Quail Island (but no quails)

Our early morning began with a ferry ride to Quail Island, also referred to as Otamahua in Maori. Our group met up with a small group from the Quail Island Restoration Trust to pot out Silver tussock. While the project was being set up, Lindsey, one of the trustees, took us on a small hike and explained some of the island's interesting history. The island is actually the caldera of the 6 million year old shield volcano, Lyttelton. It’s referred to as Quail Island because the first European sent to explore it was greeted by (now extinct) quails when he arrived. The island has also been used as quarantine for lepers and as a preparation site for excursions to the arctic. When the restoration trust began work on the island in 1998, it was desolate of native plants due to previous farming. Since then, it is now covered in native plants. Lindsey showed us how the exotic grasses couldn’t grow back since the natives had created so much debris. 

(tussock planted last week)

(tussock planted 5 years ago)

After our small hike, we began our restoration. Previously planted Silver tussocks were pulled apart to create multiple smaller tussocks. If the plant had roots and some green stems, we planted them in individual pots. Some of us filled pots with soil, others planted the tussock, and others carried all the plants to the same collective spot. With each native plant that is planted, it's helping establish native ecosystems on the island. 

(each of us were given masks to avoid Legionnaires' Disease)

After everyone’s hard work, we had potted over 200 tussocks that will be replanted later in the future! 

 

 We broke for lunch and Dr. H decided to add a little extra protein to his. After searching for 6 years, Tupelo found the huhu grub that Dr. H had promised to eat if ever found. He claimed it did in fact taste like peanut butter. Maris even had a little taste for herself!

Then we took a hike around the island and enjoyed the breathtaking scenery and aqua blue water. 

At one point, we all started flipping over rocks in search of the Canterbury gecko. We were successful in finding even more unique animals!

(Mokomoko, common skink)

(yellow admiral caterpillar)

(Canterbury gecko)

 

(fiddler crab)

The weather held up just long enough for us to sit by the beach and finish our walk. It was very kind of the Quail Island Restoration Trust to allow us to come out and help them today. We took the ferry back to the mainland and (of course) stopped for tea time to warm up from the damp, cold weather.

Till tomorrow, Amber!