Good advice

I went to a memorial recently for a good friend 92, a wonderful character who came to New Zealand in the 50s and became one of the pioneers of rewilding. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/jaap-van-dorsser-obituary-rotorua-springtime-celebration-a-fitting-tribute-for-nature-lover/JKSESPSJRRG6LIS6ESNFZ72OQE/

Yarp had a philosophy – “say yes to everything” even when you think you would rather not. After his life celebration I was asked if I wanted to head out to a rewilding project about 8 kms out of town, a small wetland between some pine plantations. We would meet out there at 8pm at night and photograph native moths. My first thought was somewhere between no and hell no. Its been wet and showers come and go non-stop, it will be dark and muddy and how the heck do you get the moths to stay still, I struggle with my macro even when is a non-moving mushroom. Anyway thinking of Yaap I said yes.

It started out exactly how I thought, misty wet, midges and bugs attracted to the light and lots of mud. However it wasnt long till I found my first native leaf veined slug and noticed that the light from my headlamp caught the eyes of the moths, which glowed like little beacons. As we made or way around the wetland we reached the back, lights out and the whole place transformed into a magical fairyland with layers of lights all around, up the banks and leading back into the black pine trees. The most incredible glow worm display I have ever seen, we walked in silence just marveling at the magnificence. As we started to walk down the other side the rain stopped and clouds disappeared, the stars were so abundant with the southern cross shining bright. Breathtaking.

I learned that every native tree has its own looper moth and that they are all different patterns and colours, not well studied we saw some that have never been documented on inaturalist. So thank you Yaap, making me stop and say yes to a whole new experience. I have now been back a second time and part of a group that is going to document monthly the changes in the moth species of the area. The emerald dragonfly rests in the manuka at night and the stick with the drips on it is actually a glow worm.