KCC Wild Things 141 Summer 2018

Issue 141 Summer/Raumati 2018

Things

For Forest & Bird’s young conservationists

L ve Freshwater Fish OFishally Specktacular

Ngā ika taketake wai māori o te Aotearoa | Native freshwater fish of New Zealand

We want all of New Zealand to know how unique, rare, and totally loveable our native fish are too!

Some of them, like the Canterbury mudfish, Clutha flathead, Teviot flathead, and Lowland longjaw, are already in serious trouble, and we don't want them becoming part of Gretel’s exclusive crew...

Hi I’m Gretel the Grayling. I’m a NZ native fish. What do I have in common with a moa?

Inside you’ll find...

■ More about our nifty native fishes ■ Why they are having problems ■ How you can help

We can turn this all around if we work together.

Illustration: Margaret Tolland

EDITOR: Rebecca Browne ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER: Rob Di Leva, Dileva Design PRINTING: Webstar, Auckland • ISSN 2230-2565

To join KCC and receive Wild Things, or to receive our free E-news, go to www.kcc.org.nz.

Wild Things is produced by Forest & Bird, Phone 04 385 7374, Email office@forestandbird.org.nz PO Box 631, Wellington 6140.

COVER Pouched lamprey (Geotria australis).

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Photo by Rod Morris

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No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of Forest & Bird or the copyright holder.

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

If you asked most people to name some of our native birds, they would be able to – no sweat! However, ask them to name even one of our equally precious native freshwater fishes, and they’d find it a bit tricky... they might even name an introduced species, like trout, by mistake.

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

I smell like cucumber and shine like metal.

Write name here

My red fins make me stand out from the rest.

Photo: Rod Morris

Name that native fish!

Photo: Stella McQueen

Need help? Go to doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/freshwater-fish to find the answers.

We like fastflowing water.

Photo: Rod Morris

Photo: Rod Morris

We can survive in the mud (for a time) when there is no surface water – unlike most other fish.

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Otago Galaxiids

By Annabeth Cohen, Forest & Bird’s Freshwater Advocate The Galaxiidae family of fish was named for the beautiful gold specks in their scaleless skin.

Together, these specks look like a galaxy of stars.

Whitebait are our migratory (travelling) galaxiids. They go between fresh and sea water to breed and feed. But there are also dozens of other non-migratory (non-travelling) galaxiids in New Zealand that stay in fresh water their whole lives.

As they’ve been isolated by geological events, such as earthquakes and glaciers moving, each galaxiid species is unique and special.

Otago is a non-migratory galaxiid hotspot!

Nearly half of these galaxiid species live there.

Meet some of my favourite sparkling fish that live in this region:

Central Otago roundhead NATIONALLY ENDANGERED ■

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■ ■

We live in the headwaters of the Taieri and Manuherikia rivers.

Our brown markings are mismatched down our backs, with a gold or silver dusting.

We can live up to four years.

We like the shallow gravel of braided rivers.

NATIONALLY CRITICAL ■

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■

■

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We live in the upper tributaries (river branches) of the Clutha River, upstream of Roxburgh.

We’re golden brown, with darker splotches and orange dusting.

We have broad flattened head with thick lips.

We can live up to 10 years.

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© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

Clutha flathead

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

See if you can find all the rivers named in this story on Google Maps!

Southern flathead DECLINING ■

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■

We’re found in the Waiau, Aparima, Mataura, and Oreti rivers. Some of us are even found on Rakiura (Stewart Island).

We’re thought to have arrived there during an ice age when a land bridge was present.

We are grey brown to olive green, with dark brown splotches and mismatched patterns down our backs.

Our relatives are usually found high up in headwater streams away from predators.

Not us! We’re typically found in the mid to lower reaches of gravel-bottomed streams and rivers.

Eldon’s galaxias NATIONALLY ENDANGERED ■

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■ ■

We live in East Otago in the small tributaries of the Taieri, Waipori, and Tokomairiro rivers.

We’re dark grey-brown, with creamy gold bars along our bodies.

We can live up to 12 years.

We lay tiny eggs in streamside vegetation or small caves carved out of stream banks during floods.

