NATURE NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 105, 6 May 1933, Page 11

NATURE NOTES

THE TERX-BIRP

A DISAPPEARING SPECIES

(By S. H. D. Stidolph, E.A.0.U.) Has anyone seen the fcm-bird iii thb "Wellington district lately? At ouo time it was quite numerous in'the Manawatu, where the extensive swamps formed suitable cover for this elusive little bird, which in some respects ha* more the habits of a mouse than a, bird. Settlement has seriously affected it,' however, and following the draining of swamps and destruction of other natural growth favoured by this species it has entirely disappeared from some parts of the country. Ono of the last reports of the presence of this bird came from Mr. T. Andrews, of Palmerston North, who stated in 1931 that it was to ba found in low-lying swamp and scrub land between the lower reaches of the Bangitikei and the Turakina Rivers. An it' is a bird that is quite easily over* looked, however, it may be more wide* spread than is supposed, although ther« are many reliable reports from compete ent observers which show that it; has undoubtedly disappeared in certain' districts. The fern-bird used to be found at Papaitonga Lake, in the vicinity of the late Sir Walter Buller's country; home, but it is not known if it still occurs there or not, while about ten or twelve years ago it was reported as being found as near to Wellington as Gollan'a Valley, near Eastbourne.1 In the Wairarapa district the fern-birO is still found around Wairarapa Lake in restricted localities'. It docs not econi to be increasing in numbers, but, on the contrary, to bo'- decreasing.-, Uiijess active steps are taken this species imiy become extinct.' The most effective way of saving the fern-bird from extinction * appears to be to declare sanctuaries certain islands around the coast inhabited by this bird. Probably the indst suitable for this purpose are the Aldermen Group, in the Bay of Plenty, where the fern-bird is reported to be fairly numerous. Although it may linger on the mainland for some years to c6me it is greatly to be feared that the demands of settlement will eventually deprive this 'bird of it 9 natural' haunts, but on the other hand if effective means are taken to preserve its honta on the Alderman Islands, for instance, there is no reason why it should not continue to thrive in that retreat. The forn-"bird also occurs on Stewart Island and on some of tho islands around its coast. , Many of these are already sanctuaries in name, but - little appears to bo done to ensure that they are recognised as such, and to pro* tect the birds inhabiting them from' man-introduced enemies. A report' of recent date that the little owl, which' is taking a heavy toll of certain native species, has taken up its residence on Stewart Island, raises grave apprehension as to the future welfare of many; of the birds to be found theroi, ; lt goes \ without saying that if Stewart Island and the islands off its coast line' ara to be maintained as sanctuaries such an undesirable alien as the little owl cannot be tolerated. So far, nothing has been done to check its numbers iii. this last stronghold of. native birds. So scarce has tlie fern-bird become ia many districts that a bird-lover is denied the opportunity of studying its habits. The late Sir Walter Bullcr had uurivaljed chances of watching this bird, and in 1882 he described it in tho following terms: "This recluse littlo species is ono of our commonest birds, but is oftencr heard than seen. It fro« qucnts the dense fern of the open country, and the beds of the raupo and other tall vegetation that cover our swamps and low-lying flats. In theso localities it may constantly bo heard, uttering at regular intervals its sharp melancholy call of two notes, 'u-tick, u-tick,' and responsively when thor» are two or more. When the shades of evening are closing in,.this call' is emitted with greater -frequency and energy, and in some dreary solitudes it is almost the only sound that breaks. the oppressive stillness. In the Mana* watu district of the Province of Wellington, where there aro. continuous raupo swamps, covering an area of 50,000 acres or more, I have particularly, remarked this: for, save the peevish cry, of the pukeko, occasionally heard, and the boom of the lonely bittern, the only, animate-sound I could detect was th» monotonous cry of this little bird calling to i its fellows as it threaded its Svajj among the tangled growth of reeds." "Like the other members of tin group to which it belongs," Sir Walter, Buller continued, "it is a lively crea?.. ture, active in all its movements, aud easily attracted by an imitation of its note; but; when alarmed, shy and wary. Its tail, which is long and composed of ten graduated feathers, with disunited filaments, appears to subserve gome useful purpose in the daily, economy^ of the bird; for it is often found very much denuded or worn. When the bird is flying the tail hangs downward. Its, wings are feebly developed, and its powers of flight so weak that, in open land where the fern is stunted, it may easily bo run down and caught with the hand; but in tlio swamps it threads its way.through tho dense reed beds with wonderful celerity, and eludes the most careful pursuit. When surprised or hard-pressed in its - more exposed haunts, it takes wing, but never rises high, and, after a laboured flight of from fifteen.to twenty yards in a direct line, drops under cover again. Its food consists of small in* sects and their larvae, and the minuta seeds of various grasses and other plants."