Older People with Active Lifestyles: Let’s talk about the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees …….

When you visit another country there are so many things that are the same, but also so many that are different. During our trip, we’ve really enjoyed seeing nature from a different perspective

Birds

Firstly there are the indigenous birds – Kiwis, tuis, fantails and pukekos – I’m sure there are more but these are the ones we’ve seen and enjoyed the most. Well, we haven’t seen kiwis – I don’t know anyone who has. They are nocturnal and rare – so although we’ve seen lots of signs saying Kiwi area and signs prohibiting dogs as they might frighten the Kiwis. Tuis (said too–ee) – are the best singers – a lovely, melodious warble. So why one of the local beers is called Tui, I can’t figure out. It’s a black bird, with a small white “bobble” on the throat – you hear them more than you see them, so when I see one on the flax plant, I feel really privileged. Fantails are little birds with wonderful tails that fan out – but they never sit still long enough for us to get a photo of them. We watched them flying in the natural forest the other day – beautiful. And then there are the crazy pukekos (pronounced pu- ke-ko). They are quite big and just as stupid as guinea fowl. You see a lot of them as roadkill as they always start to cross the road as a car comes. They are a blue bird, with a red beak and reddish legs. They’re very quizzy, as we have found on some of our walks – they will follow us along the fence line and watch us while we eat – even facing down seagulls in case there are some tasty titbits

And then there are the “international” birds. The volcanic lakes, like Taupo and Rotorua are home to black swans. On a lunch stop at Lake Rotoiti, a whole family of swans including the cygnets, came to see if we would feed them. The cob was so cheeky that he rapped on my car window. And any coastal town has flocks of stupid seagulls – congregating wherever there are people who might have food for them. I have been fascinated by how one will always set himself up as the leader, ruffling his feathers, hunching his back and chasing the others, while squawking harshly. They don’t seem to realise that while they are so busy chasing the others, they miss out on the food.

Everywhere you go there are ducklings

Cob Swan was rather pushy

Mrs Swan and her babies

Bees

We do see bees, but I’m really going to write about other “bugs” – cicadas. While we were walking in a forest on Russell in the Bay of Islands, we heard a sound that was like rain pattering on the leaves above us – but when we came into a clearing, the sky was clear. It was a crackling sound like the noise popping candy makes – and with the number of trees, it was a continuous noise. One of the locals told us it was a type of cicada – we could hear the Christmas singers as well, but this was a different type. The photo could be of either type – I’m inclined to think that the popping sound ones would be tiny.

Flowers

New Zealand in summer must be a gardener’s dream. Everything grows so big! As we drove around Northland we were treated to views of drifts of orange crocosmia and white yarrow, growing along the side of the road. Little yellow dandelions appear like stars in the grass. In gardens and along farm verges, huge bushes of hydrangeas in colours ranging from white, through pale pink, blue and deep purply blue grow extravagantly. Hollyhocks reach up to the roof and foxgloves are self sown all over the West coast and on the South Island. The humble blue agapanthus – indigenous to South Africa – takes on a new dimension here. It grows like a weed, and is used on banks and verges as well as in gardens. It grows taller than any I have seen in South Africa and the colours are often a much deeper blue than what we see at home. And then there are the roses – Nicky’s have just shot up since the rain and are as big as side plates. I have seen an orangey, antique style rose called Kiwi which I want to smuggle home! Do you think I’ll be caught?

Rose in Nic's garden

"Kiwi"

Trees

The trees that struck us when we first arrived were the pohutakawas. They are similar to an Australian Bottlebrush, I suppose, and bloom in summer. With their delicate but dense red flowers, they are called the New Zealand Christmas tree. I would love one in my garden. Sadly, they are past their best, although there is now an orange blooming one flowering. Driving along the Kauri coast, we were wowed by the native Kauri trees – tall and straight. I also found the contrast between the dark green leaves and grey bark and the acid green of the tree ferns very beautiful. Tree ferns seem so incongruous in this landscape and yet they also seem just right. The koru or frond is so beautiful and has been used extensively in Māori art.