Return to the Wild West Coast!

Kim McPherson, the energetic and super-busy manager of Hokitika’s National Kiwi Centre,
loving mom, and dear friend, took the time to drive the now super-long Velvet back to the schools she and I visited together exactly one year ago when Velvet was merely 5 meters of head and tail, and the body (that is now over 80 meters long and growing) was just a dream in many hearts.  I remember having Kim hold up the head of Velvet while I ran with the tail across the schoolyards to show the kids how long she could get if everyone did their bit. Here is what Kim shared about the re-visit she took without me:

“What a day that was when I drove back up to Runanga school – I had such an emotional roller coaster during my drive up there.  I thought about our journey one year ago and I had this amazing sense of “humbleness” to be taking this precious piece of artwork to the school where it all began.  Tears and laughter all the way.  Many of the same children still were there and it was a lovely time there especially with teacher Joy Baker.”

Here is 9-29March12 is Runanga’s schools newsletter with Velvet…check it out!

Kim continues to share about her Velvet visits:

“I then went on the Paroa school – what a welcome! The entire school got out and helped unload and lay out Velvet – one student got on the roof of the building to take a picture and couldn’t get her all in the photo!  The students walked and looked with such enthusiasm around the eel and pointed out the various creatures – Jodi the teacher that helped drive the project in the end (Priscilla who began it has left), was in awe of the size and work that has gone into it….

….The next morning, we got 20 DOC staff (the other 80 were too busy doing beach clean-ups and cutting tracks), from Buller (quite fitting for Velvet), and we held her up (well most of her) along the banks of the Hokitika River. The staff were amazed at the work and the educational value of the project. They thought the idea was wonderful and were fully supportive.  We even got all 20 of them to come around and see the giant longfin eels at the National Kiwi Center afterwards – most had never been here.  The newspaper got a photo and it will feature next week….

….Finally, Sue Asplin from DOC will head with me and Velvet to Kaniere and Kokatahi schools….

This has been such an amazing pleasure, and the people I’ve met are amazing too – THANKS TO ALL OF US INVOLVED!”

Indeed, how inspiring to see that when all of us do our bit that we can make huge and amazing things happen.  ”Cheers” to Kim and all the wild and crazy west coasters for their enthusiasm.  And, if it’s been a while since you visited the Kiwi Center in Hokitika, you should go.  Not only can you see kiwi, tuatara, and taniwha-sized eel, but they have been working on displaying more of New Zealand’s endemic and migratory native freshwater fish!  Thanks for all you do for freshwater education Kim!!!

From the Deep South…

Here are the thoughtful words Patricia Hoffmann, Living Streams Project Manager & Environmental Education Officer, shared about Velvet’s recent time in Invercargill:

“This March, Velvet the Tuna Tapestry was on display for all to enjoy at the Southland Museum and Art Gallery in Invercargill. A 20m section of the tapestry was hung inside a wonderful 12-sided classroom with an observatory on its roof. It was delightful to be able to walk in through the doors of the almost-circular room and see the body of the eel coiling around the classroom with the head almost meeting the tail….

….Two tuna tapestry workshops were held at the Southland Museum and Art Gallery . Children from two primary schools in Invercargill participated in the workshops. First they visited the tuatarium and learned about the amazing tuatara, its habitat and threats to the species. Next, they listened to the story of Velvet and Elvis and learned about longfin eels and the rivers they inhabit in Southland….

Children from Otatara Primary School planning their designs...THANKS KIDS!

….And then they spent two hours making gorgeous decorations for Velvet’s body. These included freshwater invertebrates, smaller eels and fish, and marine fish, sea anemones, jellyfish, whales, starfish and seaweed….

Look at all that Otatara-gorgeous aquatic biodiversity!

Southland Adventist Christian School kids and their principal working on the tapestry at the Southland Museum. "CHEERS" to you all!

 …Thank you to Environment Southland for bringing the tapestry to Invercargill, to the Southland Museum and Art Gallery for hosting the tapestry and setting up the workshops, to Norma Anderson for making the beautiful background panel, and to the children from Southland Adventist Christian School and Otatara Primary for their beautiful work!”

And, of course, thanks to PAT herself for making all of these wonderful events happen to help the eels and freshwater in New Zealand!  ”CHEERS” from all us tuna folks in NZ, the US and beyond!!!  Here’s a front page article in the “Eye” to read more about Velvet’s time there: The Eye 29 March 2012 page 11-1

Our Eel Swims to Auckland’s Zoo!

Yes, our Travelling Tuna Tapestry found her way to the big city and was welcomed there by the Auckland Zoo before heading off to the South Island for a while.  As you can see, lots of folks of all ages lent their patient hands to create a whole new panel for the still-growing tapestry.  She’s at about 80 meters now thanks to their work!  Here is what Monique Zwaan, who got Velvet to the zoo, had to say about the recycled eel’s time there:

You will be pleased to know that eels (all kinds) get a good press in the zoo. we have both short and long finned in the stream that runs through the zoo, and regularly do an eel encounter for the public.

We recently opened Te Wao Nui, the NZ precinct with six bio-habitats. One of the habitats is ‘The Wetland’, where we have an eel tank  with viewing window. Again, both shortfinned and longfinned.

