Since the bird survey a few weekends ago, we certainly have taken a deeper interest in the wonders of the local birdlife.  Last weekend, we made a trip to Hamilton Zoo.


We visited parts of the zoo we don't always explore.  A mild Autumn and Winter so far yielded ducklings, which waddled over our feet on the path to the Zoo's Wetlands.  Once we reached the main Wetlands boardwalk, we saw swans in white and black.



In the free-flight aviary we were very lucky to see a duck.  These are usually hiding in the water below the look out posts, but this time Leandra was able to go right up to one to say "hello". 


I was excited to hear Tui calls close by.  When I looked up, this is the sight that greeted me.  I could have reached out to touch him, he was so close.  What a wonder!


Since our last zoo visit, Audra had suddenly become interested in the creatures around her as well.  There were lots of smiles, and pointing.  She made a lovely little friend in the free-flight aviary too.  He even landed on her head at one point, much to her amusement.

This weekend, we took a few bags of whole grain bread down to the Lake and took a walk around looking for more birds.  We met some Canadian Geese, Australian Coots, Ducks, Pukeko as well as Pigeons and Sparrows. As we walked, we collected feathers.  We even managed some Pukeko feathers which are black with a vibrant blue tip. 

Audra had never fed birds before, so it was a learning curve for her.  When I first handed her the bread, she thought it was a snack and happily tucked into it (lucky I bought fresh bread!).  After watching Leandra and I break pieces off to give to the birds, she got right into it.  Her aim and strength of throwing was not great, but the intent was there which was amazing to see.


Leandra was in her element, feeding the ducks in the water and the Pigeons on the boardwalks.  Any time with birds is a good time for her.  For me, it's about embracing what makes her heart sing.  Engaging her in learning through an interest - but also building those family memories.  I remember so clearly days spent with my own parents, a picnic, stories of their childhood, feeding ducks, collecting cicada shells.  I share that with my own children too.

After walking for a wee bit Audra decided it was nap time, and Leandra set herself up an art table at a park bench.  She made a paper bird and attached the feathers with sticky tape.  She asked me to video this and made an Art Attack style clip to share as well. 

And here is the video.  Its 5 minutes long and she talks solidly right through it. Be aware that you aren't going to learn much about how to make a paper bird....:

June/July National Garden Bird Survey

Every year around the end of June/start of July, Landcare Research has a Garden Bird survey.  This is where, for an hour you go and observe your garden and what birds appear in the time period.  Then you visit their website and record your findings.  Its Nation-wide and for us it's a little bit of science and fun mixed together:



http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/science/plants-animals-fungi/animals/birds/garden-bird-surveys


Today was the last day to complete the survey for 2013 and so I got us ready.  I cut up thick slices of apple and halved some mandarins.  Then we set about making giant fruit kebabs on bamboo stakes.  These were for the Tuis and the Silvereyes or Waxeyes that often visit our garden. Then we took pieces of white bread, spread it with some smooth peanut butter and sprinkled wild bird seed mix on top.  These were fairy bread for the other birds that like to hang out in our garden, like the Black birds and House Sparrows.  The Silvereyes also happen to like seeds and peanut butter, though I wasn't aware of that when we placed the fairy bread out on the picnic table. 


Although it was a beautiful day outside, it was chilly so we went inside the house to allow the birds the freedom to explore their new bird café. It took about 40 minutes for all of our garden birds to re-settle and stop being so skittish.  We watched and we counted the birds as they arrived.  At any one time I could only count up to 8 House Sparrows.  Once the Sparrows relaxed and started to enjoy the seed, then we noticed Silvereyes starting to glide in as well.  Five Silvereyes fed on the seeds alongside the Sparrows and no one went near the fruit. 

Towards the end of the survey time, our two Black birds joined the garden party (Mr & Mrs) and our lone Fantail who loves to flit around our garden looking for bugs.  It's much later in the day now, and I find myself checking in on our garden party every now and then.  I have Silvereyes hanging off the bamboo stakes now, drinking from the mandarin halves and eating chunks of apple.  I have Black birds and a Song Thrush enjoying the fairy bird along with an army of Sparrows. 

