Auckland Shell Club

May Meeting
Heather showed many photos and talked about her Heritage Expedition Trip, Tauranga to Tokyo. It was a Birding Trip with 32 very keen birders on board.
In total 271 species of birds were sighted! Some shells were found but not a huge number. Heather is now taking up a new hobby!
The trip included visiting Norfolk Is. seeing Fairy Terns, Noddys and Albatross, New Caledonia seeing the rare Kagu, On to the Solomon Is visiting Rennell Is. Makira Is. Honiara/Gaudalcanal, and Kolombangara Is. and on to Truk Is. in the Caroline Is. finally up to Tokyo.
Heather was most impress with Tokyo, 12 million people, clean, beautiful with no rubbish. Excellent public transport so few cars on the roads.
If any one missed the evening Heather has a photo book to view.

Noel Gardner
The Gardiner family advise that Noel Gardner is now happy and settled in a resthome. They thank the members who have been in contact with her for their interest and best wishes.
Noel has been suffering with Dementia for sometime and gets confused easily. For this reason they ask that members no longer visit her at the home as this can upset and distress her.
What remains of Noel and Norman's shell collection has been entrusted to their 3 sons as per their parents wishes.

Day Trip to Motuihe Island
Sunday June 13 2010 - Leader Margaret Morley
The 360 Discovery ferry (Ph 307 8005) leaves Auckland at 10am from Pier 4, Quay St., opposite Fullers. You need to be there by 9.30am. Buy your return tickets ($24) at their office on Pier 4. The ferry returns from Motuihe at 3.40pm - this is the last ferry.
Bring warm clothes, rain gear, boots or shoes for rocks and muddy sand, lunch, sieve and containers. There is a shop for drinks and snacks.
We will be seeking the recently introduced Nassarius, and any live specimens found would be welcome for the Museum wet collections!
Phone Margaret on 576 8323 at 8am for cancellation if the weather is adverse.

Next Meeting
202 Gillies Avenue, Epsom at 7:30pm on Tuesday 8th of June (doors open at 7pm)

A Marine Creatures evening!
Come and learn heaps about other Marine Creatures as well as Shells. There will be many creatures to view, some of which you might be able to identify for Heather.
Bring a smile, a tray of NZ shells and any other beach finds that you might like to share.

We will also view a 30 minute DVD called "The Secret Lives of Seashells".
Watch living seashells eat, move about and protect themselves. Learn about their anatomy and how they grow. See females spawn egg casings that produce hundreds of babies. The video was filmed on Sanibel Island and is most interesting.
Heather will also bring in a tray of American shells which are on the video. Shells are parallel to NZ shells - cockles, olives, scallops etc.

We are always very grateful to helpers putting out the tables and chairs around 7pm and putting them away again after the meeting. Thank you to those who can help with this task.

Shell related news and items of interest (Eg. recent finds, media articles, etc.) are always appreciated.
A large variety of shells will be on sale. Bring anything you would like to sell - remember, one man's rubbish may be another man's treasure!
Supper will be provided, as well as our regular shell raffle kindly donated by Doug & Judith Snook.

Shell Auction - Albany Hall, Saturday 23rd October 2010
If you would like to sell at the auction then please register your interest with Peter Poortman (Ph: 09 817 1397), preferably with an indication of how many lots you would like to enter.

Poirieria Magazine
We welcome all contributions to our club magazine 'Poirieria'.
Anything related to shells or collecting would be greatly appreciated - Eg. shelling trips/finds, personal observations/tips, scientific research, historic anecdotes, notable washups, etc.
Please send to Jan Munroe at kevandjan@slingshot.co.nz, or 42 Black Teal Close, Albany, North Shore 0632. Contact Patricia Langford on (09) 479 6149 if you have any queries.

Club Library
We have an extensive collection of books, magazines, and scientific publications available, as well as a biological microscope.

Other Club News
. Nassarius cernohorskyi, a new species from the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia, has been named and described by Dr. Kool in "Basteria, 69:87-89, 2005". Mr Walter O. Cernohorsky after whom it was named is interested in the actual geographical distribution of this species, and would therefore be glad to know if any member of our shell club has this species in their collection from any other locality than the Marquesas Islands. Walter would appreciate information as to the other locality, but would like to examine the particular specimen (would re-imburse member for postage) or examine a good photograph of it. Pictured shell is 8.7mm in length.

. Townsville Shell Show, 3-4 July 2010, Townsville Orchid Society Hall, Joe Kirwan Park, Charles Street. Kirwan, Townsville

. Keppel Bay Shell Show, 10-11 July 2010, Gus Moore Pavilion at the Yeppoon Show Grounds

. Andrew Pendergrast (andrwp@xtra.co.nz) is looking for NZ specimens of Charonia lampas (capax or rubicunda form) greater than 190mm in length.

. Markus Niiranen, a shell collector from Finland, is looking for Bursidae Cassidae Ranellidae and Maurea species from New Zealand. He is interested in all species from these families from common to rare, but would prefer specimens with good collect data. If you have some specimens from these families for sale (recent or fossil), please contact Markus at markusni@hotmail.com.

. Items of interest for the monthly newsletter are always welcome - email to peter.poortman@xtra.co.nz, or post to 26 Pendlebury Street, Green Bay, Auckland 0604.

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