The interpretation is specifically on the lifecycle and conservation of long finned, and we have specific action messages for people to take to protect eels (and other living things of course!).

We love eels here!

Its good to have had the chance to have Velvet in the zoo -rain prevented us doing more days in the zoo itself, but when the sun was out she was displayed 

along the boardwalk which leads to the wetland, most fitting!

Cheers,

Monique

 Look at the lovely panel full of native freshwater life……. all finished and ready to be added to the middle:

And Monique is right about loving eels at the zoo.  Look at all the folks trying to get a peek at the elusive fish:

Thanks Monique and everyone at the Auckland Zoo!

Eel Runs Triathlon!

Well, Velvet wasn’t actually in the race but she was excitedly paraded along the Waihopai River at the start of Environment Southland’s triathlon.  Yes, our tuna tapestry that started her tour a year ago on the Top of the North has now found her way all the way down to the Bottom of the South.  Patricia Hoffmann, Environment Southland’s Project Manager – Living Streams & Environmental Education Officer had this to say about the event:

“What a delightful experience! It was a cold and rainy day, but luckily we had a break in the weather and it did not rain on our parade!”  Pat Hoffmann

Pat and her folks were only able to handle a small part of the long and growing eel for their event, but they didn’t let that or the weather keep them from showing off Velvet.  They simply used the head and tail and a handful of their favorite panels, did some temporary stapling, and started walking!

Thanks Pat and all for raising river and eel awareness in Southland!

Velvet Stretches Around Whangerei Town Basin

Thanks to the great organizing skills and creative ideas of Kim Jones, the National Coordinator for the Whitebait Connection, Velvet appeared her colorful best all stretched out outside along the waterfront at Whangarei’s Town Basin this February.

Almost all 78 meters in one photo!

As you can see, the local press appeared and ran a nice little piece on the event and the project itself.  We also got a lot of signatures on the petition calling for the Ministry of Fisheries to place a ban on the commercial fishing of the threatened longfin and Kim had a lot of cheerful volunteers out helping set up Velvet!

Thanks to all for signing!

vollys setting up

Another WBC project coordinator, Nicki Wakefield, celebrates the moment that all 78 meters (and growing) is up for folks to see and many people did come out for a look at our growing eel.

Thanks Nicki!

A young kaitiaki.

Kim created a sweet-as video of the day in Whangarei… scroll down for it and be sure not to miss it!

Thanks Kim and all you freshwater lovers in and around Whangarei!

VELVET VIDEO

175 Foot Giant Jaguar Seen on A-Mountain Today!!!

With the help over 50 friends, neighbors, and volunteers WE DID IT!  We carried the jaguar and all its glorious biodiversity up and down A-Mountain as part of the first annual Beyond-Tucson event!

Thanks to Sandy Landham of Environmental Flying Services we even had a plane for Paul Hamilton of Biodiversity Photography (and my super-supportive hubby) to take photos from overhead.  And, because of the patience of our neighbor Mark DeLevie, some sweet video was taken as we emerged from the gazebo on the mountain.  Here, check out these images and video clips and see for yourself how beautiful it was:

Randall Longcore was our on-the-ground photographer.  Randall must’ve run about 10 miles today getting images to share.  We’ll post his stuff in the next blog.  I can’t wait to see them and the close-ups of all us jaguar-handlers!  But here’s just one more for now:

Photo by Randall Longcore

Lots of folks who were on the mountain for a morning run or bike ride were quite intrigued and excited, including a local boyscout troop who “ohhed” and” ahhhed” over the images we carried.  One of the best moments was when the folks from SIA Tech High School ran to meet us in the gazebo to add their last-minute but lovely heart-covered panel.  We decided to let them bring up the rear to remind everyone that panels can still be made.  Yep folks, this jag is a juvenile, who will continue to grow as he migrates all over jag territory!

So, please share your comments, stay posted for Randall’s as well as others photos and video, and a final THANKS to Defenders of Wildlife for coffee, bagels, and getting this thing off the ground!!!

Here’s a close-up of SIA Tech’s gorgeous surprise panel:

A Panel for the Underfrogs!

I was speechless today when the Fed-Ex guy arrived with a new Sewing Spots Together panel freshly made over the holidays by Nathalie Aall and family in Utah.  As you can see, she gave a focus to those cute little critters often found over the heads and under the feet of jaguars.  The pictures speak for themselves. but do you know that amphibians all over the world are vanishing and need our attention?  If you aren’t familiar with the organization, Save the Frogs, check them out…… they do important work for all of our frog friends.

The Fed Ex guy had to wait for me to open it so he could see why I was so excited!

The golden frog is now basically extinct in the wild and scientists are struggling to save them!

Esther, Nathalie's mom and fellow artist, crocheted 26 of these leaf bunches by hand over a VERY busy holiday season!

The cute toe pads on this poison frog are to die for!

Everyone loves a tree frog!

Now, that's a mouthfull!

I’ve got to run now and add this panel to the tapestry before the big day when our jaguar climbs A-Mtn!

A big warm furry HUG  to Nathalie, her mom, and her grandmother, Caroline for the beautiful work they did!  WOW.  And here are photos of the awesome women at work:

We are all truly impressed by the variety and volume of embroidery floss at this household!