NATURE NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 57, 4 September 1937, Page 17

NATURE NOTES

(By R. H. D. Stidolph.)

SOME EARLY BREEDERS

THE GREY WARBLER

The warm, sunny weather experi- ■ in the latter part of August Ww sufficient tO| set the grey warbler about its task of building its nest and it was not surprising when, on August 21, the writer found a nest- of this' species' almost completed. It was"plated'ln .% characteristic position^ well towards the top of a hianuka, about "eight: feet fronv the ground. On a casual,, view. :the structure appeared tq.be completed but the female was still engaged in putting on the finishing touches. When building, the warbler takes ho trouble to conceal the site of, its, nest,; , flying' direct to, it, often from a considerable distance, as soon as the .bill is crammed ■ full of material. In L this respect the nest of the warbler is one Of the easiestto find. Although it is often completed by theend of August, it is sometimes left for about two weeks before the first egg is laid. During the building operations, which are carried out solely by the female bird, the male is in an ecstacy of delight, singing with all his might and quivering with emotion.His spring trills are very expressive of his feelings and if he is watched. While he is singing the observer can have no . doubt of the happiness with "which he1 greets the return of more' congenial weather. '. ' ~.; ;'.■ \ ■'. .• ,'■; ■ : ■ ' AUSTRALIAN MAGPIE. :^\i Another bird that has, started to . breed is the introduced Australian magpie, a conspicuous and- well-known bird. It is during the breeding season that the magpie greatly resents, the intrusion of other bh-ds and i even human beings, in. the vicinity- of. its nest. A magpie observed the other day was seen. to make a vicious -snap at a yellow hammer thai came too: close to it, although no harm was (dqn'eV The magpie!-then settled on a bough . of a pine tree and took stock of the surroundings. His mate: was obviously sitting on a nest somewhere near but the problem was to make her disclose her whereabouts. Several- whistles, more or less in imitation 'of the" magpie's notes, completely'deceived ; her . and she sailed down direct from' her nest to the paddock to feed. She was' greeted by a snatch "of melody [by: her mate as she flew by and he quicklyfollowed her. An investigation showed: the nest aboufforty; feet up, • well Out on the end of a branch, ;'in .a Pinus * radiata. The task of climbiiTg was deferred for another^day but it-appeared that the bird was sitting. . When the nest was being viewed from the ground one of the.birds sejttled on thei top, q£ the tree so as to keep a watch on the proceedings. \ :'■'■. \ :•■•■: '.^,: ' ■ •■■ ■ '• ; •,.-.*•'■, .1 " ,■■.*•■: i ■ BIRDS ON A LAKE SHORE. Not very many/birds were "in: r cvi-_ dence on the occasion of ;a' recent Visit to the domain,,at the nqrthern:\endftof Walrarapa Lake. Awajrout on the lake itself was a solitary black swan. Several.black-backed.gulls flew casually from one part of the'lake to:<ariother; . at intervals a black shag appeared, and later a white-throated shag took hasty flight. Several.harriers were;beating about the; rushes;"and swaimp v : vegetation, and. disturbed three1 grey; ducks, which were skulkihg'under spme: ;wilr lows. Suddenly, fiv% pied stilts, flying in a compact body,, passed along the lake shore and continued, on to -the distant side. On the beach a pair 'of pipits were gathering, quite a lot Of insect food, with. brisk runs aridfwalks. Then a pair of banded dotterels .'.arrived on the scene,and prospected,the vicinity with evident success,- care^ . fully.scrutinising the beach for a conr siderable distance until, disturbed by human intruders, they took flight«ahd soon disappeared from view. "Akingfisher piped from a pine tree and followed along a drain, while inthe reeds a pukeko gave vent to its peevish cry. In the ' gqrse a grey warbler/ ran through its merry trill. Skylarks,were numerous and redpolls; were feeding along the edges of-the swamps. ; Other introduced birds included .the .yellow hammer, song thrush, blackbird, and starling. ,-• /■•■ :,■: •■ ..: -•■ ,-.• ,f >■.■.';-■■.: ■■■: ;.. .■■ ■ BIRDS NEA* FAIRLIE. y Writing about the bird-life near : . Fairlie, in the Southlsland, a reader ■' of this column states that there, are surprisingly few song thrushes, though blackbirds. are very numerous. : He has seen as many as ten round his >ird table at one time. , Chaffinches are plentiful and often join the silver-eyes and sparrows at the table.. The natives include the faritails, warblers, yellowbreasted tits, and pukekos. /The latter are fairly tame and a source ol great amusement to the children. In . addition to those mentioned already, the introduced species , ? include ••_ ■ thehedge sparrow, redpoll,.yellow;hammer, greenfinch, ahd. magpies.' The magpies have grown quite tame and frequently come to the bird-table for scraps. As many as four have been seen at the table at one time. In spite of cold weather the birds appeared to have started to breed. On July 28 a neighbour was topping some Oregon pine trees when he was attacked by ci pair of magpies, which had a halffinished nest there. ; Since then the birds have, been seen busily in collecting building material. The warblers are frequently seen, fluttering against the wall of the. house, apparently collecting spiders..,, , , popularising iamb study. The Gould League of Bird Lovers-is a particularly enterprising body.in^Neyr South Wales." Every year.it conducts competitions with a view to popular^ ing the study and protection of birdlife The competitions embrace a wide variety of subjects, such as Oie best original photograph of bird We, the best essay on the most, useful bird of a district, personal observation? of a native bird, best essay on the honeyeaters of a district, bestessay on^six birds observed in the school. playground? best poster or illustrated slogan connected with bird studv^proteg tion, best original drawing from We of the beaks of six native birds,, best original drawing of any naUve and best report on activities of .a Promoting A the success orthe local sanctuary. A special- prize, » offered to any member who can induce a native bird, other than a pet, tec alight and perch on his or Her person. ■ Thi claim must be accompanied by a statement of the incident and must be ?££* by a the addition prizes are offered for tne beS b°rd song and the best^bird poem, contributed by adult members. . The ; scope of these ' itself and there is no doubt that the Sue^is doing! invaluable:work in its particular field. ■