BIG BROTHER BILL and the BAIRNS

Evening Star, Issue 22212, 14 December 1935, Page 6

BIG BROTHER BILL and the BAIRNS

SERVICE BEFORE SELF The winners of competitions published on November 16 are Jim M'Keagg, 24 Kim Row, Dunedin, CM (under 10), and J. Kennedy, 12 Ipswich street, Kaikorai, W.2. The winners of competitions published: on November 23 are Arthur Gregory, Prince Edward street, South Dunedin, S.W.I (under 10), and Elsie Skilbeck, Constant street, Sawyer’s Bay (over 10),. Congratulations. THE COMPETITIONS A word-building competition for the under-tens and an alphabet competition for the over-tens. Members of the * Star ’ family will not forget the Clxristmas competitions announced last Saturday. / Be sure to have your entries in ‘by' the' date announced. A WORD-BUILDING COMPETITION. (Under 10 years. Prize, Is.) Seo-how , many words of three letters can be made from the words “j 4 MERRY CHRISTMAS.” '■ THE WISE FARMER. (Over 10 years. Prize, Is 6d.) A little, poem with the words ending each lino missing. The missing words can be found, by using letters of the alphabet. See if you can complete the poem. ' There is a farmer who is Y.Y. Enough to take his E.E. And sifudy Nature-with his ...... And think of'what he He. hears the chatter of the As they each other ...... And sees that when a tree D K K. It makes a home for A yoke of oxen he will With many- whoas and And their mistakes he will X Q Q When ploughing for his He little buys, but much he sells, And therefore little ...... And when he hoes his soil by spells, He also soils his hosei.

Here are some .letters that were on Brother Bill’s file, and which he takes this opportunity of publishing. They are all interesting to read, and show the work being done by members of the Bird Lovers’ Club. It is an excellent thing that there are so many bairns caring for our native birds; both for the birds and the bairns who care for them. There is nothing ever .lost by caring for helpless things'. Quarry road. Green Island, 5.W.2. June 8, 1935. Dear Big Brother Bill, —My girl friend and I went to the show, and had a most enjoyable time. Some of the exhibits were really wonderful. I hope some day to be able to compete in the same way This is my second letter to you, Brother Bill. I am entering for the competition, hoping I will bo successful. If I am .not I shall try again. I am in Standard IV. at school. There are 38 children in our class. I came fourth in my examination, ami was quite pleased. The winter mouths are passing by quickly. I am looking forward to the Christmas holidays. We have a crib at Brighton. Last year we had wonderful weather, and wonderful times in the bay. I can dive quite well, and I have also learned to swim. 1 take our little dog, Toff, out so far with me. and he swims back to the shore. He loves his swim, too. I am fond of stamp collecting, and have quite a number' of them now. I also like listening to your talks on ‘ Lovers of Birds.’ It is most interesting. Well, Brother Bill, I will close now, with best love.—Yours sincerely, Doreen Hopewell.

345 King Edward street, Dunedin S.l. Dear Big Brother Bill, —I am writing to ask you if I may join the Bird Lovers’ Club? We have a cat whose name is Micky, and a kitten called Darky. The kitten was in with our bantams the other day, but did not do any harm. We like your singing with the “ Travel Man,” and enjoy his talks. 1 was sick all the term holidays, but I am going to tell you about my trip to Ashburton during the Christmas holidays. We left at 5 o’clock in. the morning. The mist was very thick on Mount Cargill, and the grass, with the dew on. was like velvet. We had breakfast in the Oama'ru Gardens. The statue of Peter Pan and'Wendy is lovely. The birds were singing in the trees, and everything looked fresh in the early morning. Tiniaru is a nice place, and Caroline Bay is pretty. We saw a groat many magpies, and my brother wanted to get out and catch one. We arrived in Ashburton at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, and I enjoyed my first trip_ to Ashburton very much. T am enclosing an addressed cbvclopo for a badge. Love to all the aunts and uncles and yourself.—Ruth Harris.

