NATURE NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 65, 16 March 1940, Page 11

NATURE NOTES

ADAPTABLE BIRDS

SURVIVAL IN FARM AREAS

(By R. H. D. Stidolph.)

There is no doubt that the destruction of a bird's natural home is the prime factor in the disappearance of many of our native species. This result is a natural consequence in the case of birds that are unable to adapt themselves to new surroundings. On the other hand, adaptable species are able to thrive in spite of the fact that forests have been levelled and swamps, drained, indications'.of how certain species are able to hold on in the midst of farming areas have been noticed by the writer on several occasions during the past few days. For instance, a week or so ago a visit was paid to a remnant of native forest used as a shelter bush on a Wairarapa farm, many miles removed from any extensive forested area. The ,forest in question consists principally of tawa, which was laden with berries. In full view of a party of.visitors a native pigeon settled on the topmost branches of a tawa" and eagerly devoured a number of berries, a dozen of;which disappeared. in about two minutes. The native pigeon is to be met with in many' other farming districts, though it is feared that on some occasions it is illegally shot by pot-hunt-ers. Its presence in such areas, however, shows that it is able to survive if it receives - fair treatment. and H some remnants of bush remain. WHITEHEAD SURVIVES. In a portion of the extensive East Coast district, from extensive areas of which the forest is a thing of the past, certain bush birds still exist on farm properties where some ;pf the natural vegetation has been allowed to remain. It is pleasing to find the whitehead still present on private property in the district mentioned.. In one particular locality, in which some noble beech trees and .other,; growth remain over an area of a hundred or two acres, the whitehead enlivens J;he forest with its bright and many "calls. • When this species was seen the,other day it was associating in flocks, which kept to \ the very tops of the tallest trees and on that account were difficult to observe, though the notes were heard constantly. The whitehead, in this instance, survives in an area otherwise almost denuded of forest growth, which goes to show that if the habitat is preserved, at least in. ■ some cases our native birds can survive. So' far there does not' appear to-be any inclination on-the part of the whitehead to colonise extensive planatations of exotics,' though, as it is' ani insect-eater, there':is no' apparent reason why it should not,be able to do so. It is still fairly numerous _- in the large forest reserves in the North Island south of Auckland but it appears to: have died.' out from the North, Auckland Peninsula. THE TINY WHITEHEAD. The. whitehead shares the farm area mentioned above with another- native, the rifleman, which is New Zealand's smallest bird. This fussy little feathered gem leads a vivacious life, no matter where it is, and it is always a pleasure to meet it, especially Where it survives under conditions such as those described. In the Wellington district, however, it keeps pretty well to native vegetation, though in Tara- \ naki and. in parts of Canterbury it is to be seen in hedgerows and gardens. There is every reason to hope that, it'will survive in'such areas and, if it were possible, in future years, to provide more adequate shelter for stock on many farm properties,*fthat it will extend its present range. It is . an insect-eater, like the whitehead, \ and for that reason,' as long as'there are sufficient trees, whether native or introduced, to provide it with a home and food, it should not find it difficult to survive. , The rifleman is, a\ bird that could well be more common'than it is, as it- is one of the most valuable that this country posesses. ~ Indidentally, it is well distributed in forest areas, though, like the whitehead, it is not found north of Auckland city.- , It is also found in the South Island, . but the whitehead is an exclusive .North Island possession. THE DIMINISHING DUCK. • Everyone knows that the grey ; duck is ■ rapidly,diminishing in. numbers because of the'draining of lagoons^ lakes, and swamps. New Zealand may yet live to see the day when it will be found to be expedient., as the United States of America has, to restore some of its swamp areas. If there were sufficient breeding and feeding areas preserved for the benefit of-wild; fowl, there would be,no reason, to fear any further diminution of the duck population, provided shooting was not allowed to overtake the duck's breeding; quota. No attempt is. made, however, to- save the haunts of the duck and if the present lack of policy continues a few years longer, shooting of the grey and other species of duck will be almost a thing of the past. In this respect, the position in New Zealand differs in no way from that in other countries. The grey duck is an adaptable bird and if-it were igiveh 1 ay sporting chance, it would survive but it cannot do so if its home is destroyed. As an instance in point, in, farming areas where dams have been constructed to supply water for stock, the.grey duck is to be found and in the more favourable areas of this kind, where there is suit^ able cover, it actually breeds in these man 7 made surroundings. These areas are not sufficient, however, to; maintain the duck at its former numbers. WORKING AGAINST NATURE. " Another handsome bird of the.countryside, the pukeko, is also an adaptable bird and is able to glean a living on farm, properties, so long as there is. an area of low-lying or boggy land, though, of course, it revels in a real swamp. A year or two ago, the pukeko was quite numerous in certain localities but following on it being placed on the shooting test, even though for a short season only, it appears to have diminished in numbers. In1 "many places, upon the approach of a human intruder, it quickly seeks cover and\ cowers down behind the rushes in an attempt to avoid being seen, whereas formerly, emboldened by many,years of protection, it displayed confidence in human beings and hardly trouble^ to walk out of their way. Confidence ' of that kind is grossly misplaced aj man the destroyer, seeing so many is these handsome birds beautifying the countryside,. readily found excuses to destroy them. Is it any wonder that visitors to New Zealand, including many eminent personages, comment on the lack of wild-life to be seen in this country? If it is not the pukeko ■' it is some other bird and so the process goes on. Some people will not be satisfied until all our larger birds, have been obliterated and then they i will be surprised to find that there are no more game birds and no more trout than formerly. Why? Because.man is Tvorking against Natwe, -' ■