NATURE NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 134, 8 June 1935, Page 17

NATURE NOTES

MOVEMENTS OF BIEDS

NATIVE AND INTRODUCED

(By K. H. D. Stidolph, BJ^C.".v

Now that the colder months of the year are at hand -the silver-eye has assembled in flocks, some of fairly large size, and Wanders about the countryside in a free and easy life of adventure. It is not an easy life, however, as food is not over-plentiful during this period, and maybe some days the little bird's hunger is not entirely appeased. Thus assembled in flocks, the Silver-eye seems to have no fixed destination, but simply passes the. day wherever its wings or. its inclination take it. Sometimes, when a cold southerly blast makes the weather conditions in the open most atrocious and .uncpmfortable even for a being so.' full of energy the silver-eye seeks the shelter of some vegetation, where there, is at least some protection.from the fury of the storm. In such places: it jhay some-" times be seen,; quietly, sitting .oh a branch or stem, engagedCih preening its feathers and. removing all traces of disfigurement caused' by..its.;tenipestuous journey, against snow, sleet, and a biting wind. The greatest terror of the silver-eye is a severe frost. Instances are oh record in which '. large numbers of this bird have perished in a heavy frost, being actually frozen to death. — .. >. ;

Movements are apparent among other species at this time of,the year." The tui, or, as some people prefer to call it, the parson bird, in allusion /to its tuft of white feathers on its throat and its suggestion of a clerical collar, also finds it convenient to forsake its more remote haunts and pay a visit to the gardens of towns and cities.. It has learnt that many of these gardens provide delicacies that.were .unknown before the colonisation of the country, and it is not surprising; that,.this information has been ■'. passed. around and large numbers of this bird, now Ivisit town gardens for food during; the winter months. Certain species .'of "eu'calypts that flower: during this period are very popular, and not withput reason, as the,blobrns contain luscious.nectar that" the bird feasts' . upbnV^trirthe full. There is no surer way of attracting the tui than by planting the winter-flower-ing eucalypts. The writer has in mind a solitary gum in a small garden in the midst of a thickly : populated area that is. visited regularly every, year; by two or three tuis. .It.isi no effcwt to the tui to fly several i miles Jto some -favourite feeding tree or locality:

In some-districts the bell-bird ■ also pays a pilgrimage to gardens during the winter. There seems-• to: be no doubt that this- charming native' bird is increasing in numbers and extend--ing its range into districts from which it had disappeared: many years'ago. This is pleasing news, as it is quite possible that before long the bell-bird will be a permanent; resident of. areas formerly forsaken" by it. There is still considerable « confusion in the minds of some people as to the identity of the bell-bird and the : tui. The latter is a ifluch larger bird, always distinguished by the white tuft of. feathers on the throat, whereas the bell-bird has no such "ornament. Among the; many Maori names for the.bell-bird is makomako, which has been .corrupted into "mocker-mocker," and this into "mocker," giving rise to the belief that the bell-bird is, a ; mimic. : The bellbird does not appear to ; be.possessed with,vany ; ; powers of■mimicryirbufcthe tui is 'wellknown as being "able .to imitate tolerably well quite; a number of sounds besides the notes of other birds. Further confusion is added to the identity of the bell-bird .by reason of its common name ; being sometimes applied to the native crow, the notes of which are more organ-like than bell-like.

Certain species of introduced birds also migrate during the winter months, one of the most notable being the yellow hammer. At the present time this attractive bird has made ite appearance in town gardens, in which it is seldom if ever seen in the breeding season, when it resorts to country districts to rear its family. It: collects in flocks in the autumn and winter and leads a roving life much like-the silvereye, though the yellow hammer is content , withr fossicking - about grasslands instead- of the bushes. Sometimes the flocks assume large proportions, and included in thel personnel are numerous sparrows; In this association the yellow .hammer pass«is ; a nomadic life, spending most time where food is in abundance and: continuing;on its journey as soon as th 6 supply diminishes. According to some observers the cirl buiitingi ■ a closely-related species, also associates with the yellow hammer- at this time of the year. Its main mark of distinction is a black bib on its throat, but otherwise it is very much like the yellow hammer, or..ammer, a* this bird should strictly be called.

There is plenty of scope for investigation in New Zealand into the seasonal movements of birds, both introduced and native.. Far more.' birds xnoye about at certain times of the year than is generally supposed. One of the most interesting problems awaiting solution is that. surrounding the moyeiittents o£ the banded dotterel, which, although found in Australia and Tasmania, has never been known to breed there. It-i3 a common breeding species in all parts of New Zealand, and is suspected of crossingl the Tasman Sea. In New Zealand it shows considerable- migratory movements, which have not been pro. perly traced. In the Wellington district, for instance, it, is nearly always to be found on the coast, but. in the breeding season numbers of ;Jthjs ; bird take up. their residence on the shingle river beds to rear their young, departing again about February. .Then, sometimes, a flock of about two birds will make an appearance for a few days and just as suddenly ; leave again. The banded dotterel certainly provides an absorbing study for those interested in migration.