farm house garden. For more details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208250
A photo of a green-leaved vine growing up the side of a macrocarpa shelterbelt by a small farm shelter. This is a Chilean glorycreeper. It's likely escaped from a nearby farm house garden. For more details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208250
A photo of a green-leaved vine growing up the side of a macrocarpa shelterbelt by a small farm shelter. This is a Chilean glorycreeper. It's likely escaped from a nearby farm house garden. For more details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208250
A photo of a young German ivy plant growing up some branches of a currently leafless tree. I found this in the front of a garden along Halswell Road, and it's the first record of this weed on iNaturalist from this suburb. For more details see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208256
A photo of a young German ivy plant growing up some branches of a currently leafless tree. I found this in the front of a garden along Halswell Road, and it's the first record of this weed on iNaturalist from this suburb. For more details see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208256
A photo of a young German ivy plant growing up some branches of a currently leafless tree. I found this in the front of a garden along Halswell Road, and it's the first record of this weed on iNaturalist from this suburb. For more details see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208256
A photo of a mass of German Ivy smothering the vegetation. The vine is covered in yellow flowers, from which it makes wind-dispersed seeds. I took this photo in Cracroft Reserve behind Princess Margaret Hospital. For details see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/3585878
A photo of a mass of German Ivy smothering the vegetation. The vine is covered in yellow flowers, from which it makes wind-dispersed seeds. I took this photo in Cracroft Reserve behind Princess Margaret Hospital. For details see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/3585878
A photo of a mass of German Ivy smothering the vegetation. The vine is covered in yellow flowers, from which it makes wind-dispersed seeds. I took this photo in Cracroft Reserve behind Princess Margaret Hospital. For details see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/3585878
Jon Sullivan
@joncounts@mastodon.nz  ·  activity timestamp 2 weeks ago

Here are a couple of vine weeds to watch out for at the moment that are still uncommon but actively spreading around Ōtautahi-Christchurch, New Zealand.

What's commonly known as German Ivy (Delairea odorata) is a fast growing vine from, well, not anywhere close to Germany. It's a native to southern Africa. It's been establishing in parts of the Port Hills and I saw the first one in Halswell last week. Its leaves are thinner than English ivy and it has yellow flowers.
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208256

Chilean glory creeper (Eccremocarpus scaber) is an orange-flowered vine that's been popping up in and around the city. Every year I see a few more plants.
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208250

Weedbusters has fact sheets on these, including recommendations on how to get rid of them.
https://www.weedbusters.org.nz/what-are-weeds/weed-list/german-ivy/
https://www.weedbusters.org.nz/what-are-weeds/weed-list/chilean-glory-creeper/

Please report sightings on #iNaturalist if you find them.

#nz #weeds#InvasivePlants#InvasiveSpecies #iNaturalistNZ

A photo of a green-leaved vine growing up the side of a macrocarpa shelterbelt by a small farm shelter. This is a Chilean glorycreeper. It's likely escaped from a nearby farm house garden. For more details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208250
A photo of a green-leaved vine growing up the side of a macrocarpa shelterbelt by a small farm shelter. This is a Chilean glorycreeper. It's likely escaped from a nearby farm house garden. For more details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208250
A photo of a green-leaved vine growing up the side of a macrocarpa shelterbelt by a small farm shelter. This is a Chilean glorycreeper. It's likely escaped from a nearby farm house garden. For more details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208250
A photo of a young German ivy plant growing up some branches of a currently leafless tree. I found this in the front of a garden along Halswell Road, and it's the first record of this weed on iNaturalist from this suburb. For more details see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208256
A photo of a young German ivy plant growing up some branches of a currently leafless tree. I found this in the front of a garden along Halswell Road, and it's the first record of this weed on iNaturalist from this suburb. For more details see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208256
A photo of a young German ivy plant growing up some branches of a currently leafless tree. I found this in the front of a garden along Halswell Road, and it's the first record of this weed on iNaturalist from this suburb. For more details see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208256
A photo of a mass of German Ivy smothering the vegetation. The vine is covered in yellow flowers, from which it makes wind-dispersed seeds. I took this photo in Cracroft Reserve behind Princess Margaret Hospital. For details see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/3585878
A photo of a mass of German Ivy smothering the vegetation. The vine is covered in yellow flowers, from which it makes wind-dispersed seeds. I took this photo in Cracroft Reserve behind Princess Margaret Hospital. For details see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/3585878
A photo of a mass of German Ivy smothering the vegetation. The vine is covered in yellow flowers, from which it makes wind-dispersed seeds. I took this photo in Cracroft Reserve behind Princess Margaret Hospital. For details see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/3585878
Daniel
Daniel boosted
Rita, antifascist 🏴🦯🦯🦯
@OldSquida2@kolektiva.social  ·  activity timestamp 2 weeks ago

