Ah! Yes they have definitely massively expanded the native selection, there's a large portion of the front which is kept pretty well fully natives only. But interestingly the kākā often seem to be in the introduced trees as well. They love a kōwhai, but also a cherry, oak, pine, etc. & Camellias!

Oh and the point of that tale was one of the garden staff picked it up and he said they'd had them through visiting intermittently for a few years but they'd been gone about a decade! So who knows why they're back now but I'm so pleased they are.

They're really only recently here, in the last 3 months or so. But back in May I found, sadly, a dead one there on the shady path next to the Wonderland garden, down below the house. So I had an inkling they were about! The whole town have become enthusiastic birders because of them haha

Oh my gosh thank you for sharing that!! What a lovely story. I'll take a pic next walk of how the house looks now! A circular drive around a fountain in front, a few weeping somethings off to the left too, one of decent size. Your friend's dad may well have planted/planned many of my favourites 🤩

And finally, these ones. I didn't bugger up the paisley but jeez it wasn't an easy sew either.

And more.. a couple of opportunities in this round to use the "I buggered this up" tags 😂😂

No sightings of the māpunga.
We saw mummy pīwakawaka building their new nest way up high, above where their previous one was. Have yet to see dad hopping around with the fledglings but they won't be far. Kākā heard but not seen.

Thank you! I can take credit for the back haha but all my crafty construction is hidden under the flap which is in the original design.. luckily because the crafty construction is not very aesthetic 😂

Thank you! I did not expect such a rad result tbh! Fluke 😂😂

Thanks! I've been on the hunt for something awesome to use that length for and I really like it as these 😃😃

So I ended up adding a zip below the silly half length fly (which is just an open placket as it ends up hidden under the flap) and that's worked pretty well. I do also think the sizing is a bit whack and I need to go back and cross check finished measurements, as I don't think they're right.

The dumb crotch!! These are for woven fabric. Because of how the wrap works my hips couldn't get through the waist opening. It's got like a half length fly which is deeply silly; it needs an extra length fly because the crotch isn't a standard curve. It didn't even fit Eddie when I made him try 😂😂

Great point; I have actually eaten Canada goose in Canada, many years ago, and really enjoyed it. Not sure what the rules are around culling them, but I know we do here (though.. would you believe people were still actively introducing them to new places like 40 years ago 🤦🏻‍♀️ choices were made)

Yes! Pūtangitangi are endemic shelducks. Paradise shelduck is the English. Māpunga also called black shag! They're cormorants. You're so welcome, I love visiting them and sharing the joy haha

I reckon hahaha they're such KIDS

We also saw the māpunga again - and so I think mystery solved about the little dead fish we've seen twice on the creek banks in the last two days!
AND our fantail nest is empty! They've fledged! I think mum and dad were whizzing around but we didn't sight the babies. #nzbirds
Garden pics too 🌱🇳🇿

And here's just a nice peaceful video of hop in hop put dive practice look at me mum while the parents proudly watch! Also me I'm a proud parent too #nzbirds

Then we wandered around the pond and met them at the jetty. Look how good they are at swimming and diving! Clever little chappies. #nzbirds
Water quality of the pond looks atrocious but I think it's mostly cypress pollen from the trees overhanging down the way.