NATURE NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 69, 23 March 1931, Page 16

NATURE NOTES

(By B. H. D. Stidolph, R.A.0.U.)

STSAW-NECKED IBIS

VISITORS FROM OTHER LANDS

From time to time birds from other countries accidentally wander to New Zealand, and during the last two years three species have thus boon added to Hie list of New Zealand birds. It will bo remembered that in 1920 the first specimen of the northern phalarope ever obtained in New Zealand was secured by Mr. E. F. Stead at Lake Ellesniere, while later in the year Mr. A. C. O'Connor procured the Arctic tern for the first time on record, at the mouth of the Waikanao river, in the Manawatu district. Towards the end of last year a spine-tailed swift was obtained at Tokomaru, this being only the second occasion on which this bird has been seen in New Zealand. ■Anothor specimen of this swift _is reported to have been caught alive about the same time at Rongotea, but unfortunately it was eaten by a cat. The latest report of stragglers from other lands comes from Nelson, where two birds, which have aroused considerable public interest, have been identified as Australian straw-necked ibises. The appearance of this species of ibis adds yet another name to the list of New Zealand birds, the glossy ibis and the Australian white ibis having previously been recorded in the _ Dominion. The straw-necked ibis is a j largo bird, with a much recurved long bill, fairly long legs, and with the head and throat bare. In colour it is glossy bluish-black above, purplish on the wings, tho whole of the upper parts being barred with black; tho lower back is black, the long upper tail coverts and tail feathers white, the centre of the fore nock white, with long straw-coloured plumes on each side. Tlio under parts are white.

The straw-necked ibis, which is a native of Australia, is ouc of the most valuable birds found in that country. "It has an insatiable appetite for grasshoppers and other- insects," wrote the late Dr. Leach, who stated that the bird seemed to be increasing in numbers. "This bird," lie continued, "is a valuable asset to Australia, and yet thoughtless farmers used to shoot it. Mr. Le Soucf and Dr. C. Byan came upon a flock of ibises breeding in the Eiverina. They estimated the flock to contain 240,000 birds. They found that each bird shot contained on .the averago two thousand young grasshoppers. Think of it: 450,000,000 grasshoppers a day. Where arc those birds now?" ho asked, "when needed to stem a locust plague? We have to pay the price of our folly in destroying valuable birds." Further evidence of the extremely useful work performed by these birds is provided by another observer who recalled seeing a beautiful crop of malting barley, which was becoming fit to cut. Three days afterwards there was hardly a grain of corn to be seen of it. Caterpillars had cut off all tho heads, and the farmer had to turn his stock in to oat the fallen That autumn the ibis came, not in battalions or in regiments, but in whole army corps and stayed during the winter. For three years afterwards hardly a single harvest caterpillar was seen. No more convincing proof of the value of the ibis could bo secured. The strawnecked ibis nests in swamps in immense numbers. The nest is an almost flat (structure composed of twigs and rushes made by treading down tho vegetation in the swamps. Three eggs are usually laid in a clutch. Tho eggs are white, the iaside lining being lightgreen.

Two other species of ibis are found in Australia —the white ibis and the ■widespread glossy ibis. The white ibis, ■which ranges through Australia, New Guinea, Ceram, Waigiou, and Salawati, made its appearance in New Zealand for the first time on record in 1925. In that year it appears that a small flock must have reached the Dominion, as birds of this species wore seen in Westland, Nelson, and TaranaM. This species, like the straw-neck-ed ibis mentioned above, is an invaluable bird, being equally as efficient as a protector of crops and destroyer of injurious insects. It is about tho same size as the straw-necked ibis, but the general colour is white instead of black. Some of the wing feathers, however, am marked or tipped, with black, and the head and upper half of the neck are bare, tho bill being slaty black. The young birds have the head and neck covered with feathers until the third year, when they are shed. The Australian white ibis is closely related to the sacred ibis of Egypt, and is just as useful as that bird is in destroying locusts and other troublesome insects. In a wet season, an Australian observer records, when there has boon sufficient water to fill the swamps with surface diiairfage, these birds congregate in thousands to construct their nests, but should the season prove dry, which it frequently does, they will not nest, apparently knowing that there would be no food or water when the young birds hatched out. Should they start nesting and tho water in the swamp dry up before the young birds hatch out, the parent birds will frequently desert the nests and eggs, and leave a feast for the crows. ,

The first ibis to be recorded in New Zealand was the glossy ibis, a specimen of this bird being procured at Timaru in May, 1902. Another one turned up at Waimate, Canterbury, fourteen years ago. This bird enjoys a very wide range, occurring in the United States, Southern Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, besides straggling to many other countries. It is a smaller bird than the other species, and is black and deep chestnut in colour. It docs not associate in the same largo flocks and bnilds its nest in forked branches of trees.