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Top Trumps: la

They might both have long bodies and be good climbers, but tha Give each fact an epicness score out of 10

SUPERPOWERS: Born blind They don’t develop eyes until four years after they're born!

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

Changes colour, a lot Originally, on hatching, they appear milky white, but they lose their yolk within a few weeks and reveal that they actually close to transparent (clear). As juveniles, they become a muddy brown colour (very similar to our eels), and when they go to sea they become a silvery-blue colour. When they are back in fresh water, they go a dull grey colour. Phew!

“Tiny Tim” is a lamprey larvae (baby).

“Tim” measured just 15mm and fits on the scientist’s fingertip!

Photo: Rod Morris

Like a vampire These fish feed on the blood of other fish and whales.

Hitchhiker Lamprey can hitch a ride around the Pacific Ocean on whales by using their sucker mouth to “rasp” (rub) a hole in their host.

Shark-like skeleton Theirs is made from cartilage (firm, flexible body tissue) too.

Fresh water committed They might spend 3–5 years feeding in the sea, but lamprey are born, and die, in fresh water.

TOTAL:

/60

Piharau/kanakana |

Lamprey

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For more on the lamprey story, check out kcc.org.nz/lamprey-story

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mprey vs Eel

at is where their similarities end. Who do you judge as most epic?

By Annabeth Cohen, Forest & Bird’s Freshwater Advocate

SUPERPOWERS: Only in NZ

Secretly golden

Longfins are an endemic species.

Rarely, this eel will lose their dark skin pigments, allowing their yellow colouring to be clearly seen. Can you find a rare golden longfin photo online?

Heavy as, and wrinkly These eels can reach up to 20kg (that might be as heavy as you!), and have big loose wrinkles of skin when they are bent.

Long living Kirirua can live up to 100 years.

Super swimmers They travel all the way from NZ to the Pacific Islands to breed and die.

A bit different These eels can breathe out of water through their skin.

TOTAL:

/60

Kirirua |

Longfin eel Photos: Rod Morris

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© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

Give each fact an epicness score out of 10

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

Text by

New Zealand has over 50 kinds of native freshwater fish. Some, like īnanga and giant kōkopu, live in shady swamps. Others, like banded kōkopu and kōaro, live in rocky streams far from the sea.

Like the eels, they too migrate. Their young float out to sea and swim back to find a lake, stream, or swamp where they will grow into adults.

The tiny clear fish we call whitebait are the young of these fishes.

When the moon is full or new, the high spring tides happen.

They flood up the grassy banks and into the rushes and saltmarsh.

The fish leap and turn in the moonlight.

They shed their eggs and sperm on to the grass and rushes.

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?

Which migratory galaxiid is missing from this page? Tell us at kcc.org.nz/kcc-reporters

Ann Graeme. Illustrations by Tim Galloway.

Spring comes. The tiny fish have grown, but they are still small. They return to shore and gather into schools, together with the young of many other native fishes. Then they swim up the rivers. We call them whitebait.

Lots get eaten.

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

The whitebait nets are waiting.

They float and feed amongst the plankton.

The survivors find a place to live – a wetland or stream or lake. They grow into adult fish and next autumn, instinct leads them down to the sea to spawn at the full moon or the new moon, just as their parents did before them.

Next morning they swim back home. The tide falls. The eggs are marooned, stuck to the leaves and stems.

The fish are this small: They drift out to sea with the tide.

Weeks later, the next spring tide floods the rushes and grassy banks again. Quickly the eggs hatch into tiny fish.

A new Kiwi classic You don’t need whitebait to cook a tasty summer fritter!

These recipes were created by students from Waimea Intermediate School during their MasterChef challenge! Give them a go yourself!

Corn and Zucchini Fritters

By Lily, Brydie, and Isobel Ingredients: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

1

Place grated zucchinis into a tea towel. Squeeze any water out.

2

In a large bowl, combine the zucchini with the rest of the ingredients (apart from the oil). Stir all together until well combined.

3

Heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat, add the oil.

4

Using a tablespoon, scoop out the mixture. Shape it into a fritter of the size you want in the pan.

