HONEY-EATING NATIVE BIRDS

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 27, 1 August 1932, Page 6

HONEY-EATING NATIVE BIRDS

(To the Editor.) Sir-—The letter published' in your issue of 26th July entitled "Tui aud Bellbird," advocating the planting of kowliai and gum trees to supplement the natural food of these native honey eaters is pleasantly opportune. The gentle little "silvereye" or "blight bird," which is so valuable in gardens destroying aphis and scale-insects, is aluo a honey-eater: It is an extremely common bird in the great, forest zone of Mount Egmont;' When the cold weather 'sets in in May and snow falls pii .the mountain' and forest, the' silvereyes assemble in many large flights and invade the settled districts and town gardens and plantations in Taranaki in quest of food. In many of the river valleys and waste .places in: the country the Australian tassel wattle is widely naturalised, and its. flowers supply honey to: yiese active little .birds during the winter months. Tuis nnd bellbirds also visit; these melliferous flowers. In seasons of very heavy/ snowfall1 and. severer cold, as at present in Taranaki, other species leave the forest and descend down the warmer river valleys to procure food. As the tassel wattle grows .rapidly, and seeds and naturalises freely, it should be included in any list of plants.planted to'supply food for native birds:—X am. etc., ' , "" .".;■; ; : ;

■ v W. W. SMITH. New Plymouth, 29th July. . . ;'