NATURE NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 145, 16 December 1933, Page 17

NATURE NOTES

i ■ BIRDS ON A RIVER-BANK

A FAVOURED LOCALITY

(By E. H. D. Stidolph, R.A.0.U.) A favourite resort for many native and introduced birds is the bank of a stream or river, where trees and shrubs afford a happy hunting ground and provide suitable nesting sites. An examination of a small stretch of riverbank the other day showed that seve* ral species were breeding in the area, which was well clothed in native vegetation, mostly small shrubs such as the broom (Carmichaelia), manuka, tutu, tarata, matipo, mahoe, and a few small beech trees of moderate proportions. There was also a liberal growth of bracken in places. The manuka grew fairly thick on the top of the bank. In one of these trees, semipendulous from a stem hear the main branch, hung a grey warbler's nest, with a neat little porch over the entrance hole. It was only six feet from the ground and had only just been vacated by its occupants. A chain or two away a pair of warblers were very busy searching the foliage for caterpillars and there was reason for their activities, for there were four little birds fluttering about calling for food. These, apparently, had been the occupants of the nest noted above. Fortunately foV the young warblers, the vigilant eye of the shining cuckoo had failed to discover this nest, and its owners were not victimised nor the youngsters sacrificed so that another cuckoo should be reared by foster parents. The shining cuckoo appears to be as numerous as usual this year and occurs in all suitable localities, even in town gardens. One o t f its fayourite«fcaunts is the willow-lined banks of the river, where it is always to b« heard and sometimes seen.

An attractive introduced bird/the redpoll, was also much in evidence, flying overhead uttering its well-known jingling notes. The redpoll is one of the more desirable of the alien birds now resident in New Zealand, and is fairly well represented, although it does not show a great liking to the' more closely settled districts. Biverbed wastes or pastoral lands are more suitable for its habits and in these types of country it leads a happy and carefree life. The redpoll is related to a certain degree to the familiar goldfinch and is often confused with the linnet, a bird of somewhat similar habits and appearance. The redpoll can always be recognised, however, by a small black mark on the throat, immediately under the bill. Itbuilds a dainty little nest. One seen on the bank of tho river referred to above was located in. a tutu bush, about six feet from the ground. The cup waslined with down resembling that of the thistle, apparently gathered from the heads of an everlasting flower which grows profusely on the banks of the river. The redpoll is not such an. early breeder as many other introduced birds and this particular nest had only one1 egg, pale blue-green with reddish-brown spots, particularly at the larger end. The anxiety of the parent birds was manifest^ both the male and female perching nearby and uttering pleading .notes. A patch of thistles not i far from the river proved an irresistible attraction for two or three pairs of ■ goldfinches and these gaily-coloured birds looked very pretty as they flitted from one thistle to another and diligently picked the heads for seeds.

Another introduced; bird' which far* ours this particular area is the chaffinch, a rather brightly^-attired species, usually held in'geneTa,l favour by the public at large,. The chaffinch may often be seen catching insects in tho air. Frequently it takes up &■ stand on the rocks of a river-bed, and every now and again may be seen to suddenly fly almost vertically into the air and down again. The same procedure is adopted when the bird is perched in a tree, a sudden excursion being made in a similar manner to seize an insect overhead. One nest of the chaffinch, was found in. a native- broom (Carmichaelia), a rather unusual shrub in which to find a nest. It was about five feet' from the ground. Near at hand, another nest of this species was observed in a manuka, about six ifeet up. It contained four eggs, of typical colour, the whole surface being clouded with reddish purple and having at the larger end a few conspicuous,, blotches of deep red. The nest itself was placed in the usual kind of situation selected by the chaffinch, in a fork close to the main stem of tho shrub. It was, as is invariably the case, a model of neatness and comfort. Tho chaffinch is the builder of one of the most beautiful nests in bird-land, a, rather small cup-shaped. structure welded together as if of felt and the cup lined with liair and feathers or some other appropriate material. It is the outside decoration of the chaffinch's nest, however, that always • evokes admiration, as it is richly adorned with pieces of lichen, so that it merges into it 3 surroundings most, admirably. It i# a perfect example of protective colouration. • \. ■

The little silver-eye also leads a happy, life in congenial surroundings. Several pairs, of these birds were seen flying about the trees, and judging by their antics and notes they were breeding in the vicinity. Unfortunately, not a single fantail was seen or heard. This charming native, bird is decidedly scarce n many parts of the district, and many, days can pass without any sign.of this bird being seen. The severe snowstorm of 1932 caused a heavy mortality amongst this bird in. portions of the Wairarapa district, and the area has not yet been repopulated.