5

Cook for 3–5 minutes on each side until golden.

6

Serve warm.

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

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2 large zucchinis, grated 1½ cups tinned corn ½ cup spring onions, chopped ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 1½ tsp cumin 1½ cups flour 2 free-range eggs Salt and pepper (to taste) 1 cup milk ½ cup cheese 1 Tsp oil

Method:

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Plating: Lily, Brydie, and Isobel. Photos: Millie Bourke

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For a vegetarian alternative, use tofu instead of chicken mince.

Plating: Bailey and Claudia. Photos: Millie Bourke

Chicken and Spinach Fritters

By Bailey and Claudia

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

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1½ cups self-raising flour ¼ tsp salt 1 cup milk 1 egg, lightly beaten Pepper (to taste) Butter for pan ¾ cup chicken mince 3 cloves of garlic, minced The juice of 1 lemon ¼ cup non-sweetened Greek yoghurt 1½ cup finely chopped spinach

Method: 1

Cook chicken mince until juice runs clear, but don’t brown.

2

Sift flour into a bowl, and add salt.

3

In a separate bowl, whisk egg and milk together.

4

Make a well (hole) in the flour and pour in milk/egg mixture.

Whisk together.

5

Add 1 cup of spinach, cooked mince, and 2 cloves crushed garlic.

Combine.

6

Heat pan on medium and add butter.

7

Dollop even amounts of batter in fritter shapes in the hot pan.

Make sure there is space between them.

8

Cook until bubbles appear on the surface, then flip over. Bottom side should be golden.

9

While waiting for fritters, make sauce. Combine Greek yoghurt, rest of crushed garlic and spinach, and lemon juice.

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

Ingredients:

10 Turn as necessary to ensure fritter is cooked thoroughly. Add more butter to pan as needed.

11 Serve hot, with sauce.

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Game Designed by

Our migratory (travelling) native fishes need clear paths so they can get where they need to go, upstream or downstream. However, more and more, there are things that get in their way or stop them travelling altogether.

Can you get through all the human-made barriers blocking safe travel in this river?

Pollution -1 FROM YOUR NEXT ROLL

Bridge

P C

Pip Cul

MISS A TURN

YOU’LL NEED: • Dice • A counter for each player with the name of a native NZ fish on it

HOW TO PLAY:

Pipe/ Culvert

Pick which fish you want to be, and decide if you want to travel upstream or downstream. Put your counter at the start of your course.

Take it in turns to roll the dice. Move your counter forward the number of spaces shown on the dice, and follow the path of the water. The winner is the person who gets to their destination first.

Dam PASS

Follow the instructions on the squares. If your counter lands on one of these fish barriers, do the following…

Pipe/ Culvert

The river has been buried underneath the ground to make way for a road or a city. Whether you get through is up to chance. Wait until you throw an even number (2, 4, 6) to travel.

Dam

The river has been blocked off. If there is a fish ladder, you can pass straight through. If not, miss a turn.

Pump

Bridge

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Bridge

Dam

MISS A TURN

MISS A TU

Go back to the start. Pumps are bad news for fish! You have been chopped up as you swim through the turbines.

If the bridge is “free-standing” (has a natural stream bed) – you can travel straight through. If it has a concrete foundation (bottom), miss a turn.

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Pipe/ Culvert

Pollut

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

-1 FROM NEXT R

Dam PASS

PASS

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

Bridge

Rob Di Leva

Pollution -1 FROM YOUR NEXT ROLL

Bridge MISS A TURN

Pipe/ Culvert

You’ve been able to feed successfully. With your extra energy, move 2 extra spaces.

Bridge MISS A TURN

pe/ lvert Dam PASS

Dam

Pollution

MISS A TURN

-1 FROM YOUR NEXT ROLL

You’ve been able to breed successfully. You have an extra life if you land on a pump.

Pipe/ Culvert

Bridge MISS A TURN

Pump Bridge Pollution -1 FROM YOUR NEXT ROLL

m

URN

ution

YOUR ROLL

Pump

Bridge PASS

You’ve been able to play successfully. Move to the nearest free-standing bridge in the direction you’re swimming.

