Friday Feathered Friend
Our Friday Feathered Friend for Christmas Day is this beautiful tīeke, photographed by Louise Thomas.
"Just back from a week-long birding trip to Whanganui, New Plymouth, and Mt Ruapehu. We took the opportunity to visit Bushy Park, the predator-fenced sanctuary in Whanganui. We had got out of the car and were reading the signs for the tracks and types of birds. In my normal over exuberant fashion I said to my husband and adult kids that I would die happy if I saw a saddleback. We were five metres into the first track when four of them flew up the path chasing each other and almost took my head off.
My daughter asked if I'd like to end myself now, or wait a bit in case I saw some other cool birds. I was a bit upset at first as I thought they might be the only saddlebacks I would see and I didn't get a photo. Turns out there are quite a few there. I will definitely be visiting again. Saddleback/tīeke (Philesturnus rufusater)."
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
Best way to use leftovers?
I'm sure you've got some excess ham at home or cold roast potatoes.
What are some of your favourite ways to use leftover food from Christmas day? Share below.