TYB
Prehistoric bird once thought extinct returns to New Zealand wild
Mon 28 Aug 2023 19.05 EDT
Tā Tipene O’Regan, 87 years old, leaned into his carved walking stick and reached down to a large wooden box. He paused a second, then slowly lifted the lid. Out shot the hefty body of a bright turquoise bird, legs windmilling, launching from its cage like a football from a slingshot.
“I am now largely blind, but I still saw them,” O’Regan says: a flash of blue feathers and bright red legs racing for the tussocks.
That streak of colour was the takahē: a large, flightless bird, that was believed for decades to be extinct. Eighteen of the birds were released in the Lake Whakatipu Waimāori valley, an alpine area of New Zealand’s South Island last week, on to slopes they had not been seen roaming for about 100 years. For Ngāi Tahu, the tribe to whom the lands belong, and who faced a long legal battle for their return, it is particularly significant, marking the return to the wild of the birds that their ancestors lived alongside, in lands that they had fought to regain.
Takahē are unusual creatures. Like a number of New Zealand birds, they evolved without native land mammals surrounding them, and adapted to fill the ecosystem niches that mammals would occupy. They are flightless, stand at around 50cm tall, and live in the mountains. Their presence in Aotearoa dates back to at least the prehistoric Pleistocene era, according to fossil remains.
“They’re almost prehistoric looking,” says Tūmai Cassidy, of Ngāi Tahu. “Very broad and bold.” Front-on, their bodies can appear almost perfectly spherical – coupled with the blue-green plumage, they look like a model planet Earth perched atop two long, bright red legs.
“Someone once called us, the land of the birds that walk,” says O’Regan, a Ngāi Tahu rangatira (elder). “There are few things more beautiful than to watch these large birds galloping back into tussock lands where they haven’t walked for over a century.”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/29/prehistoric-bird-once-thought-extinct-returns-to-new-zealand-wild
Four B.C. Wildfire Service contract workers die in crash on Highway 1 near Walhachin
Last updated Sep 21, 2023
Four B.C. Wildfire Service contract workers returning home from firefighting efforts in Vanderhoof died in a vehicle crash Tuesday west of Kamloops.
The two-vehicle collision happened one kilometre west of Juniper Beach Provincial Park, on Highway 1 near the town of Walhachin, at about 2 a.m., Ashcroft RCMP said Wednesday.
Article content
One of the vehicles involved — a semi-tractor trailer — caught on fire. The driver of the semi-truck escaped before the vehicle was engulfed.
RCMP said all four occupants of the second vehicle, a Ford F-350 pickup, died in the crash. They were all from different areas of B.C.
Investigators say the driver of the pickup failed to navigate a bend in the road to the right, crossing the centre line and colliding with the semi-truck head on.
Cpl. James Grandy, a spokesman for the B.C. RCMP southeast district, said all four were working as subcontractors for the B.C. Wildfire Service.
“This year has been particularly challenging for the B.C. Wildfire Service, with several of its members facing injuries or losing their lives,” said Grandy in a statement on Wednesday. “Our thoughts are with the friends and family of those who help keep our province safe.”
Highway 1 was closed in both directions for the investigation, but has since reopened.
In a joint statement, Premier David Eby and Forests Minister Bruce Ralston said the four contracted wildfire fighters were driving home after assisting with firefighting near Vanderhoof.
“Our hearts are broken by news of the death of four wildfire fighters who were travelling home after a tour of duty and were in a motor vehicle accident near Cache Creek,” Eby and Ralston said in the statement. “Our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues grieving the loss of these brave individuals.
“This is devastating news in what has been an immensely difficult wildfire season. We stand with wildfire fighters and all B.C. Wildfire Service personnel as they mourn the death of colleagues and co-workers yet again.”
Attending the Union of B.C. Municipalities meeting in Vancouver, Ralston told reporters it was more “devastating” news.
“It’s been such a tough season, and this is just more bad news,” said Ralston. “It’s emotionally wrenching and heartbreaking to hear of people who completed their work, are on their way home, and meet with their deaths on the road. It’s really tragic.”
Asked if there are rules around driving after exhausting work like forest firefighting, Ralston said those are details the B.C. Wildfire Service will address. “As contractors, they’re in a different position, but what the details of that are, I’m not able to comment at this point.”
WorkSafeBC confirmed in a statement Wednesday that an investigation has been launched into the fatal crash.
“Yesterday, WorkSafeBC received a report of the death of four individuals in an MVI,” said WorkSafe spokeswoman Alexandra Skinner. “I can confirm that WorkSafeBC has launched an investigation into this incident. The purpose of our investigation is to identify the cause of the incident, including any contributing factors, so that similar incidents can be prevented from happening in the future.”
No other details will be provided during the investigation, said Skinner.
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/four-b-c-wildfire-service-sub-contractors-die-in-car-crash-on-highway-1-near-walhachin
Sidney Powell - Defending The Republic Newsletter
Good News Friday: 09/22/23
Dear Patriots,
We were watching many stories continue to develop this week; the terrifying events on the border, the Ukraine war, the House machinations, the pathetic questioning of AG Merrick Garland, more evidence of election fraud, and a poorly dressed United States Senator.
But, we set all of that aside for one day to bask in some Good News and diversions from the din of news.
1- It is always good news when lying cable channels are lying to fewer people.
Breitbart
Disgraced CNN Hits All-Time Weekend Ratings Low
2- Isn't it stunning how hard and fast the government works to censor the private social media accounts of doctors who argued for a sane approach to Covid-CCP? This is an interview with Dr. Bhattacharya explaining the importance of the recent court win.
NYPost
The Biden administration tried to censor this Stanford doctor, but he won in court
3- Voters in Georgia see that what Fani Willis is doing is unfair. That is the good news.
Sharyl Attkisson
Most Georgia voters think Trump prosecution unfair
4- Another win against the voter roll collection group, ERIC.
The Federalist
Alaska Must Forfeit Data From Leftist-Linked Voter-Roll 'Maintenance' Group ERIC
5- We pray for warrior whistleblowers and pray there will be more who are brave enough to expose the Deep State.
Red State
Third IRS Agent Comes Forward, Corroborates Whistleblowers and Reveals More Possible DOJ Corruption
6- At least these men will not go to jail after being entrapped by the FBI.
Julie Kelly
Another Whitmer Fednapping Case Goes Boom
7- We are not sure what to make of this story. But, we HAVE been praying for divine intervention!
We joyfully welcome these new brothers and sisters in Christ.
Not The Bee
Hundreds of Auburn University students were baptized this week immediately following a campus worship night
8- As we discussed last week, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted on bogus impeachment charges. This week he gives the behind the scenes story during an inteview with Tucker. It is worth your time to watch!
Note that it takes five or six seconds to load the videos at the site, so be patient.
Tucker Carlson
Episode 25
Liberals like Karl Rove just tried to annihilate Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. It didn't work. Paxton just joined us for his first interview since his acquittal.
9- Politics have you upset and frustrated? If you need a break, we recommend two books we have recently read, or listen to, being big fans of audio books.
Neither book is about current politics. Both are intriguing. Both books are about men we had not previously known about.
–You will learn a lot of fascinating history in this one!
The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I
–A story of THE best ever art thief, who walked out of museums over 200 times with works worth millions.
The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession
https://truthsocial.com/@realSidneyPowell/posts/111108995399923312
https://defendingtherepublic.substack.com/p/good-news-friday-092223-43e