MISS A TURN

Pollution -1 FROM YOUR NEXT ROLL

Dam PASS

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spot the difference: 39 of our native freshwater fish species are threatened or at risk of becoming extinct due to loss of habitat, migration barriers, and introduced predators.

Can you spot 8 differences in this wetlands photo?

aMAZE: Say what now?... Elvers (baby eels) climb vertical wet rock faces?

did you know that NZ has over 50 species of native freshwater fish?

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© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

Can you help this longfin elver navigate past all the barriers to reach the freshwater stream on the other side?

it is important to keep pathways free so our freshwater fish can migrate to or from the sea.

word hunt: All the words hidden in our word hunt are names of fish found in New Zealand freshwater habitats.

Look horizontally, vertically, and diagonally to find them and tick them off as you go.

TORRENTFISH

WHITEBAIT

EEL

GIANT KOKOPU

PIHARAU

GRAYLING

KŌARO

SMELT

GREY MULLET

LAMPREY

BULLY

GALAXIIDS

finish the fish:

Grab some drawing stuff and complete our redfin bully.

To recycle The Collective’s suckies and raise money for your chosen charity or organisation join the NZ Suckies Brigade at terracycle.co.nz, or alternatively, recycle the suckies at any Soft Plastics recycling bin at selected supermarkets.

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Support fish in your community Native fish windsocks Create awareness of native fish in your area by putting up special kites where they live. This activity is

by Pātaka Art + Museum, Porirua. They were inspired by traditional Japanese koinobori made on Children’s Day. Materials: ■

■ ■

■ ■

■ ■ ■

Piece of A4 or A3 paper or a paper bag Scissors Felt pens/coloured pencils/crayons Cellotape Decorative stickers or Duraseal to add some sparkle Wire String Bamboo stake (or equivalent)

Be inspired by the kites made by kids from Porirua East School with Pātaka on our blog. Go to kcc.org.nz. Search “windsocks”.

1

If you’re using a paper bag, flatten it out, open up the bottom, and cut it open on one side first.

2

At the top of the paper, make a “casing”.

Fold the top edge over about 2cm, and stick it down with cellotape.

Later, you will put wire through the casing.

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Fold your paper in half lengthways.

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4

Trace the īnanga template (or draw your own native fish) on each side of the paper so it matches up. Decorate your

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Thread wire into the casing to make the fish’s mouth. It should look like an “O” shape. Twist the wire together and make a loop.

Once you are happy with your decorations, use cellotape to tape the paper together so it becomes like a tunnel.

7

Thread string through the wire loop.

8

Attach string to bamboo stake.

fish.

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© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

Instructions:

Fish template by Pātaka Art + Museum

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Hey! This is more like a sharp waterslide than a safe route...

Monitor fish passage and fish barriers n manga (stream)

n awa (river)

n roto (lake)

n puna (spring)

n kūkūwai (wetland)

➜ Is it safe? Sometimes structures like dams, bridges, or

Hey! How am I supposed to climb that?

roads accidentally block the path of fish. That’s not safe.

Other times, structures like trout barriers are needed to keep native fish safe. They stop non-native fish eating them or their eggs. ➜ Is it cool and clean? Good planting at the sides of streams will create shade, keep the water temperature cool, and give fish a place to hide or lay eggs. Planting can also reduce pollution going into the water.

Get in touch with you local DOC office, or regional council, if you’re worried about fish passage or fish barriers at your place.

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

Ask yourself these questions when you’re out exploring your local...

Ask an

expert

How do scientists tell the age of a fish?

By Stella McQueen

One way scientists can tell how old a fish is is by counting growth rings on a tiny bone in the fish’s ears. Yes, fish have ears! There is nothing to see on the outside – their ears are inside their heads.

The little lumpy bone grows as the fish grows.

A very thin layer of bone is added to it every day.

In summer, the fish grow fast and the layers are thick. In winter, the fish grow slowly and the layers are thin.

This is similar to the rings inside a cut down tree trunk or branch. There is one dark ring for every year the tree has been alive. Trees grow fast in summer and slow in winter. Slow-growing winter

wood is harder and makes dark rings inside the trunk or branch.

