We are still getting a few Native Pigeons and Morkporks at the Centre,most of these have hit house windows,hang an old CD disk in the window from a bit of cotton this will help prevent Pigeons hitting the window,the Morkporks are looking for insects so when its dark and you have lights on it attracts insects to the windows, that's when they hit the window,the other thing the Morkpork do is stand on fence posts and power poles watching insects that are on the road,as a car comes along the car lights make seeing the insects easier as they swoop down that's when they hit the car.

A Bird that gets down into your fireplace can be real hard to get out,no Bird can fly back up a chimney and the only reason they can get down is the netting at the top has rusted away.

Most fire places have been well used and bolts holding the plates inside have rusted because of the heat and trying to undo them is nearly impossible without breaking something,the best way is leave the firebox door open if the Bird can't get down then find a piece of bamboo long enough to get right down where the bird is trapped.

On the end of the bamboo tape a nylon stocking or something like a piece of old towel when the Bird goes near it, it will get its claws caught in the thread, to look down the chimney use a small mirror-the reflection from the sun is one of the strongest lights.

Once the Bird is free please remember to replace the old netting,better still check it now and save a lot of  trouble later..

To all that love boating and fishing,at the end of the day out and the boat is all cleaned set a couple of rat traps inside the boat. Rats and mice just love eating wiring or fabric, just think, its a fine day smooth seas the boats at the ramp ready to go,a turn of the key and next thing you can smell smoke-the day is ruined all because of a rat or mouse has chewed the wring and its shorted out.

I got two traps from Northland Seed & Supplies they are beside Marine North,the traps are made of strong plastic so no rust they are also great  for catching small bait fish.

Last year while fishing at the Chicks the boat near us became alive with screams and laughter,the day was getting hot so they unrolled the canopy for shade,and yes as they unrolled it out dropped a mouse in the boat.

Although this was very funny I could see the serious side of it,the mouse could have ended up in the water and swim to the islands and that could end up being a disaster for the Island,so a couple of traps could do far more good than harm.

Robert and Robyn Webb.