Shoveler ducks/kuruwhengi have their own built-in comb
Shoveler ducks/kuruwhengi (Spatula rhynchotis) are unusual looking. When I saw my first pair last year at the Hutt Estuary I had no idea what I was looking at and hurried home to consult my birding books. Their wide bills set them apart reminding me of distinguished aquiline noses. They have visible lamellae, like a comb, that hang down from their upper beak that they use to filter plankton, fine seeds, and other tasty titbits from the water. There is a pair I've seen a couple of times lately on the little beach behind the sea scouts at the mouth of the Hutt River, a female mallard is keeping them company, possibly as protection from the male mallards that seem to be a bit rampant at this time of year. They make an odd trio, like a sheep dog hanging out with a couple of greyhounds.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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84.5% Yes
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14.1% No
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1.5% Other - I'll share below
It’s Riddle Time – You Might Need an Extra Cup of Coffee!
Nobody has ever walked this way. Which way is it?
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What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
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