NATURE NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 147, 24 June 1933, Page 17

NATURE NOTES

LAKE ANI.•"•"PASTURE

NOTES ON BIRD-LIFE

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

Now that the cold weather has set in many species of birds find their daily search for food a much more arduous one than in tho flush of the season, when insects and other delicacies are much more numerous. Compelled in many cases to seek food further afield a certain amount of migratory movement is noticeable at this time of the year and in this respect introduced as well as native birds are equally affected. It is in the winter months, for instance, that flocks of yellow-hammers and goldfinches are seen,'sometimes numbering fifty or more, individuals. On a recent visit to,,'the northern end of Wairarapa Lake these two alien species were noticed in ' numbers but there was % vast, difference in their mode of life. The yellow-iianimerg were content to wander in a loose fashion, the members of the flock 'keeping each other in, view; and not making any effort to associate closely. Not so the goldfinches, however. These little birds moved about in a densely packed, formation, the whole flock - keeping together as if their very existence depended on their unity. Another intro- . duccd bird which is now seen ia scattered- Hocks is the redpoll, but it prefers the habits of the yellow-ham-mer rather than those of the goldfinch. All these birds were "spending most of their time on the ground when they were noted at the Lake. The yellowhammers were attracted to the area of burnt gorse and were evidently finding, the ground there a profitable hunting place. Although there are two. lagoons oa the Lake Domain very few native birds were seen. A solitary bittern, disturbed from the far side of a iagoon took flight, and proceeding over a belt of pine trees while on the water itself were . two black swans," which were greatly' perturbed at the human ,in*^ traders, on account of the shooting season having just ended. For the same reason, there was not a' single duck i- sight. Ducks are intelligent birds and at the first sign of the season seek refuge in ' sanctuaries, particularly the older birds, which have the benefit of past experience to enable them to elude destruction. . The cunning of ,th» old duck is well-known and the greater proportion of ducks shot, every year are young ones, which lack the wisdom of their parents. In the willows and mingimingi growing around the shores of the lagoon the grey warbler finds the conditions suitable to its form of life and appears to be . jn. t as well suited there as in bush or plantation. On the chore of Wairarapa Lake one or two pipits or ground larks, as the birds are more familiarly known, were seen, fossicking about the debris in search of insects. Several harriers, New Zealand's common hawks, were flying around over the lagoons, but otherwise no other native birds were seen. In addition! to the introduced species mentioned ■ above . the song thrush and blackbird were much in evidence while the skylark was present in large numbers. One or two magpies occupied the adjacent paddocks.

At one' time the home of the huia and other rare .New Zealand birds, the Bidcford. district, now supports a very sparso native bird > population. Considerable.area. of land' in this .district are clad in small manuka -and on the hillsides are individual trees of large dimensions. It was' theso largo manuka tree's, which were ".mostly, favoured by the huia, according to the statements of some of the more observant of the older residents. There • appears to, be little doubt that .the huia is extinct, and this is not surprising, when its home has literally been swept away. Even so, there may have been some |hope of this bird's survival if it had not been shot at sight by collectors, who undoubtedly have much to answer for the extermination of this- fine bii;d. The most numerous birds in the Bideford district today are such introduced species as the blackbird, song thrush, starling, hedge sparrow, yellow-hammer and house sparrow. Among native species the harrier roams over the hillsides and enjoys a feed on a- rabbit, perhaps kil .ed on the road during th» night by a passing motor-car. The silver-eye is now present in flocks and the grey warbler frequents the manuka. An odd pied fantail is 1 is to be seen and the -pipit likewise turns up now and again; Possibly a tui may be noted, and. a kingfisher seen perched on the telephone wires at the roadside or eJso occupying a prominent perch near a stream.

According to a recent report a blue penguin was killed by a dog in Evans Bay. It ia not uncommon for this bird to be found in' the harbour. Sometimes the) blue penguin can be seen by passengers on the Eastbourne ferry boats and' more rarely it- even approaches imixch closer, to' the wVYrves. Some years ago one was se.m in .the Boat Harbour at Clyde Quay,' and others have. been noted at Petone," Pencarrow and Island; Bay. The blue penguin! is stated. by a reljabl... authority to actually breed within the harbour.! It would not: be surprising if the .ird isl more* numerous than is generally supposed, in spite of the -closi proximity of" its haunts to the city. This species of penguin is quite numerous all 'around the Ne\y. Zealand /coasW