Lyrebird chicks and swinging shindigs

LYREBIRD CHICK
This is me from aaaaages ago, helping to band a lyrebird chick at one of our study sites with the local lyrebird survey group. The chicks are quite big and completely fluffy - kinda like bantam chickens, but with huge feet and claws. Completely adorable, that's for sure. This day was one of the highlights of my recent honours endeavours. For anyone who is interested, please check out the website of really good wildlife pics taken by a yr 11 student, Alex Maisey, who is crucial in maintaining the facts, figures and info on all the lyrebirds near Belgrave. He really knows all the facts about every bird there - I'm in awe. And his photos are pretty cool.

SPIEGELTENT GIGS
The Spiegeltent is well underway and our group, Brat Pack, is performing on the following dates - Oct 28th, Nov 11th and I think Nov 18th (will confirm shortly). Gigs are from 3-5pm, really cheap (about $10 I think) and will include social dancing, lesson and performance. They are on each Saturday but different groups will be performing on different Saturdays. I'll also be there on Dec 2nd for a St Kilda performance. check out the swing patrol link to the left, or the spiegeltent's official website for program details.


BRAT PACK SHENANIGANS
These pics are of a party we had at Brat Pack rehearsal last week - was good to mess around for an hour, playing kids party games, skipping, wheelbarrow races, etc... we did do some dancing practice but mainly messed about for awhile and ate chips, lollies and fairy bread.

back into the swing of things

Have been back for over a month now :(
sad, I know.
been right back into the honours work - lots of journals to read, essays to write, lyrebird recordings to catalogue.
seems the work is narrowing in on comparisons between whipbirds and lyrebirds but plans are changing by the minute (i.e. when my supervisor comes in and gives me the latest good/bad news regarding chosen species of study!!)... never fear.
Saw 'An Inconvenient Truth' last week.... needs to be seen by the world. Made me completely frustrated at current government in our country and deeply ashamed that we couldn't even ratify the Kyoto protocol. For those interested, please see the film and perhaps read the book "The Weather Makers" by Tim Flannery. I'm planning to read it in next coupla months too. Apparently explains everything. There is hope though. I'm not completely full of despair.
xx

skiing in nz

Have just spent most marvellous week in NZ - staying at Wanaka, Sth Island.
Skiied for five days at Cardrona, Treble Cone and Snow Park. Started off a bit icy, but a couple of lessons and 15cm of fresh powder left the rest of the week "sweet as". Wanaka was a beautiful town situated on one of the many gorgeous lakes in the south, about an hour north of Queenstown. Much quieter and very picturesque.
To see all the photos --> just go to the link on the left of the page!!



Day One --> travelled from Christchurch to Wanaka, got in and hired the skis. Crashed at Purple Cow Backpackers (which I can highly recommend).

Day Two --> Skiing at Treble Cone. hairiest looking road ascending up to it, but gorgeous views. Resorts are much smaller than Australia's but views are far superior. The hire car even survived the local keas (parrots which eat rubber from your items such as windscreen wipers).

Day Three --> Skiing at Cardrona. Icy as anything. Another lesson helped me cope. More family oriented resort with wider runs (better for my nerves).

Day Four --> Tried to get to Remarkables. No luck as resort was shut due to high winds. Drove all the way back to Cardrona for another day. Turned out to be one of the best days there. Snow had softened up. I even had a go at Boardercross (like a bmx track for skiers and snowboarders) - crazy fun and ended up with a good face plant!!

Day Five --> Snow Park --> skateboarding park for snowboarders really. I am hopeless so avoided anything remotely tricksy and just watched Kim strut his stuff (until of course he took a huge jump and came down with a serious crash landing and a bit of concussion and swollen jaw.....). Left early to go see Confetti the movie at Cinema Paradiso (highlights include sofas, hot cookies and homemade icecream at interval).

Day Six --> "Day off" --> visited Queenstown. Did CANYON SWING, whereby you freefall 60m over Shotover River and then swing out in 200m arc over the river at about 150kph. Crap ya daks stuff. Survived. Much happier having done this but backpocket substantially lighter. Recovered in afternoon by doing shopping, going up the gondola and having fantastic buffet smorgasboard at restaurant with mountain views at sunset.... awwwww.

Day Seven --> Back to Cardrona for last day skiing. More fresh snow saw Kim heading off to make fresh tracks. I cruised on the beginner runs but spent the arvo on blue areas where there was lots of powder. Resulted in me falling over a lot and getting snow everywhere. Tons of fun. Over way too quickly.

Day Eight --> Drove back to Christchurch. Took in some local sights, market, shops, etc. before crashing back at the hostel before our 4am start the next morning to fly home.

CANNOT WAIT TO GET BACK THERE!!!