NATURE NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1937, Page 9

NATURE NOTES

A SECOND TRAGEDY

YOUNG CUCKOO THE VICTIM

(By K. H. D. Stidolph.)

The young shining cuckoo which the writer observed in the nest of a grey, warbler, and which has been the subject of comment for the past two weeks • in these notes, was destined never to reach maturity, and the recording of , further events was cut short. Another, visit to the nest showed that the' cuckoo had vanished, nor were the adult warblers to be seen anywhere in the vicinity. It was far too soon for the cuckoo to leave the nest on its own volition, and a more careful examination was made. The nest was within two or three inches of the main stem of the manuka in which it was placed, with the entrance hole on the far side. It was evident that a marauder, a rat or a stoat, had seized the young cuckoo, as a hole was found in the back of the nest near the stem of the tree, and through this hole the bird had been carried away. The writer has on many occasions found the nest of the warbler torn asunder, especially in areas in which it is known that stoats a/e present. Eats, also, are very destructive among our bird-life, and : the wonder 53 that more nests are not robbed of their contents. Of course, it is an impossibility that every egg should hatch and every young bird should reach maturity. Nature has. to provide for a big wastage and food has to be obtained by many animals."

NESTING SITES. It appears to be largely a matter of good fortune whether a warbler, and other species as well, are able to rear a brood. The situation of the nest seems to have little influence on the fate of the contents. For instance, many raided nests of the warbler have been seen, at heights of anything up to twelve or fourteen feet from the ground, almost at the top of the bushes in which they were placed. On the other hand, another bird will build a nest low down, only three feet off the ground and within reach of every rat, stoat, weasel, or ferret in the' locality, and will yet succeed in rearing. the brood. The writer knows of one;pair of warblers that built in such a place this season and reared three young. At the present time this pair of birds has another nest in an almost identical situation and the hen bird is sitting on three eggs. Certain pairs of birds appear to favour a particular place for their nests. The writer knows of many pairs of warblers, for instance, that invariably build at about five or six feet from the ground, whereas other pairs always have their nest at least twelve feet. up. In both cases there has been ample choice of trees, and the nest could have beea built at any height thought desirable.

BLOODTHIRSTY STOAT. The stoat, although such a blood- -- thirsty little animal, is a rather pretty " creature, with its rich mahogany ' coloured back and black-tipped bushy, tail. When walking along a track up one of the streams of the Tararua foot- - hills the other day the writer, was interested in the movements of a stoat which showed no signs of fear. The '-" presence of a family party of pipits seemed to engage its attention more ~ than anything else, and so intent was r it in watching the birds that it wasalmost oblivious of the human visitors. ' The pipits were in a state of consternation. Some years ago in another" "< part of the district a stoat was seen on a road within a few feet of a pipit, "■ but neither the animal nor the appeared to show the least interest in each other's movements. In spite of statements to the contrary, the stoat is often seen abroad during the day, and occasionally it falls a victim to the harrier. In the destruction of this introduced pest the harrier is performing a valuable servicedn keeping down the numbers of this undesirable animaL No doubt the weasel and the ferret are , also seized by the hawk at times, but these animals do not seem to be nearly; "■ as numerous as the stoat.

THE PEET CHAFFINCH. The pipit and the harrier were the .. only two native birds in evidence along the tram track before the bush was reached. Several introduced species, however, were well represented, •; especially the chaffinch. This pretty bird must be one of the most numerous species in New Zealand. It is met" with wherever there is any vegetation, from the sea shore to the heart .. of the forest, and it is equally at home, in town gardens and parks. Although the chaffinch is such a common bird, - many people seem to be in doubt as to its identity. It is about the same size as a sparrow. The most conspicuous features of its plumage are the white markings on the wings and chestnut breast, the male bird being much mora distinctly marked than the female. It .. has a peculiar gait, neither a hop nor a walk, and progresses on the ground ' by dainty little movements that give the impression that its feet are very tender. The nest of the arouses admiration from all who see it, as it is an exquisite piece of workmanship, the finished structure usually -.. blending so admirably with its sur- . roundings that it takes a keen eye to ... find it. The successful camouflage is largely achieved by the pieces of lichen with which the chaffinch decorates the exterior of its nest. MILLING IN TARARUAS. Further along the same track, but in the-bush itself, from which the large trees are now being removed, native .. birds are not very numerous. A tui . may be seen at intervals, but there are vj far more of these birds' in the settled areas. An odd bell-bird may also be seen or its notes heard in the dis- .'.. tance. The tomtit is another species . that is rather scarce, and the tiny rifle-.. man is not very common. The lively notes of the whitehead may be heard . in the tree tops, and if one is fortunate . the bird itself may be seen. A more common bird, the familiar pied fantail; is, of course, an inhabitant of the area, and the übiquitous silver-eye is there, as it is elsewhere. The removal of the large berry-bearing trees may affect the food supply of the pigeon and other . ■ species. Although the area concerned is State Forest and is on the foothills of the Tararuas, it was only recently opened up for milling, and it appears that if certain areas of these ranges—those which are popular picnic resorts and which have every claim to be preserved intact for scenery— are to escape the destruction wrought by the sawmiller, a portion of these ranges at least should be made subject to the provisions of the Scenery Preservation Act. Other v/ise, sooner m later, these areas will be despoiled.