“Yesterday, New Zealand Police revealed they didn't start investigating the espionage soldier until after March 15. Several anti-fascist researchers reported his online activity to the New Zealand Defence Force prior to the Christchurch massacre…🧵

We did this because we were concerned that the soldier, as an armourer in the NZ army, had access to large amounts of weapons he could use in a copycat "accelerationist" mass murder similar to the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting…

We are deeply concerned about the other accelerationist neo-Nazis in the NZ Defence Force and the lack of political will to remove them. We know of at least four Action Zealandia members who have served or are currently serving in the defence forces.”

#NZ #nazis #accelerationism
https://skyview.social/?url=https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:wpe5wcj7y3hfv3huorblcage/post/3lwpmnhc25c23&viewtype=unroll
Rita, antifascist 🏴🦯🦯🦯
@OldSquida2@kolektiva.social  ·  activity timestamp 2 weeks ago

“Yesterday, New Zealand Police revealed they didn't start investigating the espionage soldier until after March 15. Several anti-fascist researchers reported his online activity to the New Zealand Defence Force prior to the Christchurch massacre…🧵

We did this because we were concerned that the soldier, as an armourer in the NZ army, had access to large amounts of weapons he could use in a copycat "accelerationist" mass murder similar to the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting…

We are deeply concerned about the other accelerationist neo-Nazis in the NZ Defence Force and the lack of political will to remove them. We know of at least four Action Zealandia members who have served or are currently serving in the defence forces.”

#NZ #nazis #accelerationism
https://skyview.social/?url=https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:wpe5wcj7y3hfv3huorblcage/post/3lwpmnhc25c23&viewtype=unroll
Bob LeFridge :tinoflag:
@BobLefridge@mastodon.nz  ·  activity timestamp 2 weeks ago

Kaka Point in the Catlins, south of Balclutha, is named after the kākā which used to be plentiful in the area. While the endangered bird hasn't been spotted in the Catlins in over 100 years, we now have this happy headline.

"Kākā have turned up in Kākā Point."

https://archive.ph/X4aI1

More info on the kākā :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%81k%C4%81

#NZ#Catlins #Kaka
Bob LeFridge :tinoflag:
@BobLefridge@mastodon.nz  ·  activity timestamp 2 weeks ago

Kaka Point in the Catlins, south of Balclutha, is named after the kākā which used to be plentiful in the area. While the endangered bird hasn't been spotted in the Catlins in over 100 years, we now have this happy headline.

"Kākā have turned up in Kākā Point."

https://archive.ph/X4aI1

More info on the kākā :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%81k%C4%81

#NZ#Catlins #Kaka
Jon Sullivan
@joncounts@mastodon.nz  ·  activity timestamp 2 weeks ago

Here are four wetland birds I've photographed on my bike commute to work this week, between Ōtautahi-Chirstchurch and Lincoln, New Zealand. Together they're a testament to how much wetland bird life has been returning to the wider city, as the city has been restoring native wetland habitats.

I've been counting birds on my bike commute to Lincoln since 2003. While I saw pied oystercatchers in 2003, the first ever pied stilt I counted wasn't until August 2017, the first grey teal I counted was in July 2019, and the first coot I counted was in June 2024.

Bring back the wetlands and the birds return.

Poaka · Australian Pied stilt: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208255

Tete · Grey teal: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208254

Tōrea · South Island Pied Oystercatcher: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208266

Australasian Coot: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208248

#birds #nz #wetland #restoration#Ōtautahi#Christchurch
Jon Sullivan
@joncounts@mastodon.nz replied  ·  activity timestamp 2 weeks ago

It wasn't until tonight that I realised that one of the Tōrea (South Island Pied Oystercatchers) that I had photographed on my bike commute home was a banded bird. It's got a "flag" on its left leg. I've just reported it to the NZ banding office so hopefully I'll learn more about this bird's past.

https://inaturalist.nz/observations/306208266

#birds #banded #nz #oystercatcher