Scientists need to take the ear bone out of the fish and polish it so they can see and count the rings.

Eels can be as old as your parents or even as old as your grandparents. These fish have been alive for thousands and thousands of days. But the daily rings become very blurry in old fish, and the scientists can’t count them. Instead, they look for the layers of thick summer rings and thin winter rings. Then they can count the fish’s age in years, just like with trees.

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

Rings

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Conservation Heroes The Wetlands Signage Group, Porirua

Porirua wetlands area. Photos by Esmé Dawson

Wetlands are so important. They improve water quality, absorb water during floods, maintain water during droughts, and keep shorelines and riverbanks nice and stable. Some of our endangered plants and birds depend on wetlands to live.

Native fish need wetlands too, especially galaxiid species for spawning. Scientists have found that there is a big link between the decline of our native fish populations and the mass draining and channelling of freshwater habitats.

Porirua wetlands have been made right next the mouth of the Porirua Stream. This stream is home to five species of native fish – longfin eels, shortfin eels, īnanga, giant kōkopu, and redfin bullies.

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© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

In 2017, Porirua schools came together with the Porirua Harbour Trust to speak up for Te Awarua-oPorirua.

Along with an awesome art exhibition held in the centre of the city, a student-led journal called The Current was made. The kids involved learnt that through their action and creativity they could help change people’s hearts and behaviours.

The adults involved learnt too that kids can do anything with the right support! So, when the Porirua City Council came to the group this year looking to create signage for the new local wetlands area they’ve built, the group jumped at the chance to help get their community on board.

“Making the signs was a very fun, hands-on, and long process.

We got to try and see new things, meet new people, and learn about the importance of wetlands. First, we made a draft where we just brainstormed ideas on where everything would go on the signs. We learned new techniques for making art, like watercolour and collage. We visited the spot where our signs would be displayed. The new wetlands area is behind Pak’nSave.

It’s been a wee while since we finished working on the signs, so I’m excited to see the signs up on launch day.”

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

“Our signs focus on three things: the history of Porirua, why wetlands are important, and being a kaitiaki of our harbour. Here are some pictures of us planning out the history sign.”

Tumanako (Year 7)

“Doing the signage project at Pātaka Art + Museum was amazing. We got to socialise, try new drawing and painting techniques, and use new art tools. Our goal was to produce creative, eye-catching signs for the harbour and its new wetlands area. We created numerous artworks to tell people about it. We made small groups to design and create the signs.

We even had a few field trips, like when we went down to the harbour for walks, and when we made art on the shore with flowers, seaweed, rocks – anything we could find. It was a lot of fun, and I am really proud of what we created.”

We’ll put photos of the signage up on the KCC website (www.kcc.org.nz) after the launch happens so you can see them too. Search “wetlands”.

“A big thank you to Esmé Dawson, Educator at Pātaka, for all her help and support too."

Jade (Year 7)

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Bug Corner With Dr. Briar Taylor-Smith PART 3

Toe biters (Megaloptera)

Briar is our KCO in Waikato

The weather is warming up, and I bet you are looking forward to going for a swim this summer. But watch out for toe biters!

Adult dobsonfly. Photo: Jaco Grundling

Dobsonfly larvae. Photo by David Wilson

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On their head, they have a large pair of mandibles (jaws), which they use to catch and eat other insects, such as caddisfly and mayfly larvae, and even other dobsonflies. These mandibles are the reason for the name “toe biter”. But don’t worry, their jaws are too small to hurt you.

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

“Toe biter” is a nickname for a dobsonfly (which has wings but isn’t a fly at all). In New Zealand, we have only a single species of dobsonfly and it’s the largest of all New Zealand’s stream insects, growing up to 4cm long. At first glance, you might think that this creature is a centipede. But take a closer look, and you’ll notice that the first three pairs of legs are segmented (divided into parts), while the remaining “legs” are actually the toe biter’s lungs!

Giant water bugs

Giant dobsonflies

In other countries, “toe biter” might be a name used to refer to giant water bugs, which are completely different to dobsonflies. They are more similar to vegetable bugs and cicadas.