18 Burke street, Mornington, Dunedin, W. 1., June 18, 1935. Dear Big Brother BiT, —Please, may 1 join your Bird Lovers’ Club? After listening to your talks over the air about the birds and how to feed them we have been putting out food and trying to encourage them to come about, and already we have quite a big flock. Most of. them are wax-eyes, and occasionally we have seen and heard a bellbird. We like to watchi them as they fly backwards and forwards over the table which we have fitted up outside our living room window. While we are having our meals we can watch the birds enjoying theirs. , Some of them are so tame we can go quite close to them, and they do not fly away. Would you please send me one of the badges if you have one to spare, and please let mo know if there is anything to pay for it?—l am, yours sincerely, Frank Rawley, 13 St. Helier’s Court, Caversham Rise, Dunedin, S.W.I. Dear Big Brother,Bill, —I am entering your competition, and hope for success. I am 12 years of age, and I am in Standard VI. at Caversham School. May I join your Bird Lovers’ Club, and will you please send me a badge, -ns I f’ed the birds every morning? We have a pet canary which tries to drown the noise made by the Wireless, with his whistling. I must close, now hoping for success.—l remain, yours sincerely. Fred. Motion. 9 Argyle street, Mornington, Dunedin, W. 1., June 17, 1935. Dear Big Brother Bill,—Please may I join the Bird Lovers’ Clu’-? We have a tree in our garden which has lovely red berries, and I watch the birds eat them from my bedroom window. They also eat the pears when they are ripe, but now it is winter I feed the birds every morning with crumbs. My brother Billy, who is 12 years old, would like to ,join the Bird Club, so we will send a stamped addressed envelope for you to send the badges in.—l re-, main, yours sincerely, Olive Gearing.

Dunedin, June 15, 1935. Dear Big Brother Bill, —I would like to join the Bird Lovers’ Club. One day I had just put out some food and had gone inside, when I looked through the window and saw the birds eating the bread.. They were fighting each other. We have hedge sparrows and waxeyes. The other day, we. saw a rather Uncommon bird sitting on the fence, it had a jet black head and breast, and from half way down its back to the tip of its tail, it was also black, while its hack was green, with black wings. It'was not quite as big as a thrush, but was much bigger than a sparrow. Would you please, tell me what kind of bird it wasp I would like you to send me a badge and a book. I will send you the costs, if any.—l remain, yours sincerely, Donald Simpson. 45 Ann street, Roslyn, Dunedin, N.W.I. Dear Big Brother Bill,—l am 12 years of age and would like to join your Bird Lovers’ Club. I have followed your instructions, and have been very interested in the comical little fellows, especially the waxeyes, which like the honey very much. _ To attract their attention, I have pinned coloured pieces of cloth to our apple trees. Yesterday we had two bellbirds about our place, for they heard the other birds fighting over the pots of honey. In our street we have six generous helpers of the birds. I must close now, for I have to write another letter.—l remain, yours faithfully, Kenneth Foxton. [P.S. Please may I have a badge?] Queeusburv street, N.E. Valley. N.E.I. Dear Big Brother Bill, —Please, may I join your Bird Lovers’ Club? I am in Standard V. ] am 13 years old. I am very interested in birds, and should like to feed them. I sec your badges are very nice ones. Last week we had a lovely goldfinch on our rose tree. One day, about Christmas, there was a bird with _ a red breast on our fence. Our cat likes to try to catch them. It is very rice to feed birds in winter, because they sing very sweetly. I must close now.—Yours faithfully, Alice Hill. 25 Janies street, N.E. Valley, N.E.I June 8, 1935. Dear Big Brother Bill, —1 have written to you once before. I would like to become a member of the Bird Lovers’ Club. Would you please send me a badge? I listen in to the children’s session nearly every night, and 1 read the columns every Saturday night. I am having my birthday called over the wireless soon, so 1 shall be writing again. My teacher’s name is Miss Kennedy, and 1 like her very much. There are only myself and Keith in the family. T am entering for the overten competition. I will close now.— Yours faithfully, Josie Mowbray. Main road, Waikouaiti. June. 8, 1935. Dear Brother Bill, —I am entering for your competition, and also writing to ask you if my two brothers, Leslie and Neville, and myself may become members of your Bird Lovers’ Club. We have an aviary of birds at our place.—four blue love birds, four green ones, canaries, and goldies. . We also have a tree in the aviary, and the birds fly about from branch to branch,‘and we tie bunches of chick-wcod and green cabbage leaves on the tree, and they enjoy it very much. Wo .Have caught a number of rabbits with a ferret and dogs.—With love, Douglas Holland. 75 Eglinton road. Mornington, Dunedin, W.l. Dear Big Brother Bill, —-1 was under 10 when I last wrote, but I am over 10 now. f am entering for this week’s competition, and I hope I am right. 1 would like to he a member of the Bird Lovers’ Club. May 1? There are plenty of birds’ nests about our place.

