FOREST, BIRD SOCIETY

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30602, 19 November 1964, Page 10

FOREST, BIRD SOCIETY

Trips During Week-End

Members of the study group of the Canterbury branch of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand found 11 varieties of native orchid, many of which were in flower, when they spent last week-end at Te Kinga, on the shores of Lake Brunner. The trip was made by 10 members of the group. Most of its members are students, and examinations prevented a larger attendance. Mrs C. Kirk, a botanist from Lincoln College, led the party. Perfect weather enabled trips to be made into the bush on Mount Te Kinga, along the shore of the lake, and to the site of milling operations. Many different birds were seen, including the shining cuckoo, tui, bellbird, blue heron, pigeon, grey warbler, pukeko, black teal, fantail, tomtit, and brown creeper. A large audience of local residents saw members’ coloured slides of native flora and fauna at the Te Kinga hall on Saturday evening. The audience was also able to assist members with questions about local fauna, especially the whistling frogs common in the area. Mr T. HartleySmith, ranger with the Wildlife branch of the Internal Affairs Department at Greymouth, answered questions on subjects such as kakapo, parakeets, banded rail, and the changing feeding habits of pigeons. The group intends making visits soon to Goose Bay, near Kaikoura, Kelly’s Creek, near Otira, Kowai Bush, and Arthur's Pass. Forty older members of the society travelled to Lake Ohau, via Waimate, visiting the power projects at Aviemore and Benmore on the way. ± x Miss E. J. Erlow, joint organiser of the Canterbury branch, was in charge of the trip. The highlight of the week-end was a bus tour to Huxley Gorge, at the head of the lake. Among the birds seen were the paradise duck, rifleman, tern, grey warbler, black-billed gull, and whitefaced heron. A x . Good weather added to the success of the trip.