SEA BIRDS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 155, 27 March 1926, Page 23

SEA BIRDS

WHITNEY EXPEDITION RETURNS MANY IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES “Dominion” Special. Auckland, March 26. The opinion that the coast of New Zealand offered a great opportunity for studv of bird life was expressed by Mr. R. H. Beck, of California, who is in charge of the Whitney Expedition, the members of which returned to Auckland in the yacht Prance after an absence in southern waters of about nineweeks. Exceptionally rough weather was experienced, almost the whole time spent in the south, and the little vessel did not present such a spick-and-span appearance as when she left Auckland. Mr. Beck said that despite the weather a great manv interesting observations were made. They were prevented from visiting Stewart Island and the Auckland, Campbell, and Snares Groups. Although he had a permit to take bib birds, the actual number collected was 260. The variety of sea bird life on the different islands was amazing, and dis- ; tinctions were discovered in various species which were not known even by experts. For this reason the rcstric-, tion placed upon him forbidding the capture of more than 10 to 20 birds of certain kinds seemed absurd, as no collector could make sufficient observations with such a small number. During a stop of two days at the Antipodes Islands, several specimens were j obtained. Mr. Beck stated that the Si-ua which resembled a large gull and was protected, was killing off hundreds ot sea birds there. He disc 2? e ’ ed . skeletons witinn a space of at one spot, vet collectors who. weie fo.bidden to take over a ce . rta,n . n " n did not kill as manv sea birds in a tea -s did the skua in a day. . There were about eight known kmc of albatross in New Zealand wateis said Mr. Beck, but the great museums of the world did not ‘ have all \ t ’'"’b like that number adequately represented He was sure that the wanderings of'the albatross and the royal altl ’°"Sh commonly thought to be identical, were distinct birds. Different birds were found on different islands, <l"£ e close together. For instance, two distinct species of whale bird were found on two islands only 16 miles a P a s t * The expedition spent a day at Bounty Island and a week at the Ghathams where albatross and cormorants weie secured. While bcean and land buds were obtained at Pitt Island, no specimens of pigeons, rail, robins, and snipe, peculiar'to the Cbathams, could be secured. Valuable information was secured concerning nesting habits, it was now 'known, said Mr. Beck, tha the migration flight of godwits from New Zealand to Siberia was by no means peculiar. The only known nes - ting place" of the Buller shearwater, which resembled a mutton bird, was in thc.Hauraki Gulf, but. Mr Beck sa d die had seen scores flying oft. hie Californian coast, and even at Valpaiaiso, Chile. Thev migrated across the lacitic and returned to New Zealand for nesting. While- in the Pacific Ocean recently huge flocks of mutton birds '' el passed overhead, flying to New Zealand from Siberia. These birds were also known to fly to the Chilian coast. Surprise was expressed at tne-sugges-tion made in New Zealand that the Whitnev Expedition was a commercial enterprise. Mr. Beck said the trip, which had now lasted about five years, was -financed by Mt. Whitney, and all the specimens were forwarded to the National Museum of Art and History at New York, which was not conducted for profit. All specimens were preserved and accredited, and students the world over were entitled to view them or have them sent to them personally. It was onlv bv such an expedition that the habits of birds could be ascertained and that scientists could arrive at the trl Aftev a stav of about a week at Auckland, the France will proceed to the tropics, where further studies will be carried out.