WAYS OF THE WILD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 85, 11 April 1931, Page 1 (Supplement)

WAYS OF THE WILD.

THE STORM PETRELS. LOCAL BREEDING PLACES. (By A. T. PYCROFT.) A sea bird seen on a recent trip from Auckland to Kawau Island i 3 thus described by Mr. Heap, of Norwood Road, Bayswater. "It was a small bird of a light-colour with a very rapid movement of the wings. It had a rapid flight, and literally flew in among the waves." It is a difficult matter, from the description given, to be certain of the identity of this bird, but I have no doubt that it was a member of the petrel family. A small bird, the white-faced storm petre! breeds on Mokohinau and the Noisies. those small islets situated beyond Rakino Island, and it is probable thai the biiid seen by Mr. Heap was one o) these bird's. This bird was first known to science when specimens were taken to the east of the Kerinadece during Cook's first voyage to New Zealand. Within the New Zealand area it appearf next to have been collected at the Auck land Islands in 1840, by the Antarctir* expedition under Sir James Ross. Latei it was observed in New Zealand, and ii 1871 specimens were brought from th« Chatham Islands. This" petrel also breed? at the Alderman Islands, MotunaiIslands, off Stewart Island, and at th( Kermadec, Chatham, and Auckland Islands. Specimens have also beer obtained from Muriwai, Mayor Island, Cook Strait and Puysegur Point. The bird measures eight inches in length. The upper surface is eooty brown, the crown, wings and tail brownish black; the forehead, streak over the eyes, face and under surface are white. The birds' general distribution is throughout the Atlantic, Indian and South Pacific Oceans. Breeding Habits. P. Sandager, writing on the birds of the Mokohinau Islands, refers to the breeding habits of the white-faced storm petrel as follows: "This bird confines itself to one of the low islands, where it breeds in considerable numbers, the nests being as close together as the ground will permit. Burrowing begins during August, both birds being engaged in the work, which is carried on during the day for the last month previous tc laying. Nesting material, of which a comparatively large amount is used, is collected' during the first half of October. Laying begins in the middle of the same month, and is over by the first of November. The egg, of which one onlv is deposited in each nest, is white witl: more or less reddish specks at the blunt end, or sometimes disposed in a band The eggs are rather variable in size measuring I.3in by 0.94 in. The youno in down are greyish-black, but when taking their departure, during the last week of February and first week of March they can scarcely be distinguished from' the old birds. During thick weather in the breeding season a great number fly against the lantern at the Mokohinau lighthouse, or come in at the lightroom door. Oliver states that he visited the nesting ground on the Noisies on Decernber 6, 1914. The whole of the ground under the scrub was occupied by the buriows of these birds. In the various nests investigated, adult birds, fresh eggs, hard sat-eggs and young in down were found. A good many dead birds and remains of young were found. Storm Petrels, Smallest of Sea Birds.

The storm petrels are the smallest of sea birds, ranking in size with such land birds as starlings, swallows and martins. are commonly known to seamen a* Mother Carey's Chickens," Mother Larey being a corruption of "Mater Lara, an appellation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They are characterised by their rather slender hooked beaks, on the upper surface of which the nostrils open within a single median tube. Their slender legs are usually very long in proportion to the size of the bird, and •the toes are united by webs. Their wings are fairly long, but not so narrow in proportion as those of the large:, petrels and albatrosses, and their tails are usually square or forked. Most of them are dusky in colouring; a few grey. Many have a patch of white at the base of the tail, and some have white areas on the under surface. All species have the bill and legs black, but in a few the webs are partly yellow. In the breeding season they congregate on small islands, and either'excavate burrows in soft soil or beneath matted vegetation, or utilise natural crevices among rocks, or the burrows of other birds. For some day* before the egg is laid, both birds are found together in their burrow, but later they take it in turn to incubate. When the young bird is full-fed it is considerably larger than its parents, which then leave it, and when the feathers have replaced the down, the young fledgling follows them to sea. Like those of their larger relatives which breed in burrowe.' storm petrels are nocturnal in their habits when on the breeding ground. During the daytime thousands may ba brooding just below the surface of an island, but no sound indicates their presence. After dark, however, when the birds from sea return to relieve their mates or to feed their young, various twittering, crooning or cooing notes are uttered. also at sea these usually silent birds utter chirping or squealing notes when congregated to feed on some unusually bountiful supplv. Any oil food appears to attract them specially, but their normal diet is no doubt composed of small plankton organisms -"--led from the surface of the sea. In spite of their association in name with that of the Blessed Virgin the appearance of Mother Carey's chickens round a ship is regarded by superstitious mariners as foreboding a storm. It seems clear'that they are more often to be seen about a ship in storm y weather, but this is probably because the passage of a ship commonly leaves an area of calmer water, in which it is easier for them to obtain food. Their habit of flying to and fro across the wake of a steamer is perhaps chiefly owing to the fact that the propeller kills many small organisms, which then float up to the surface, though at times they will also pick up some of the smaller fragments .of galley refuse. When flying close over the surface, especially in calm weather and when feeding, storm petrels often assist their progress pr support themselves on the surface by patting the water with theirfeet Ceuerally both feet are brought down Ufe aether and the birds spring along th» ° t . » series of hops, keeping their spread. Less frequently the feet used Alternately, so that they may be said to run or walk 011 the water, ciinDorting the supposed origin of tha name petrel from that of St. Peter.