Giant water bugs are aggressive predators with long sharp beaks, which they use to stab prey and inject saliva. The saliva then turns the prey into a liquid that the bug can then suck out, just like a milkshake. If they feel threatened, giant water bugs can deliver the same nasty “bite” to human toes. Fortunately, we don’t have giant water bugs in New Zealand!

A few years ago, scientists in China discovered a new species of dobsonfly. The species is the largest known aquatic insect in the world alive today, with adults big enough to cover the entire face of a human adult! The adult males have extremely large but very weak jaws. If the world’s largest aquatic insect can’t hurt you, then your toes are probably pretty safe.

(the scientific name for dobsonflies means “large wings”). Adults live for about a week, only long enough to find a partner and lay a few hundred eggs.

See how you can measure water quality by searching out bugs, like toe biters, over the page...

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

Our toe biters are fussy about their homes and so are only found in clean and fairly clean hardbottomed streams and rivers. They like water so much that they spend years swimming around as larvae. If they survive until adulthood without getting eaten by fish or stoneflies, they will eventually emerge from the water as winged adults

Giant water bug from Madagascar. Photo: Frank Vassen

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Is it a healthy habitat?

Using macroinvertebrates to measure water quality If the water is healthy, you’ll find more of these living in it…

This information is best used when exploring hard-bottomed (stony or gravelly)

Mayflies

streambeds.

We are least tolerant to pollution.

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

Large stoneflies

Uncased Caddisflies

Cased Caddisflies

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Dobsonflies

If the water is ok, you will find more of these living in it…

Dragonfly larva Beetle larva

We are somewhat tolerant to pollution.

Damselflies

Amphipods

If the water is unhealthy, you will find mostly these living in it…

We are most tolerant to pollution.

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

Water boatmen Worms

When we talk about animals or plants, “tolerance” means how well they are able to handle the

Snails

conditions.

Least tolerant = most sensitive to

Chironomid midge (small fly) larva

Photos: Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research

pollution

How’s your fresh water doing?

And the winners are...

KCC 30th Birthday T-shirt competition

Design a T-shirt to tell the world!

Age Group winners

We had a huge amount of entries to our recent T-shirt competition. They filled the whole floor of one of our meeting rooms at National Office – wehi nā (that’s amazing)!

After our public vote, we had four Age Group winners.

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

Carly is the winner of the 5–7 prize.

Ava is a co-winner of the 8–10 prize.

We also had two clear Grand Prize winners too, Helena and Angelique. Here they are with their designs printed.

Carowyn is the winner of the 11+ prize

Ina is a co-winner of the 8–10 prize

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Thank you to everyone who submitted a design. You rock!

A very chuffed Helena (6) in her winning design, by the sea.

Angelique (13) in her winning design, with her muse Kahurangi the kōkako at Pukaha Mount Bruce. See more of Angelique’s artwork on Instagram (@angeliques_art).

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

Grand Prize winners

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KCC ADVENTURES “At KCC, we learnt how to fish and saw how to do electro-fishing. It was fun. We did a lot of walking. We caught and released mayfly nymphs, two longfin eels, bluegill bullies, and torrent fish. I caught one torrent fish in a little net. To electro-fish, Rob, Austin’s dad, and a man from Environment Canterbury (ECan) went in the water, and we were not allowed in the water. The ECan man wore a back pack with a battery, and carried a pole with a thing on the end that put current in the water. Rob and Austin’s dad stood further downstream with nets in the water. The current made the fish sleepy and they floated into the net.” Kyla (8)

“I thought that it was great seeing the two eels. I have never seen eels before. I didn’t like the part when I saw that the adult eel had a bite in it. I learned not to go in the water when someone is electric fishing, because I didn’t want to get zapped.”Jenica (6) “The suits stop you from getting zapped. You can go into the water only when they are not fishing. It was interesting when we were looking through the magnifying glass at the fishes.” Ethan (5)

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

Electro-fishing with South Canterbury KCC

“We caught some fish that had some blue on their gills – bluefin bullies. We caught lots of fish.” Emma (6) “I had cake and went playing in the water. I caught a toe biter in the green net.” Tom (4)

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Gold Wonders

By Zachary (11) from Auckland

Photo: Rae Claassens/Wildlands Consultants Alexander was down on a log when he said he had found something. He said, “I see something spotty under that log”, so I bent down, and saw a fish’s tail. So my mum (Nicola) contacted the council, and they advised us to try and get a photo.

