On Saturday, 16th of September, my family and I visited Brook Sanctuary with the Nelson Tasman Kiwi Conservation Club. It was our first time visiting and I’d reckon we will go back there again!
I learned new things like how Kōtukutuku – a red velvety purple tree fuchsia flower- would sometimes make birds (commonly Bellbirds) heads go purple when they drink their nectar! And how Tutu looks somewhat like asparagus, but if you eat or touch it, it’s extremely poisonous! I also discovered and saw new creatures I’ve never seen before – a hopper (pale white tiny bug that sucks on tree sap), a baby ivy green stick insect (I have seen stick insects before, just not a baby one until now), glow worms, and about 4 or 3 Koura (freshwater crayfish) plus a Kōaro, a type of whitebait.
We passed by some Wēta hotels during our walk, there weren’t too many wētas inside them, but the ones that were in there were huge!
Some birds we spied gliding about trees were: Tui, Wax-eyes, Finch, Bellbird, Piwakawaka, Kererū, and last but not least, we heard a New Zealand falcon call.
Last topic, the fence that was built around 2006. It’s giant, super cool, and useful! It stops predators from getting in such as Stoats, Mice, Possums etc, but still lets any fish get in or out near the dam!
This trip was really fun, and I’m looking forward to our next KCC trip!
By Leah, aged 10, from Nelson
