WAYS OF THE WILD.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 29, 4 February 1928, Page 1 (Supplement)

WAYS OF THE WILD.

A NATURALIST'S NOTEBOOK.

THE LITTLE BABBIEK ISLAND,

THE STITCH BIRD'S HOME.

(By A. T. PYCROFT.)

Through the courtesy of Mr. B. Sladden, of Tauranga, I was invited to make one to join a party of four to visit the island bird sanctuary at the Little Barrier, permission to do so having been previously obtained from the Tourist Department. To all the visit was of great interest, because this island is believed to be the last home of the stitch bird (Notiomystis cincta), a small, honey-eating bird a little larger than a sparrow and peculiar to New Zealand, and also because several other rare New Zealand birds are to be seen there.

The outline of the Little Barrier, or | Hauturu, is no doubt well known to many Aucklanders who may often see it from any elevated position. At times, when atmospheric conditions are favourable, the island's steep outline is well defined. Approximately the size of the island is four and a-half miles by three and a-half, the area 10,000 acres. It lies fifty miles north of Auckland, and on account of its bush covered ridges [and ravines is well suited as a bird sanctuary.

Cats are present, the offspring of domesticated cats brought to the island by the natives who formerly owned the island. Norwegian rats are plentiful, but it has not been proved that the native rat is found on the island.

The caretaker "wages constant war against both vermin. Investigation proved that rats are eaten by the cats. There are no European bees on the island, the honey-eating birds. Stitch bird, bell bird, and tui have therefore not suffered from bee stings as those on the mainland are said to have done. We left Leigh, or Omaha Cove, situated at Point Rodney, at seven a.m. on the 7th of January, in an auxiliary cutter belonging to a resident at the Cove. Mr. Sladden left his launch in the cove, as there is no safe anchorage for an unattended boat at the island, it being our intention to spend several days ashore at Hauturu, and spend one night at least in the bush towards the summit. Petrels' Breeding Ground, The distance from Leign to the little Barrier is approximately fifteen miles. The island was reached about ten, and during the trip the little blue penguin was frequently seen. Numbers of shearwaters and petrels were also seen, and nearing the island a flock of Cook s petrels was passed. These birds breed on Hauturu. A few stormy petrels and diving petrels were also seen. While interviewing the caretaker, Mr. Nelson, at his house, a pair of red fronted parakeets was seen feeding on the ground in his garden; the native pigeon and the White Head, or Bush Canarv were seen in trees adjoining the garden. It was decided to ascend that afternoon to where Cook's petrels were nesting at an altitude of about 1800 feet, and spend the night there, completing the climb to the summit the next day. Our swag consisted of a rug each and enough food for three meals. Water was alto taken, none being procurable along the track which followed the ridges and is well defined. The Admiralty chart chows the summit is 2314 feet, and is named on the chart Mount Many Peaks. We were informed the highest point is known as Mount Archeria, no doubt so named on account of a shrub, Archeria racemosa, found on this island at, and near, the summit. Cheeseman states it is a much branched or spreading shrub from six to fifteen feet high, with pink flowers. Our attention was drawn to this shrub by the perfume of its flowers. Archeria consists of a small genus of five species confined to Tasmania and New Zealand, two being found in New Zealand. It differs from Epaeris, which are heathlike shrubs mainly in habit. Archeria racemosa was first recorded in New Zealand prior to 1564, being found at the Great Barrier. It was later found by the late Mr. R. H. Shakespear at the Little Barrier. It has also been reported from Thames goldfields, and the East Cape. During our ascent whiteheads and bellbirds were numerous; tuis were not so numerous. Longtailed cuckoos were very plentiful, and very noisy. I have nowhere seen these birds in such numbers. I do not know of any record from the island indicating which of the native birds acts as foster parent to this bird's young. During the ascent two female stitch birds and one male bird were seen on the ridge near the track. Caught by Wild Cats. At dusk it was decided to camp on the track, and after tea and sleeping positions had been selected we awaited :he arrival of Cook's petrels. Remains several of these birds were seen on the track. The birds had evidently been caught by cats when alighting at ni"ht to proceed to their burrows. The following morning a freshlv-kiUed petrel was found, and all of the birds examined showed that they had been killed by the skull being pierced, evidently by cats' teeth. The base of the head was sometimes eaten and all fieshv portions of the body. Large numbers of these birds descend nijrhtly to their burrows during the breeding season and fall an easy prey to cats.

At nine p.m. these petrels were heard [flying overhead in great numbers. They [were very noisy, and now and again one j would flop through the bush near us, and 'with the aid of a torch was examined. Cook's petrel was first described in 1543 from a specimen obtained off the New Zealand coast. The total length of the bird is slightly over twelve inches, the crown and lower parts are ashv grey, the under parts white. This pl-trel." like other petrels, lays its single white e<_*g at the end of a burrow. The lensrtb or the burrow of Cook'- petrel varies from three to eight feet, which is dug by the bird, often under roots a;id stones.

Small flying objects were seen just before dawn, which the writer thought [were native bats which have been found on the island. The birds' momim* chorus was not so pronounced as it would have been in the spring or earlv summer. After breakfast a bird's note re«emWiiiff a chaffinch's wa« heard: •:

was found to be that of the North Island robin, now a rare bird on the mainland After Ixitanising in the vicinity of our camp our climb to the summit' was recommenced when two more hen stitch birds were seen. The summit was reached at one p.m. from where the rugged nature of the inland was observed. Many kauris were seen here and there towering above the forest trees.