NATURE NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 26, 30 July 1938, Page 17

NATURE NOTES

AN ASSEMBLY OF

STILTS

WINTER FEEDING GROUNDS

(By^R. H. D. Stidolph.) The pied stilt, a bird that never fails to attract attention, firstly, because of its almost ridiculously long legs, and, secondly, because of its yapping note, is fairly numerous in the Wairarapa Lake region. A week or two ago it was the writer's good fortune to see the largest assembly of this bird that he. has ever encountered in the North Island. Parties of the stilt could be seen feeding along the mud flats around. the backwaters of Oroke Lake, where the conditions are apparently ideal for this bird. Two flocks containing at least seventy, birds each, besides other parties further afield, were seen. Most of the bird* were feeding on the edge of the water, while others were enjoying a quiet rest on the mud, all standing with their heads in. the same direction, facing the wind. Now and again a harrier would fly over, and its appearance was immediately the' cause of much clamour, the birds beginning; to "yap" like an excited puppy, and perhaps flying a short distance, to quickly settle down again,- however, as the disturber of their peace passed out of view. In no instance did. a harrier attempt to molest the birds. - • SEASONAL MOVEMENTS. ,: The stilt, like many other New^ealahd birds, undertakes.seasonal •movements which are hot well understood. It is suspected that large numbers leave certain districts in the South Island and spend the winter in the Worth Island, much the same as the wrybill plover, the only bird in the world with its bill turned to one side, passes the winter in the warmer areas of the Auckland district. In the Wellington Province ; the ' pied stilt i» seen throughout the .year, though in the non-breeding season it leaves the river-beds, where it breeds, and move's towards the coastal districts. For instance, in the Wairarapa, it breeds on most of the shingle river-beds of the district, being found there from about August' to January. In the interyen-_ ing months, except as a visitor; it is seldom seen in these localities, though, it is numerous around Wairarapa Lake. The stilt also breeds on the shingle .rivers of ,the Manawatu and Rangitikei districts,; besides on the beach at the mouths of rivers and. at the northern end of Kapiti Island, a bird sanctuary. Although at one time the black silt was not uncommon in the Wellington Province, it • is. now many.years since a bird of this species has been seen. ; Some considerable, time age the writer saw. the skin;, of one,that bad been shot on Wairarapa .Lake. \- '■ ■' ' -,-. ■' ■■ ," ■".. '■•... '~.?';'■:■'*;', OYSTER CATCHERS At PETONE. A correspondent living,: in Petone wrote • recently aboutisome birds she had seen on the beach near the mouth of the Hutt River. From the description supplied, they /to have been oyster- catchers: He ; reported that he saw about /a -dozen in .the party, all except one having a black plumage and orange; bills and feet. These would probably ■be - the black' oyster catcher or redbill, as some people prefer to call this species. The single bird that differed from the black-plumaged. 1 ones had a white breast. This was probably ; the pied oyster catcher, a bird of similar habits to the other and often seen in /its company. This is not; the first occasion that the qysier- catcher, has t been; seen at. the moiith of : |he; Hutt Riyer.'Some years agot^e" latei^^-?^ I^^ecto*, who lived at Poiii^tfHowardj reported its occurrence ,in .the : sattie locality, and by the aid of a'powerful telescope he was able to watch the birds from his residence. Both} species iihay also be encountered: 'on the coast near Wellington Harbipur, in such localities as Baring Head, or the mopth of the Karori Stream and no doyb't in cither places as well. It is riot knp*a whether either species. breeds nesir Wellington. » ;'-; :. "^ ♦■: ~Y VISIT BY KINGFISHER. '£• • The appearance' of- a kingfisher ,mi the; grounds t ot.k college; in , Wellington is the subject pf ja jiote sent by Hallam Secker,r of Campbell^ Street* Karori, bne- :of- -the- scholars' of the college.: The- bird perched upon ths crossbar, of goal-posts Yon /the playing field," "but for some reason^* this correspondent- writes* "it ihstantljr quitted its perch? arich dropped iti; f: jaxi oblique line to the ground; inhere: it moved round, half walking rdnd half flying, in circles." The kingfisher then returned to the cross-bar; 'an<l after -remaining -there- for about three m ji?utes flew to* the .opposite posts janjd thence to some'-trees^ Judging by^the actions of this kingfisher when it flew ; to the ground, it v/as catching, an insect. .It is the invariable praeiicie of this species; to seize"" il;s prey and then return .to ats perch L i 6 swallow it. Goal-posts, "incidentally, are fay"ourite perches for the kingfisher in the winter months. Taking up a station on the cross-bar the birjcl secures a commanding .view- of r "the neighbourhood^ and 'the least sign./of a movemjsnt,; eyen as far as fifty'K or sixty feet away, is 'noticed by ttie kingfisher, which, immediately flies down to capture a worm or insect as the i case might , be.. Anything that wriggles' does not come amiss to >:thi» bird. '■ •• ..- v .r.:;, :;..■?-.;' ■■■/":';\yf ' BIRDS IN WILTON'S BUSH, ! In addition to providing a "living plant museum," Wilton's Bush is also capable of -development as a bird sanctuary, especially if food-bearing trees and shrubs are planted in the reserve. As" it is, several' kinds of native birds are,usually to.be seen in Wilton's Bush. , The turis often t6 be observed enjoying *life among ; tl^e native vegetation, especially when- the rewarewa is in bloom. There' are quite a number of, these trees in.the reserve.'. The pied fantail, of course, is quite at home, fussing about the frees near the stream and making aerial excursions to capture insects. As cheery as it is in, other places, the grey warbler trills its merry notes "and never fails to charm the listener. How many people have heard its notes and yet are hot acquainted with the bird itself. The silver-eye, which in winter associates in flocks; is also usually to be seen in the reserve. Other species which may be met -with are the kingfisher and the shining cuckoo,- two of the most beautiful birds found in New ■Zealand. The pert little tomtit, a study in black and white, is-occasion-ally seen, and at night the morepork announces its presence to all ,aad sundry. Of tTourse, there is a good representation of introduced birds of many* species. .-*"' ■. .\,