I live in Wilton, a bit of a nature enthusiast. I work at Te Papa...(Senior Curator, sciences); a learner in the botanical and entomological fields, and a life-long learner in the bird area!!! I study seabird ecology when they let me out of the office.

I'm embarking on a bit of a one-woman biodiversity inventory of my yard this long weekend (to accompany a bit of gardening, some weed IDs coming along). The aim is to get me a bit more familiar with the species I'm putting in the compost (understand your enemy in order to better deal with it)...and to get to know the workings of NatureWatch a bit more thoroughly. I've now mastered the art of getting photos from various sources onto my observations (the photos can no doubt improve)...
AND the rest of the family joined in yesterday...great fun.

After 3 days, I now have 55 species of 'weed' that I recognise (4 are 'native weeds' - ie not from Wellington region, and pretty invasive)...of which about 30 are really the ones to concentrate on (invasive, noxious, growthy, pestilent, spikey etc). Others are found in 'The Concise British Flora in Colour, by W. Keble Martin - 1486 Species Illustrated' - a beautiful volume with most english wildflowers, a surprising number of which are coming up of their own volition in my garden!

I'm surprised at how trying to define them to species level is leading me to see more diversity...e.g. the thistles ...there are several, as with Dandelions. And even the Oxalis...there is more than one!!! (same treatment, though).

So, for non-native diversity, Im not doing too bad...I am even coming to thinking that my garden would look a bit bare without a few of these bad boys.

Next project...the bugs...aided by a handy USB Digital Microscope.