NATIVE PIGEONS NOW MORE NUMEROUS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 198, 19 May 1936, Page 10

NATIVE PIGEONS NOW MORE NUMEROUS

Bird Life in Tararuas RANGER’S REPORT UPON CYCLONE DAMAGE Native pigeons have increased in numbers, according to Mr. T, Andrews, ranger for tlie Wellington Acclimatisation .Society, who writes in the _ society’s annual report of investigations made in the Tararua Range on the prevalence of native birds. They are very plentiful on both sides of the ranges, and do not appear to be molested to any great extent. "There lire, of course, a few socalled sportsmen who cannot be trusted, but the majority of pig hunters and other bush frequenters in our district seem to respect, the protection placed on this bird,” the report adds. "More kaka were seen and heard this year than for some considerable time. They seemed to move about; in tlie evening and could be heard until very late at night. No parakeets wore seen, but I am given to understand that a few si ill frequent the eastern side of the ranges about Masterton. "Rifleman wren, whitehead, grey warblers, pied tit and white eye were frequently seen, and our beautiful little fantails seenied to lie everywhere. They were very plentiful both in the heavy bush and on the fringe. The tuis are very elusive birds, and sometimes for long periods seem to be scarce and then suddenly appear in dozens. The bell birds were seen aud heard in most places, and are plentiful. ‘‘Owing to the very wet season, the feeding grounds of the grey duck have increased a hundredfold, and consequently the grey duck are more numerous. The extent of the damage caused to our native bush by the cyclone that swept across the North Island on February 2 of this year is not generally known. The destruction in some places was terrific, and it is certain that no other visitation of that nature has happened for a great number of years or evidence would still be left. In some places uprooted trees are seen for hundreds of yards and occasionally where a large tree had sufficient root-hold to resist being uprooted, it has been broken off perhaps thirty feet from the ground. ‘‘Looking down from the very high country it would give one the impression that high explosives had been showered down, for the damage is in patches. The first thing that is brought home to one is the shallowness of the soil on some of the rocky spurs. Large trees up to ten feet in circumference are found growing in soil a foot deep, and the roots being unable to penetrate the solid rock' spread in all directions for perhaps twenty or thirty feet. When uprooted there is a perpendicular wall of roots perhaps thirty feet high and about the same width, but only a few inches thick. It is remarkable that one side of tlie wall is clothed with living shrubs of all sizes.

“The summer just passed has been a very wet one. consequently fires have not been in evidence: but one dry season and an irresponsible person with a match will result in half the bush in the Tararuas being demolished. Before next summer, steps should be taken to advertise this great danger.”