SWALLOW SPECIES

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30146, 1 June 1963, Page 13

SWALLOW SPECIES

Colony Stays In Canterbury

A flock of Australian welcome swallows has colonised the Lakeside area of Lake Ellesmere, and no migratory tendency has been evident among them, the assistant director of the Canterbury Museum (Mr E. G. Turbott) said yesterday He was commenting on a report from Palmerston North that the species found New Zealand too cold, and that the birds usually migrated north for the winter “Australian welcome swallows. since they began to breed at Lakeside on the south shore of Lake Ellesmere in 1961, are believed to have remained in Canterbury during the winter." Mr Turbott said He and a number of observers who had kept watch on the birds at Lakeside during and since the winter of 1962 found there was no tendency f them to migrate, and the birds had been seen within the last few days at Lakeside “The welcome swallow firs) became established in Northland. breeding being first re"orded In 1958. It has since been recorded in various parts of the North Island, and the Canterbury birds may have come originally from the n wth or may represent a later immigration from Australia.’ he said “In Northland, observers have reported that the birds remain all through the winter

“In 1961, the first pair observed at Lakeside successfully reared a brood of three chicks in a disused launch Last summer two pairs attempted to nest at Lakeside, the sites being respectively in the launch and in a concrete water-level gauge, but as tar as is known neither pair was successful in rearing a brood

“In addition to the birds seen nesting, a flock of at least 30 was reported during the summer In the Lakeside area, and sightings have also been made on the opposite side of the lake at Kaituna These reports suggest that the colonising flight in 1961 was larger than at first supposed, or possibly that other birds have arrived since.” said Mr Turbott.