An historical day in NZ
Prelude: So today is the start of Alert Level 3 in New Zealand, with Alert Level 4 to start in 48 hours (by 11.59pm Wed 25th March 2020). Not a moment too soon, as far as I'm concerned and should have happened towards the end of last week. Borders should have been closed earlier.
But this is where we're at ... let's move life onwards in the best possible way.
I'm starting this blog to document these bizarre and unprecedented times in NZ, starting with today, Monday 23rd March 2020, as the day when everything changed.
I'm a freelance travel writer and tour leader, among other things. Alas, my travel writing and tour leading work has all but dried up due to no one going anywhere - but I still love to write. So this blog is about observation, commentary and compassion in a time when kindness and sharing are more important than ever, despite isolation.
Each day I'll share a "Share-Note" - about something that doesn't have anything much to do with COVID-19!
Today, 23rd March 2020, is an historical day in NZ as COVID-19 confinement measures take hold on account of exponentially increasing numbers of infection.
After COVID-19 concerns and cases escalated throughout February and March, across the world and locally, New Zealand introduced an Alert system (1-4 scale) on 21st March 2020, and what a great thing that was to prepare NZers, especially the complacent ones who didn't think we'd ever get to this stage.
By early afternoon today, Jacinda Ardern announced the country was at Alert Level 3, with alert Level 4 becoming effective within 48 hours - a strategic and well-staged plan that enables people time to lock into place their "work from home" practices and everything else that they need to do.
As the Girl Guide movement says ... Be Prepared!
That's what everyone is doing now. Preparing to work from home, preparing to stock the cupboards, preparing to hunker down with their "bubble" (those we'll be in isolation with), preparing to soldier through unknown times and stay afloat.
SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
The bar-tailed godwits - who roost and feed at Omaha Shorebirds Sanctuary over summer - are preparing to fly to Alaska for the breeding season. They fly off during March, stopping at the Yellow Sea to feed up before continuing on.
A large flock has been congregating on the Omaha foreshore, poised northwards, waiting for the right conditions before beginning their long flight. Some have taken off already, others wait for their moment. I've visited them a few times over recent weeks. Also dotterels, caspian terns and oyster catchers.
The bar-tailed godwits will be back around September 2020 - having flown all the way from Alaska in one-hit. This is the longest haul flight taken by a bird and is impressive.
As humans reduce their flying and planes park up, these birds are ready to go ...
Good luck little bar-tailed godwits as you fly around this crazy world to breed more little BTGs!!
But this is where we're at ... let's move life onwards in the best possible way.
I'm starting this blog to document these bizarre and unprecedented times in NZ, starting with today, Monday 23rd March 2020, as the day when everything changed.
I'm a freelance travel writer and tour leader, among other things. Alas, my travel writing and tour leading work has all but dried up due to no one going anywhere - but I still love to write. So this blog is about observation, commentary and compassion in a time when kindness and sharing are more important than ever, despite isolation.
Each day I'll share a "Share-Note" - about something that doesn't have anything much to do with COVID-19!
Today, 23rd March 2020, is an historical day in NZ as COVID-19 confinement measures take hold on account of exponentially increasing numbers of infection.
After COVID-19 concerns and cases escalated throughout February and March, across the world and locally, New Zealand introduced an Alert system (1-4 scale) on 21st March 2020, and what a great thing that was to prepare NZers, especially the complacent ones who didn't think we'd ever get to this stage.
By early afternoon today, Jacinda Ardern announced the country was at Alert Level 3, with alert Level 4 becoming effective within 48 hours - a strategic and well-staged plan that enables people time to lock into place their "work from home" practices and everything else that they need to do.
As the Girl Guide movement says ... Be Prepared!
That's what everyone is doing now. Preparing to work from home, preparing to stock the cupboards, preparing to hunker down with their "bubble" (those we'll be in isolation with), preparing to soldier through unknown times and stay afloat.
SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
The bar-tailed godwits - who roost and feed at Omaha Shorebirds Sanctuary over summer - are preparing to fly to Alaska for the breeding season. They fly off during March, stopping at the Yellow Sea to feed up before continuing on.
A large flock has been congregating on the Omaha foreshore, poised northwards, waiting for the right conditions before beginning their long flight. Some have taken off already, others wait for their moment. I've visited them a few times over recent weeks. Also dotterels, caspian terns and oyster catchers.
The bar-tailed godwits will be back around September 2020 - having flown all the way from Alaska in one-hit. This is the longest haul flight taken by a bird and is impressive.
As humans reduce their flying and planes park up, these birds are ready to go ...
Good luck little bar-tailed godwits as you fly around this crazy world to breed more little BTGs!!
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| The bar-tailed godwits wait to fly to Alaska |
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| Looking towards the godwits' "runway" in the Omaha Shorebirds Sanctuary |
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| This lone one-legged bar-tailed godwit seemed to be in self-isolation |
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