Turbine

I hiked up to the wind turbine at the far end of the Karori preserve this weekend. I'd never been so close to a wind turbine before - they're actually quieter than I expected. The turbine is actually just on the other side of the predator-proof fence that runs around the park, and a bunch of mountain bike trails run up to it from outside the preserve. It's funny to walk up to a tall fence and see a bunch of people on the other side. I felt a little like a zoo animal.

I've been spending a bit of time each weekend hiking through the preserve, so I decided to put the time to good use and just start volunteering at the park. I can't go long without doing some kind of volunteer work... and the interview today went well, so I think I'm well on my way to leading nature hikes.

I'm learning the NZ flora and fauna pretty quickly, but I know from my time at the Seattle aquarium that teaching is really the best way to learn. You have to know a subject well to explain it effectively, and often people will ask questions that deepen your understanding of what you're teaching. I really dig it - interpretation is a whole other level of learning and everyone comes off better for it. Plus, with the short timescale for my work I need to be really immersed in the ecology, and spending a few hours a month leading tour groups will mean I get plenty of practice, no matter the season. It's a good deal all around.

I could go on and on about the necessity of more scientific education, especially after the Vatican added genetic modification to the list of deadly sins today, but I'll save that rant for a rainy day.