The Riccarton Bush is an area of Christchurch containing part of the original forest that used to cover the the whole Canterbury area. It happened to be a few blocks from my hotel, so I went walking through it early one morning. I came across a tall, thin man wearing shorts.

“Birds,” he said, somewhat more intensely then the situation warranted.

“Yes,” I said. And there were.

He walked off, but a few minutes later I met him again coming down another path.

“It’s amazing to see this piece, right in the city. It used to cover this entire area.” He leaned in. “It’s the only piece remaining.”

Then he strode briskly away.