I love this time of year, because for the next wee while I will be hyper-aware of my surroundings.  I will note every bird I see, especially the unusual.  It makes me feel one with nature during the duller months of the year, which can't be a bad thing!


Lastly, check out cheeky Audra! So excited to be a part of the Moore girls' Bird Café adventure!

How to Procrasinate When You are a Perfectionist

I'd love to write about how not to procrastinate when you are a perfectionist, but that's not a skill I possess in any great quantity.  So unfortunately, this is going to be more of a "laugh along with me as I take you on the magical mystery tour that is my insanity".  The other night I posted on my facebook:

After excessive swearing, screaming, annoyance at a sewing machine, needles in fingers and other such disastrous goings-on, there is a bird costume awaiting a school dress up day. I can't even say it's my least worst work, but I'm tired and angry at inanimate objects - time to call it quits....on the up side, I'm sure Leandra will fix it for me in the morning....

If you have ever looked at me or something I have done and I have given you the impression that I am just naturally creative and clever, I'm sorry.  This is going to put those thoughts to rest.  I am a unique combination of procrastination and perfectionism.  This is my curse, which really came home to roost last night.  Cue wibbly lights and twinkly backstory music...

Last Friday I dug a flyer out of Leandra's bag. It said they were having a dress up day at school for the SPCA.  All the kids were to come as their favourite animal and bring a gold coin for a collection.  Fair enough, great cause - one we regularly support.  I ask her on Wednesday, "what are you going as?"  She says she would quite like to be a bird.  But gives me no indication of what kind.

Thursday night comes and when I ask again she says she would like to be a kiwi.  I knew I had some brown fabric hidden away from years ago.  I can't remember what I bought it for, but its lycra stuff with a rubbery horse hair/leather look topping.  I get the fabric out and I say to her "how about this?"  She is thrilled and tells me how she'd like it.  I measure it against her, then I get the sewing machine out.  This is where everything went downhill, because the fabric is rubbery and I haven't used my sewing machine in at least two years (sorry Mum!).

I can't remember how to thread the machine.  I can't remember if I have thread on the bobbin or how to remove it to check.  I'm basically a total beginner with my own machine.  Once I finally figure out how to do everything again, and almost cut myself on a random razor blade...I'm ready to begin.  I started to sew a side seam, basing this on a top I own that seemed like an easy design.  The sewing machine and the fabric almost violently disagree to working together. 

The machine wants the fabric to easily slide through as the machine sews. The fabric wants to stick to the foot and the gripper underneath.  This causes the fabric is shift and yet not shift for every stitch of the needle.  After the twentieth stitch and no apparent movement, I set my frosty gaze to "die!" and throw the fabric on the floor.  Next I pick it up and think, I'll cut the neck out. Yup, I'll do that.  I'll just do it.  There's no need to measure, draw the line of it on the fabric or use a template at all.  I'm just going to get cutting.

So I get the scissors and as I cut not only does this fabric stick to my scissor, it slips and moves.  After I finish hacking this neckline into the fabric, it doesn't look too bad.  Until I try it on my daughter and it slips right to her feet from her neck.  I am now my own worse enemy, because  I appear to have wasted a full 2 meters of material in less time than it took me to find it in my cupboard.

I throw it on the floor again.  Feeling unsatisfied, I pick it up an throw it down again.  It's just not making a satisfying enough bang or crash sound.  That's probably because it is merely fabric.  Its at this point that I can feel myself becoming irrationally angry at this fabric and myself.   My behaviour in the corner and the faces I am pulling are hilarious to Audra.  She comes running and laughing for a cuddle.  I decide she is right, I am a loon. 

I get the girls into bed and we talk about appropriate responses to stress.  Because if I'm going to feel guilty about a reaction I'm having, we may as well all learn something in the process.  Once it was just me and the fabric again, I calmly re-assessed the situation.  I measured, I templated, and I hand sewed.  Its not perfection.  Not by any means.  But here she is loving it!  She called herself "Roses" and she spent the first part of her day at school being chased by all the "Cats" in her class.  But she loved that too.