NATURE NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 111, 6 November 1937, Page 17

NATURE NOTES

BIRD LIFE ON A SPIT

THE CASPIAN TERN

(By R. H. D. Stldolph.)

A bird-lover usually finds: plenty of interest in a sand-spit at this time of the year. A visit to an extensive: spit in the Wellington district a few days ago showed that several; kinds of shore birds were present, at least three of which were breeding. > The. most notable of the breeding species was the Caspian tern, the largest member, of this family found in New Zealand. It derives its name |rom the fact that it was discovered.on the Caspian Sea in the latter part of the eighteenth century, and later investigations have shown that it enjoys a particularly wide distribution, being found in manypart3 of Europe, Asia, the Malay Peninsula, North America, Africa, Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. In this country it is generally distributed "around the coast, though occasionally it may be seen a fair distance from -the sea; following the course of the ■; larger rivers. The Caspian tern, ''although it breeds in small colonies, is inclined to be more solitary in its habits than most birds of.this family,, and-in the autumn and winter months is, to be seen singly or perhaps not more than two or three on the same" stretch' of beach. It is usually to be observed in Wellington Harbour. A SILENT BIRD. The Caspian tern is about the size of the familiar black-backed gull, and may be readily distinguished, by. its generally white plumage, pale grey on the upper parts with the wing tips darker, black crown, and fairly large red bill. In flight, the bill is usually carried pointed downwards. ; Its large size prevents confusion with any other kind of tern found in New Zealand waters. When at rest, it has a rather jungainly appearance, owing to the very small legs and feet, which are out of all proportion to Jhe size of the bird. Except during the breeding season it is a silent bird, seldom giving utterance to any note, though sometimes it may be heard to "mew" when, on the wing. When this bird is disturbed at its breeding haunts, however,,it circles overhead and gives vent..to' its feelings with a,harsh grating call, and at other times, utters a;. high-pitched whistle, the latter apparently being a call to the young, birds. .- On the whole, the Caspian tern has little to say except when angry or aririoyed, and in this respect contrasts strongly with the smaller and much better known whitefronted tern, which incessantly utters a sharp "kek" while engaged iri fishing. Both the Caspian and. whitefronted species drop into the water to catch small fish s>vimming near the surface. .':' ''. . ' : ;' h '.'':. ■ ."• '.. ■■; . ' .asmple-'-nSst.",'.: ■': ;. The Caspian tern, apparently does not believe in "exerting itself jri making a nest. A mere hollow in the sand is sufficient to meet its requirements, probably only a matter of a few minutes' work. The colony inspected the other day was located on the highest portion'of. the spit, well beyond the highwater mark, and in an area riot more than fifty feet square there were ten "nests," six of which contained two eggs each and the remaining four one egg each. Twp appears -to be the usual number in. a • e.lutch.i s The. eggs vary considerably in colour, ranging from an almost, white to. very, pale, green or even a deep stohe,v spotted and blotched with deep brown arid a few underlying marks of mauve. Some, of the "nests" were 'not ni&re 'than' six feet apart. The adult birds, although they showed signs of resentment at the approach of human intruders, were content to keep a safe distance overhead. In, similar circumstances, the white-fronted tern, would have shown much greater concern and would haya swooped dangerously near to- the visi« tors in an effort-to -intimidate them. Size in the bird world is not always an indication of valour, .and many of th« srhaller species are far braver than others more than twice their size. :.. . A SCENE OF BEAUTY.' : Resting iri the same area as that in which the Caspian tern'had •their nests were, about a hundred white-fronted terns! They" appeared to be standing right around the sitting birds. When the site was approached the whitefronted ternsrbse in one* compact flock and hovered over the area, presenting one of the most beautiful sights imaginable; the light diffusing the appearance of the wing and tail feathers so as to give the birds a.fairy-like appearance. So intent was the writer in feasting his eyes on the beauty of the scene that all thoughts of a photograph were forgotten, only to realise later what an admirable opportunity; had been lost. The association of the smaller tern with the Caspian suggests that it, too; has ideas of breeding in the locality; and.lt will be; interesting fo see if another visit in a week or. two shows thatthis species is. also nesting in company with the Caspian tern. Not ■ very far from the tern colony was a party of about two dozen red-billed gulls, no doubt on the watch for an unguarded egg, for these , birds ara inveterate plunderers when-vthey• get the chance. In fact,.thei discovery of a Caspian- tern's, egg lying; -on the shingle,, with' one side pecked in-and the contents removed, indicated that a successful raid had already been made. "a gull colony. ' Further along the spit a considerable number of black-backed gulls were pr*. paring their nests for eggs.. Everywhere the nests had been reliiied and renovated with, fresh material, though in only three cases were eggs in evidence, one egg being noted in each of -three nests. The banded dotterel, too, was present in fair numbers, and [judging by its actions, was also breeding. Just off the. shore there was a shoal of small fish and gulls and terns were there enjoying a. feast. Both kinds, of terns and'the two species of gulls were all busy in dipping into the water and snapping up the small fry, while others picked up a few that were washed up on the beach. A black shag, too, was likewise profiting by the abundance of fish, and was diving from the surface of the water to secure, its prey. Suspicious of man, it quickly took to flight at the first sight of the intruders and soon disappeared inland. Washed upon the beach.was a specimen of the giant petrel and quite close to it a redbilled gull, but these were all th« flotsam and jetsam of bird-life to b« seen in the whole stretch traversed, Frequently, the ocean beach yields a rich harvest of interesting specimens.

