NATURE NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 2, 2 July 1938, Page 17

NATURE NOTES

BIRDS ON THF HARBOUR

OBSERVATIONS AT PORIRUA

(By R. H. D. Stidolph.)

Porirua Harbour is still the favourite haunt of many native birds, besides some introduced ones. The mud-fiats there are the attraction, as there is always a certain amount of food to ba gathered for the seeking. The muchmaligned black shag is always to be seen, either engaged in fishing or, resting on some snag, perhaps with the wings outstretched to dry in the sun. In a locality such as Porirua Harbour the shag spends much of its time exploring the shallow reaches of the inlet.. It invariably dines from tha surface of the water, in marked contrast to the gannet, which plunges headlong into the water from above to secure its prey. Other birds which are usually to be found on Porirua Harbour are the two common gulls, the large black-backed species and tha smaller red-billed gull. At Plimmerton there is a party of the latter species that readily feed from a person'^ hands. The birds are so tame and confident that they pick up food right at a person's feet, more lika barn-yard fowls than gulls. The blackbacked gull is not so trusting and always keeps its distance. •■••. . • . • a .--i CRABS AS FOOD. " The kingfisher finds the shores of Porirua Harbour a happy hunting ground. Crabs are this bird's special delicacy in this locality and it is not unusual to see a kingfisher in a tree administering the death blows to its captive, preparatory to swallowing it, by vigorously knocking it on a bough, first on one side and then tha other, until the crab is reduced .to a shape convenient for an easy passage down the bird's throat. Even so, occasionally the swallowing proves a diffi«> cult and slow process. Another inhabitant of Porirua Harbour, at any, rate in the non-breeding season, is the" Caspian tern, New Zealand's largest tern, in size almost the equaj of tha black-backed gull. The Caspian tera is distributed all around the New Zealand coast, though not in great numbers. It is a- bird of almost cosmopolitan distribution. Usually to be seen on the harbour is the blue heron, which also finds the conditions to its liking. As is the case with other, species, the . blue heron has become accustomed to the invasion of trains and motor vehicles in the midst of its haunts and in spite of the hurryskurry of: modern life it remains to* seek, its food in its ancestral home. AM long as the mud-flats remain all theat birds should continue to live in the locality. ; A HARRIER HARRIED. When travelling along the shores of Porirua Harbour the other day the writer's attention was attracted by tha actions of a harrier and several other, birds. Apparently the harrier sought to shelter on a small exposed snag well out in the water and other birds in the neighbourhood objected to the hawk's presence. Two or three red-, billed gulls, as. many black-backed, and two Caspian terns all took part in the chase. Each bird in turn swooped down towards the harrier, to intimidate it but the hawk,merely dropped in altitude.and appeared to be largely; unconcerned at the reception given td it. The harrier continued to soar round and at length ~ actually settled on ita desiredV perch.:; The other birds, however, could not, allow such an invasion' of what,was evidently regarded as their own property and several immediately set about to oust it from iti perch/ Tfiis was soon accomplished, the harrier taking flight again after, but a moment's respite. It refused to leave the locality and circled round as before, with the other birds in pursuit. As these manoeuvres seemed likely to continue for some time tha. birds were left at their little game. :■-.'•• ':" ."♦'.■ :'■'■' •V ' ''■'.■•■. " ,•■ •> AUSTRALIAN VISITOR. A specimen of the Australian spur* winged plover, which was shot recently; at Lake Eltesmere in mistake for af duck, makes the fourth record of this species in New Zealand. This bird was first recorded as long ago as 1886, when one was secured in a field at Kai-iwi, near Wanganui; , It was cap-, tured alive but refused to eat in a state of captivity and died a few days later. Another bird, believed to be this species, was seen on the Hokotika River in 1892. In later years a further! member of this species was seen in New Zealand, but the one shot at Lake Ellesmere is actually only the second specimen to be taken in the Dominion. It is1 fairly common in many parts of Australia, frequenting the edges of creeks and swamps, in which localities it obtains the greater part of its food, It is often of some annoyance to the sportsman, as it has a habit of suddenly flying up In front of him and by giving a succession of harsh call notes effectively, warns all ducks and teal in the neighbourhood. It is stated that many a wild duck has escaped by, taking heed of the cry of this plovea The spur-winged plover, besides having a rather curious growth of wattles below the'eyes, has a sharp thorn-lika projection on the point of the elbo^e on the wing; in other words, a spue, • • T * * KUMERA PITS. A letter published in this column recently from Mr. H. King, of Takaka, regarding the finding in the Taranaki district many years ago of a number; of saucer-shaped holes in the ground containing the bones of native birds was referred.to Mr, W. W. Smith, of New Plymouth. Mr. Smith states that the holes were undoubtedly ]§umera pits, in which the Maoris annually stored the kumera, their chief vegetable food, for winter use. "In' and around all old pas in'Taranaki,'* writes Mr. Smith, "there are generally many circular depressions of various sizes and depths, which were formerly, Maori kumera pits. In several of the better preserved of these old-time forts the kumera pits remain intact. Their, average size: is five feet deep, with an opening of eighteen inches at the base. Some perfect examples of their structure and form may be seen at the picturesque and well-preserved Oakura pa, situated two miles up the Oakura Rnver from the village, also at Okoki pa, near Urenui, and on Motu Mahanga Island, near New Plymouth harbour. In derelict pas the bones of kiwi, weka, and other birds have occasion* ally been found in the open kusnsr? pits."