I miss being able to visit the parks in my area, the Manawatu, but why? My thought is gardens and parks have so much to offer, they are always changing but are always there for you, like a silent listener for you to reflect your worries away, that’s in thought, am not into standing there talking to trees, but it may work for you, may work for me to, lol…

Still many favourite spots in the Manawatu I re-visit regularly and I need to make time to sit in the Turitea area, the Whitehead bird numbers in this area are among the biggest in the North Island and the migratory Long Tailed Cuckoo prefers to place there eggs in the nest of a Whitehead, so the chances of getting close to this Cuckoo is greatly increased if we spend time with the Whiteheads, like shore birds that mingle with other migratory shore birds, Shinning Cuckoo and Long Tailed Cuckoo probably will be in close proximity in the bush and I have seen many Shinning Cuckoo in this area using there favourite host the Grey Warbler.

If you are a visitor we have heaps to offer, but again if this area is home we also have plenty to offer, I have been in Palmerston North over 40 years, ok over 45 years and still have heaps to learn, heaps to explore and still a few birds that I want to get closer to and photograph, the season for migratory birds is now, be it in the bush or our Estuaries, there is new wild life to explore.

Go out and explore…

Enjoy

Paul Vandenberg