Last year when wc were at Karitane we found a nest with four young waxeyes. Each day we-went along to sco how the young ones were getting on. By the time we left Karitane the birds, were covered with feathers. 1 have a -cat named Tiger, which loves being petted. It is a little spoilt, I must admit. Each time I look at it it runs over to me to be petted. I must close now.—l remain your loving bairn, Yal. Miller. 4 Ferguson street. Caversham, S.W.I, . June 6, 1935. Dear Big Brother Bill,—May 1 join the Bird Lovers’ Club? Would you tell me how much the badges cost, as 1 would like to have one? We have a bank covered with trees beside our house, and, a lot of birds come there. Mother put's all the crumbs out on the grass for them, and they became so •tame they used to hop right'over her feet and inside the door. We have a dog now," however, and the birds are not" so tame, but they still come to eg't the crumbs. —From your friend, Joyce Marie Swete. 35 Brighton street, Kaikorai, N.W.I. Dear Big Brother Bill, —By my bedroom window is a nice tree which my dad planted when I was born. 1 would love to feed the birds from this tree. Please may I join the club? I am eight vears old. My brother Gregg and I have a white rabbit hanied Snow White. Wo have plenty of green feed for her in our own garden. Best wishes to Big Brother Bill.—June Anderson.

NORTH ISLAND KIWI Kiwis are different from all other birds in that they have no tails, only the merest traces of wings, and - the nostrils placed near the tip of the bill instead of near the base. Then, no other bird lays an egg so large in proportion to its size. In spite of the absence of flight the kiwi, in primeval New Zealand, had no difficulty in obtaining a living, because it made full use of its wonderful bill and feet. In some measure it is compensated for the lack of wings by speed on foot. It can move in the darkness, too, as silently as a rat, aided no doubt in finding its - way by the long hair-like feathers near the base of the bill. It usually hides in the daytime in a burrow or in a hole beneath'the roots of <i tree or in a hollow log, and it is then that it may fall a victim to’ dogs which : would have little chance of catching it at night. Once dusk, fa 11s it moves freely about, uttering the shrill call which has given it the name kiwi. The. tip of the bill, in addition to bearing the nostrils, is very sensitive to touch, apd a combination of smell and touch seems to be used for locating food. As it rambles through the dense beds of fern, making the while a continual snuffling sound, it uses the strongly clawed feet to scratch away litter. The long flexible hill is then driven into the soft ground or rotten log to. search for worm or grub. In extracting a’worm from the soil it displays much intelligence and in-; geuuity. “ The hunt opened with the usual tapping with the bill,’’ wrote one observer. “ When by this means tiro bird discovered the barrow of a worm it set to work at once to enlarge the opening, using its bill as . a workman uses a crowbar. When ib had formed a funnel-like depression, it inserted its bill and took hold, of the worm. With a steady .pull it often succeeded in bringing the victim to the surface. When it was not able to do so, it ceased pulling, as continuing to do so would have resulted in tearing the worm and losing the greater part; so, leaning well back, it remained in the same position, waiting without the faintest, movement of any part of its body, until the worm, tired out by its exertion, momentarily relaxed its hold. Then, with another steady pull, the worm was drawn out of its burrow. Other food consists of snails, insects, and berries picked from various low shrubs or from the ground. _ The nest is found in holes in banks or beneath the roots of large trees. Little is known about the breeding habits, but usually one egg is laid, occasionally two, and very rarely three. It would appear that,, like South Island relative, the male carries out tlie duties of incubation. The chicks are covered with soft, fluffy, dark brown plumage. As the world has no more remarkable bird, it should bo rigidly protected because of its scientific uniqueness alone. But, in addition, it is one of the most important members of the police force of the forest floor to which the weka, robin, and tomtit also belong. In addition to spreading the seeds of trees by eating harries, it eats injurious insects, many_ of them the grubs of borer beetles which would otherwise develop into destroyers of timber. It is all the more unfortunate, then, that the North Island kiwi should have so suffered from the effects of civilisation with its dogs, stoats, and opossum traps that it is now mainly confined to more extensive forest areas north of 40dog latitude.’ Still, it is occasionally reported near our larger towns, showing that with proper protection there is no reason why it should become extinct. PIED STILTS / ■ New Zealand’s pied stilt, which is really a species of long-legged plover, is fairly numerous in and around riverbeds, the shores of lakes and lagoons? or on the marshy fringes of estuaries. Worthy mention of this protected wader is made by Edgar Stead in Jiis 1 Life Histories of New Zealand Birds.’ Despite the fact that stilts are of proportions that are somewhat unusual among birds (ho writes), their movements at all times are exceedingly graceful. When walking slowly in shallow water they raise each foot above the surface as they proceed, putting it down again very daintily, giving the effect of a consciously elegant, if not mincing, gait. During flight, which

is strong and swift, the legs are trailed behind.

