Post AytbbILn3NOxd4vKDo by joncounts@mastodon.nz
 (DIR) More posts by joncounts@mastodon.nz
 (DIR) Post #AytbbILn3NOxd4vKDo by joncounts@mastodon.nz
       2025-10-05T06:00:47Z
       
       1 likes, 0 repeats
       
       One of the fun things about working in an ecology department at a university is being surrounded by people who are *really, really good* at finding interesting critters.On Thursday we took our annual first year ecology course field trip to Ōtamahua/Quail Island. That's a reserve in the middle of Lyttelton Harbour, where the pest mammals (except mice) have been removed and lots of trees have been planted. It was a great day.Here's entomology Masters student George Gibbs, a genius at finding insects, with one of a pair of mating stick insects that he found.And, here's Jennifer Gillette, our talented herpetologist, with two native geckos she found. (Don't pick up geckos. Jennifer has training and a permit from the Department of Conservation to handle these.)#LincolnUniversityNZ #nature #insects #geckos #NZ #CanterburyNZ #QuailIsland #Ōtamahua