HANDSOME GULLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 10, 12 January 1934, Page 5

HANDSOME GULLS.

ISLAND BIRD LIFE. THOUSANDS ON RANGITOTO. CHICKS LEARNING TO FLY. There is much at the present time to interest the visitor to Rangitoto. The island supports comparatively few land birds, possibly on account of the scarcity of fresh water and succulent fruite. Bell birds are exceedingly fond of bathing, and there are many on Motuihi, a few miles distant. Fantaile, grey warblers and a few tuis. however, are frequently seen. Around the shores, however, conditions are suitable for sea birds. The graceful blue heron is common on the island, nesting on Beacon Reef. Kingfishers are numerous, while terns rest on the rocks, and sometimes nest there. The large colonies of black-backed gulls are a striking feature of the bird life of the island, and the youngsters that have been recently hatched out are at the present time learning to walk and fly. There are parts of the island where at times the rocks are a mass of downey, squawking fledglings waiting in the sun to be fed by their attentive parents. The pohutukawa is still in flower, but the chief interest for lovers of plant life lies in the wealth of the flowers of the Heketara, a medium-sized, bronze leafed shrub covered with tiny fragrant daisies, and the fruit of the akeake, another shrub, or low tree remarkable for the strength and durability of its wood. The fruit is flat with wide papery wings ranging in colour from pale green or cream, to a rich red. These two usually inconspicuous shrubs will make a visit to the island of special interest for the next few weeks. Persons unfamiliar with these plants can go to the War Memorial Museum this week and see them there on the native plant table. Chicks Hatched Out. Speaking of the black-backed gull this morning, Mr. R. A. Falla, ornithologist at the museum, said these hand-

some birds were essentially scavengers, performing valuable service usuallyappreciated only when the. service was missed. The ordinary scattered refuse in the harbour, the sewage, and more especially the food material regularly dumped beyond the Beacon provided a food supply' for hundreds more birds than would normally find a living in the locality. They had made spectacular colonies of nests covering many acres of the surface of Rangitoto Island, usually on the bare patches of comparatively level lava some distance up from high water mark. The eggs were laid in October and the young hatched out towards the end of November. The youngsters began to leave their nests at the end of December, and by the end of January most of them could fly. The young bird was then as large as its parents, but different in colour. They were all dark, whereas the adults were black and white. "The independence of the chicks is as remarkable- as their hardiness," said Mr, Falla. "They can stand an astonishing degree of heat on the exposed rocks of the lava field. Curiously enough, on sub-Antarctic islands the same species of gull can nest and rear their young on frozen ground." Visitor's Experience. A visitor to the island yesterday commented on the remarkable heat of the black rocks, and on how difficult it was for the young birds to find shelter. "The rocks are rough and jagged," he said, "and there is practically no shade for the youngsters. I was among the colonies at mid-day, and the chicks were crouching beside pieces of rock, lan< in most ea.ses were only managing Ito keep their heads in shadow. The more fortunate and hardy ones were able to hide themselves in some of the rock crevices. They were gasping in the , heat and were a pitiable sight. They did not leave the rocks, but waited around all day for the frequent visits of their parents with food. They could scramble about at a, great pace, using the tips of their wings for balance, but were often injured by the sharp rocks. With the sun shining brightly on the rocks it was hard to distinguish the young birds through the haze, and they appeared to be almost identical in colour with the rocks themselves. The birds had black spots on the top of the head about the same size as the brown spots on the eggs.