Golden Bay A&P Show 2023

Continued from page 9

...saying, “It’s just something that I was taught very, very young by my father, and I’ve just enjoyed it so much that I’ve stayed in the band all those years”.

Following a brief recap of the seven-year battle to persuade Tasman District Council to restore rather than demolish the grandstand, Noel Baigent expressed gratitude to fellow campaigners. “I thank everyone here today because it is you, the Golden Bay community, that helped save this building.” He gave special mention to the late Jill Pearson, “a key stalwart all through those years”, as well as supportive councillors and the building contractor Scott Construction.

Having acknowledged the turbulent recent history, Noel concluded with a message of reconciliation. “The grandstand is here to stay, let bygones be bygones and may the spirit of togetherness and goodwill resume for all parties at the grounds. Enjoy the shade, enjoy the day.”

Jill’s sister Hazel then joined TDC mayor Tim King to part the red ribbon and declare the grandstand officially open.

With the formalities over, the Hack Vaulties took to the grassy arena to give the large crowd a demonstration of horseback acrobatics under the guidance of Baerbel Hack.

At the end of the display, the crowds dispersed with many visiting the numerous trade stands set up to promote everything from cars, tractors and farm machinery to garden ornaments, fertiliser and food. Equestrian events continued in the arena while traders started to take down their stands. But not everyone was calling it a day; many stayed to enjoy the fairground attractions while the younger show-goers remained in the Kids’ Free Zone where they played on the bouncy castle and slide, had a go at hula hooping, or tried their luck on the slippery pig.

On Monday, the show committee and other volunteers cleared up the showgrounds, but it won’t be long before they start to organise next year’s big day out.

You know the sound. You’re sitting quietly in your house when you hear a sharp “thwack” as something hits the window. You look down and on the ground in front of your window lies a bird, stunned or dying, after hitting the glass. Next to habitat destruction it is documented as the second largest human source of bird mortality on Earth.

Although there are no figures available in New Zealand window strike kills and injures significant numbers of birds each year. It often occurs when birds perceive a line of flight through one window of your home and out another or when birds see sky or trees reflected in your windows. There is no window size, building structure, time of day, season of year or weather conditions during which birds can elude the lethal hazards of glass. Glass is an indiscriminate killer taking the fittest individuals of species of special concern as well as the common and abundant.

Birds have sharper vision than humans and can see certain light frequencies including ultraviolet light that is invisible to us. They can see this ultraviolet light under normal daylight conditions whereas we humans require the assistance of a black light. Many birds have feathers that reflect ultraviolet light, used to communicate species, gender and perhaps even social standing.

Why do birds see better than humans? Both birds and humans have photoreceptive cones in the retina located at the back of the eye. These cones allow us to see colour light. The human eye contains 10,000 cones per square millimetre. Birds can have 12 times this amount – up to 120,000 cones per square millimetre. Birds’ eyes on average account for 15 per cent of the mass of the entire head. Human eyes by contrast account for 2 per cent of the head.

We can help birds see windows and avoid striking the glass. Many wildlife hospitals and bird rescue organisations sell window decals or marker tape that brilliantly reflect ultraviolet light, glowing like a spotlight for birds. However, the coating will fade based on exposure, so testing decals or tape with a uv flashlight and their replacement is important. You can purchase these at info@projectkereru.org.nz or go to the website kererudiscovery.org.nz