Friday Bird of the Week.
Hey Neighbourly folk, I am adding a new feature to Neighbourly every Friday. There are some amazing bird photographers in the region and I will be highlighting their best pictures.
This week's picture features my favourtite bird, the beautiful karearea (NZ Falcon). Simon Wooolf took the picture at Wrights Hill, Karori, and wrote an interesting account of the observation.
It settled itself down on a wooden structure, preened itself, and then dosed off! Then the action started.
Three, or four Welcome Swallows decided to dive bomb the Falcon! Now in flight, and in dive mode, Falcon's are the worlds fastest birds. This bird was obviously stationary. Swallows and Swifts feature in the Top Ten Fastest Birds too. The Karearea is a threatened species in NZ. Predators are man, and while breeding cats, ferrets etc, and believe it or not hedgehogs! I have never seen other bird species attack a karearea!
Normally our falcons are fearless. I have had them land a metre away from me. If threatened, and especially in breeding season they are not just fearless, but are brave, and ruthless. Even we humans will depart the scene rapidly if attacked!
Incidentally once awake the karearea took the aerial attacks in its stride and was pretty non-plussed!
I'm pretty rapt with the series of shots I gained, as the swallows were attacking at over 150kph. There was contact made on a couple of occasions, however I wasn't quick enough to catch that part of the action, even with my camera set a1/4000 sec and with my trusty Sigma 150 - 600 lens.
If you get the opportunity to observe these wonderful Taonga of our New Bush, do so. I have never been disappointed!
Simon Woolf.
Landscape Builders
Hi Neighbors,
Just wanting to share a recent project we have completed for a really nice retired couple at Paraparaumu Beach. What made this project unique is that a lot of recycled materials were incorporated into the project, which kept in touch with the homeowners’ vision. We worked with them to create a tailor-made plan, and the results were amazing. We were grateful to be a part of this process.
Some highlights:
Custom bamboo planter box with inbuilt seats, creating a uniform structure with the deck. This is a lovely large structure which we are excited to see evolve as it gets planted out.
Custom garden shed built to meet the requirements of the high-wind/sea zone, but also clad with recycled palings. This was purposed as a planting and propagating shed, with polycarbonate roofing to allow natural light to enter.
Bamboo deck and stairs leading into another planting zone, Linking the back Area to the front.
We are qualified builders who love landscaping. We can offer decking, digger services, concrete, fencing, planters, and more. If you have a project we could help you with, please get in touch.
Thanks,
Joe
021 081 12603
Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
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31.7% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
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68.3% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
THE WAIKANAE BEACH MONTHLY COMMUNITY MARKET IS ON THIS SUNDAY
WHERE:- Waikanae Beach Community Hall,
22 Rauparaha Street, Waikanae Beach,
WHEN:- Sunday 8 March 10am-1pm
Enjoy a Sunday outing with your family and friends by visiting this great friendly community market where you will discover handmade treasures and local creativity by highly talented stallholders where every piece tells a story.
FOR THE KIDS:-
Bring the kids along so they can meet jane with her quality handmade crochet toys, along with Helen and her huge range of awesome handmade children's dress ups and dolls clothes etc and Viv Walker a local author of Children's Books and an accomplished creator of Pet Portraits.
NEW STALLHOLDERS:-
BioGro Certified organic apples from Applejack Orchard in Te Horo. Their apples are tree ripened, and picked and bagged the day before they sell them! They are audited annually by BioGro New Zealand, and their certificate will be on display.
DISCOVER UNIQUE AND QUALITY ITEMS:-
You will find a huge variety of high-quality, reasonably priced gift ideas along with locally produced honey beeswax, Oils & Sauces, Fresh Flowers and Organic Apples.
MEET UP WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY:-
Meet up with a friend or 2 and enjoy a Sunday outing at this great Community event.
Don't miss it... support local!
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