Latest News

The traps we checked on Thursday and we caught 10 stoats and one got away leaving it's tail behind ! only the tip !
At the top of the haast we thought we heard a mohua starting to sing but not confirmed. There we 2 tuis flying around the start of the blue pools. Out in the river bed we could see 5 Black Fronted Terns hunting for food.

Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Inc.

Upper Clutha Branch
presents

Professor Liz Slooten of Otago University
Speaking about

Hectors Dolphins

Where: Base Camp, Wanaka
When: Friday 14th September
Refreshments available
Gold coin entry
Everyone Welcome

Liz Slooten's lecture Hector Dolphins is at:

St Johns Centre
Link-way St
Wanaka
7.30 pm
This Friday 14th September

Next Wednesday 12th September between 12.30 – 1.30 Dr. Brian Molloy will be giving a talk in the QLDC chambers about “Protecting Natural Space with QE II National Trust”. Dr Brian Molloy, is the QEII regional representative for the South Island High Country. He is a botanist and Landcare Research scientist who is well known in the fields of conservation, taxonomy and plant ecology.
QEII National Trust helps landowners protect significant natural and cultural features on their land. Landowners throughout the country have voluntarily protected some 102,000 hectares of their land through QEII covenants (or protection agreements). The Trust also helps by contributing funds for covenant projects and advising landowners on managing their covenants.

Covenants can also help district and regional councils to fulfil their responsibilities under the Resource Management Act, including the recognition and protection of natural heritage, landscapes, cultural heritage and biodiversity. QEII can offer expertise in legal protection via open space covenants, and can act as an 'independent' facilitating relationship with landowners.

More information about QEII national trust covenants can be found on the website

Queen Elizabeth II National Trust New Zealand

I look forward to seeing you all – bring your lunch along, and we will keep the talk to 40 - 45 minutes, with time for discussion and questions at the end...

Cleared the Haast Highway Stoat Line last Wednesday and got 13 stoats, most of them juvenile.
Because it has been a beech mast year the number of rats and subsequently stoats has been exceptional this season and we are still catching large numbers of hungry stoats as the winter comes to an end.
Next checking date is 24 Sept so we will have to wait and see if number are still high.

Programme for 2007/2008

October 5th Friday - Evening meeting 7.30pm at Wanaka on Wilding Trees with guest speakers Nick Ledgard & Anne Steven
Contact: Anne Steven 03 443 6766

October 6th Saturday - Field trip "Wilding Trees" to be arranged
Leader: John Turnbull 03 443 1607

November 3rd Saturday - Walk the Millennium Track and continue round to Glendhu Bay
Leader Andrew Penniket 03 443 1211

November 30th Friday - Evening meeting 7.30pm at Cromwell with guest speaker Peter Johnson on Central Otago alpine plants.
Contact: Angela Brown 03 443 7020

December 1st Saturday - Field trip to view alpine plants at Leaning Rock
Leader: John Douglas 03 443 7474

January 26th & 27th - combined weekend trip with Dunedin Branch based at Naseby driving to Michael Peak & Shortland's. Great tussock country.
Leaders Janet Ledingham 03 467 2960 John Turnbull 03 443 1607

March 1st Saturday - Walk to Chain Hills & Dunstan Creek
Leader Ann Steven 03 443 6766

April 5th Saturday - Annual General Meeting in Cromwell with field trip to Westmoreland water race, Lowburn Terrace.
Leader: committee/secretary Angela Brown 03 443 7020

The local newsletter contains all sorts of infomation about the branch so just click below and have a read.

newsletter.rtf%20sept%2007.pdf