Butterflies and birds, in moderation
THE moths are out to get me. I’m convinced of it. They’ve found out how many column centimetres I’ve written about butterflies in recent weeks and they’re miffed.
Actually, while I have a soft spot for butterflies, I’m not so keen on moths. I’m sure they’re beautiful in their own way, but it’s partly those big feathery antennae which quiver around that I don’t like. However, it’s more the way they blunder blindly about a room in search of the light.
Yesterday I had two, admittedly small, moths visit me in the What’s With That office complex. It wasn’t dark or anything, so I’m not quite sure where they came from or why they were targeting me.
The previous night, I had the window open a bit and one came bumbling into my room, darting back and forth from one light to the next, then divebombing my head. Gosh I hate it when they get round your ears and you can hear the frenzied buzzing of their wings.
They may have got wind of my visit to see their showpony cousins at Otago Museum at the weekend.
If you haven’t been to the museum’s redeveloped Tropical Forest, you should get along there soon. It’s fantastic. Even if you’re not a massive fan of butterflies, the sultry, 28degC environment is rather lovely on a rather chilly Dunedin day.
My oldest son Joe was down from Christchurch and we spent Saturday in the museum and then wandering around the Dunedin Botanic Garden. The highlight of the day was the Tropical Forest — we just loved the humidity, the orchids and other exotic plants and, of course, the gliding and flitting, vividlycoloured butterflies from the Philippines and Costa Rica.
We were fortunate to be there at 11am to watch the release of the newlyhatched butterflies, trying out their wings for the first time. One poor misguided creature attached itself to my trousers for at least 10 minutes. Another one decided to hitch a ride on my hair.
I hate to say it, but monarchs have their work cut out looking magnificent compared with some of these butterflies. It’s a great initiative by the museum to bring them here. I’d be keen to go again.
Bird behaviour
Yes, more wildlife!
I’ve had a couple of emails offering explanations for the behaviour of the fantail which Norm Hewitt of Green Island saw trying to force its way into his lounge.
Wendy Ockwell of Outram says she thinks she has the answer.
‘‘They frequently fly at my windows, but they are eating little bugs and spiders up around the top of the aluminium window frames and under the eaves. This occurs about 5pm more than any other time of the day.
‘‘Look out if they fly inside when doors are open, as they are very difficult to get back outside, especially if your ceilings are