ENGAGEMENTS. * HALL—RUDKIN. The .engagement is announced of Dulcie, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Rudkin, Lyall Bay, to Stephen Leedham, eldest son of Mrs. and the late Mr. S. L. Hall. Kilbirnie. SMITH-SCHMIDT. The engagement is announced of Elo, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Schmidt, of Lower Hutt (formerly of Hawera). to Harry Percival, twin ■ son of Mrs. L. Smith and the late Mr. P. S. Smith, of Northland, Wellington. THYNE—TUNZELMAN. , The engajgement, is announced of Thelma Frances, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. "Victor Tunzelman, Karori. Wel- : lington, to Leslie Cameron, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Thyne, Invercargill BILBY—MACLEOD. : The engagement is announced of Jessmay, younger daughter" of Mr. and Mrs. D. MacLeod, Wellington, to James William, youngest son of Mrs. ■ and the late Mr. C. W. Bilby, also of Wellington. ' NICOIi-r-COLPUS. The engagement is • announced of Jean. Amy, second daughter of-Mrs. A. Colpus and the late Mr. Harry Colpus, Welltegt°rii to Leslie Haig, only son of Mr. and Mrs. J.- S. Nicol, Melrose. • POWELL—PETHERAM. The engagement is announced of Ida Gladys, youngest daughter of the late Mr. and itrs. R. J. Petheram. Essex, ' England, to Justinian John Rivera, elder son of ,Mr. and Mrs. B. W. ■ Powell, Daniell Street, Wellington. MACKAY—SUTHERLAND. The engagement is announced of Jean Constance, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. Sutherland, "Homewood,' Karori, to Norman 'Beay, youngest son of Mr. and the late Mrs. John Mackay, Newstead, Hamilton. AMES-PEARCE. The engagements announced of Sybil Grace, elder • daughter of Mrs. > J. Orr, New Plymouth, and the late Mr. W. T. Pearce,-to James Arthur, eldest' son of Mr. J. J. Ames and the ," late, Mrs. Ames, Wellington. BAKER-GODFREY." The engagement. i;s announced of Joan Constance, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. N. Godfrey, Kilbirnie, to Dunnill Charjes, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs! C. M. Baker, of Eastbourne. SPRING—McADAM. The engagement,) is announced of Esther, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. McAdam, ■Mijramar, to Robert Charles, only son of Mr. and Mrs. C. . H. Spring. Mount Pleasant. . MAWHINEY—KNIGHT. The engagement is announced of Samuel Reginald Mawhiney, Oamaru (late of Wellington), younger son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Mawhiney, Takapuna, Auckland, to Joy Mihill Elizabeth Aitkin, only daughter of Mrs. E. Knight, Oriental Bay, Wellington. TURNBULL—PEARSON. The engagement is announced of Joy, youngest daughter of Mrs. Pearson, ' The Terrace, and the late Mr. Robert Pearson, of Wellington, to. Henry Leyden (Dick), youngest son of Mr. • md Mrs. William Turnbull, of Hobson ttreet.