The Kingfisher

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31239, 10 December 1966, Page 5

The Kingfisher

(Contributed by Canterbury Museum)

AT this time of the year, you may be startled at the sight of a small blue and yellow bird crashing head-first against a treetrunk, cliff or road-cutting. Not only does the bird survive—it retires a little distance and does it again.

A kingfisher is just beginning to excavate a nesting-burrow, the strong beak chipping off splinters or earth. Presently a small cavity is formed, and the bird exchanges its role of animated projectile for that of tunneller. The finished burrow will be one to two feet long, ending in a bare, more or less round chamber.

About five to seven pure white eggs will be laid. Almost all birds that nest in dark holes lay white eggs—owls and parrakeets are examples. Just why is uncertain. Is there a positive advantage in having them easily visible to the bird? Or is the whole thing negative, there being no need for the camouflaging spots so frequently seen on the eggs of birds that lay in more exposed sites? The female does most of the brooding during the 17 days or so that the eggs take to hatch, the male keeping her supplied with food. Rather silent for most of the year, the birds become increasingly vociferous and courageous in

defending their nest, until, by the time the chicks have hatched, the parents are veritable demons, swooping and screeching round the feline, human or other intruder’s head, seeming all flashing black eye and dangerous black beak. Sharp Eyes Kingfishers feed upon almost anything small enough that moves, be it worm, insect, crab, lizard, frog, fish or mouse. Occasionally, even small birds are taken. The hunter sits still for long periods on some vantage point, perhaps a telephone pole, depending on his sharp eyesight to detect the smallest movements at quite considerable distances. A sudden swoop, and the prey is carried up to the perch, battered systematically, and then earned off to the family or swallowed whole. When he catches something larger than usual, a mouse or lizard, the tail may project from the kingfisher’s beak until digestion has accounted for the rest. New Zealand has only one native kingfisher, differing very little from a form which is widespread in Australia, Indonesia, New Guinea and elsewhere in the Eastern Pa-

cific. Observing that the bird was held in veneration by various native tribes, early explorers gave it the name Sacred Kingfisher—Halcyon Sanctus. In Australia, there are about 13 kinds. Indeed, kingfishers are much more typically inhabitants of hot countries. Thus it is not surprising to find that in Britain there is just one species. There is an introduced species in New Zealand, the Australian laughing kookaburra. About 100 years ago, Sir George Grey liberated some on Kawau Island in the Auckland Harbour, and their descendants are still to be seen in parts of North Auckland. Sixteen or more inches long, the kookaburra is a much larger bird than our own kingfisher, and in Australia it successfully attacks quite large snakes and lizards. Perhaps it is the absence from New Zealand of suitably large prey that explains why there are not more kookaburras about—J.G.P. The picture shows the New Zealand kingfisher.