She did. Sure enough, it was a giant kōkopu.

Since we found the giant kōkopu, the council have protected the stream habitat by giving it a high value status, and getting contractors to undertake pest control – trapping the mice, rats, and hedgehogs so they don’t eat the eggs of the fish.

I went with Auckland Council on a night-time fish survey in January, and we found another five of these special fish in our stream! We also saw lots of kōura (native crayfish), banded kōkopu, and some WHOPPA tuna (long-fin eels)!

The local school (Upper Harbour Primary School, which I attended last year) are now doing Waicare stream monitoring and helping with the pest tracking of the stream reserve. I continue to visit the stream and help to look after the reserve edge.

Next, I would like to see the Government stop whitebaiting to give these rare fish a chance.

Neat times with North Shore!

Our North Shore branch of KCC gets up to all sorts of fun together every month! This year, they went to the Parry Kauri Park near Warkworth to see a very special 800-year-old tree and learn more about pest control. They also went to Leigh Reserve and took up the role of Nature Detectives, using clues to help them learn about the native plants living there. Another cool adventure they went on recently was to Shoal Bay to spot seabirds and see the marvellous mangroves.

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

It all started out one evening when me, my brother (Alexander), and my Dad (Glenn) were out at the local stream. Dad said he saw something unusual in the murky shallow water. Me and Alexander were intrigued when Dad said, “It was like a fish, but was probably an eel’s tail.” Me and Alexander went back the next day to investigate.

Where is that adventure?

Had a KCC adventure?

Let us know at kcc@ forestandbird.org.nz.

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In the

Mailbox Chal 30 leng es

CHALLENGES Download at kcc.org.nz/activities

Lucy (5) and Frankie (7) made super sun catchers!

NATURE – An Acrostic Poem Nice sweet flowers All around us.

Try to see a lot of nature, Understanding that it is important.

Remember that trees give us oxygen, Exciting, nature is beautiful!

Cameron picked his own challenge – learning how to measure fish for conservation

Kāhu (4) is keen to help remove plastic from the ocean, so he’s been fundraising by selling native seedlings and saplings at his stall by his front gate

Sierra (8)

Congrats to Kāhu! You win The Cool Pool series by Bianca Begovich and Deanna Maich (biancabegovich.org)

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Rowan (11) has painted a whole series of native birds

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Mail us:

kcc@forestandbird.org.nz Wild Things, P.O. Box 631, Wellington 6140

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

Peyton (6) did more than step out the length of a blue whale – she inflated one with her Mum and home schooling co-op!

To recycle The Collective’s suckies and raise money for your chosen charity, or organisation, join the NZ Suckies Brigade at terracycle.co.nz.

Alternatively, recycle our suckies at any Soft Plastics recycling bin at selected supermarkets.

Complete the statement below, and email your answer along with your full name and contact details to winNZ@epicdairy.com.

Hint: check out page 14

*A week equals 7 x 70g pouches.

Entries close 1 February 2019.

Caption Competition

Be part of our freshwater fish social media campaign!

Annabeth Cohen, Forest & Bird’s Freshwater Advocate at Te Roto o Wairewa | Lake Forsyth

© Wild Things Issue 141, November 2018. Produced by Forest & Bird

We want to get people thinking about our native whitebait species as loveable fish, rather than food.

Come up with a clever/funny caption to go with this picture to help.

Send it in to kcc@forestandbird.org.nz by 23 November 2018.

The winner/s will feature on our Forest & Bird Facebook and Instagram pages, which reach over 100,000 people!

answers

Illustration: Margaret Tolland

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Our reader’s choice: Small and Unusual Send in your mahi around about this topic.

You might just get published in Wild Things!

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