Stilts make a great fuss if anyone goes near their nest, made on the ground. They fly to a height and then dash at tiie intruder, giving a harsh cry as they pass close overhead and turn upwards again. If intimidation fails they try to divert attention to themselves by simulating injury, shaijiming broken legs or wings in a most realistic manner. 1 have often watched one flying along, when _ suddenly it would give a loud cry of pain and flutter to the ground in a lop-sided manner as if one wing was broken. There it would flop along for a yard or so, and then lie down, flapping its wings and callin'- as if in agony. Perhaps it may stagger to its feet again, and then collapse with a- drawn-out cry of anguish and a last flick of the wings and lie still. For a few moments it will remain motionless, but its general effect is marred by the fact that it holds up its head a little while it keeps a close watch on the intruder. Dogs are at first completely deceived by stilts’ -antics, and chase the birds with every expectation of catching them; and when at Inst they realise that they are not going to do so, the chase has taken them well away from the nest. GEORGE AND EMMA This is the true story of George and Emma, a pair of emus at the Zoological Gardens in Melbourne, Australia. Emma has always been a good emu and has dutifully laid her eggs, but she has laid them here, there, and everywhere, and has not bothered to hatch them. , George stood this for some time, but when he discovered that his only son Eddy had had to be reared in an incubator, because of his mother’s careless ways, he thought something should be done about it. So, one by one, he gathered eight green, eggs into a corner of hjs run, sat down on them, and folded his wings. It takes many weeks to hatch an emu chick, and it was thought that George would grow tired of his task and abandon it. But they counted too little on iß'enrge’s determination. Day after day, night alter night, he remained on the'eggs. His food" was brought to him and placed under his beak, and he bent his long neck to peck at it. Some mice grew friendly enough to scuttle in and nibble at It before his eyes - but even that did not take George from the nest. Once only did he leave it. and then it was Emma’s doing. Inquisitively, she came up to him and began to poke about to see the eggs. This was too nincli for George. Ho ruffled up his feathers, thrust forward his long neck, and with a squawk chased her from the run. He returned to his charge; and at last his hour of triumph came. The first chick hatched out, a little brownstriped morsel. George tucked it under his wing and waited. Later in the day two more striped chicks broke through their shells.

The curator wanted a photograph of them, but nothing would induce George to move. Then someone made a suggestion. Eddy was brought into the run, and n bright new penny was dropped on the ground to hold his attention. Eddy cheeped with excitement, and George, all his fatherhood aroused, got to his feet, to see what was happening. The camera whirred and the film .was taken. Whereupon George, satisfied that nothing was wrong with Eddy, went back to the eggs, and next morning two more chicks were hatched. Now the proud father has five chickens to his credit-—and cannot bear them out of his sight. WHEW! A GOOD-KIGHT TALE Whew! Whee-ew-ew! “What’s that?” said a Bunch of sycamore seeds to their mother, the tree. “ The wind,” she replied. “ No wonder you ask; it’s been such a still summer. And now it’s the beginning of autumn,” she added, sadly. “ Soon, when all you children go out into the world, 1 shall bo all alone.” The days passed, sun-shiny days, and the wind seemed to have hidden himself again, for scarcely a leaf moved. A pair of sycamore seeds were talking together. “Twin,” said one. “I wonder which of us will go first. We’re quite brown now, and ready to fly. I want to’fly a long way. I want to grow very big, much bigger than our mother tree.” “ Well,” said the mother tree, smiling, “ there’ll be a wind soon, and he will give you your chance.” Sure enough, before morning, a big wind got. up,, and set everything a-stirriug. “ Good-bye,” called the venturesome seed as he broke from his companion. His voice grew fainter and fainter as Iris wing bore him farther and farther, from homo. . ■ As soon as he had got used to flying he began to look about him. He was a good height up. Down below he could see the green fields, and sometimes, when the wind gave him a big push downwards, he could see the people going-about their work. lie seemed to have flown for many miles when he saw below a great stretch of something that certainly was not a green field. “ What is it?” he asked the wind. “ Water—a lake,” said the wind. “Now for some fun! Watch me make waves.” He swept,down, and the spray sprang into the air, and all the lake became alive with tumbling waves. “ I’ll give you to the boy in that yacht,” said the wind. With a whew! through the sails, he whirled the seed against the boy s cheek The boy picked it up. “ Look what the wind’s sent!” he chuckled. The yacht sped across the water, and the seed lay in his hand till they

reached the shore. As* he climbed out of the yacht he dropped it into some damp earth; and there it settled down for a long rest. But when spring came the little seed knew that its dream of being a big 1

tree, bigger than its mother, would come true. For in the open space by the lake it grew and flourished, and after many years knew itself for a fine tree, for, you see, it had the lake as a mirror.