A GREAT SONGSTER

Evening Star, Issue 23729, 9 November 1940, Page 3

A GREAT SONGSTER

TK£ TUI [Written by J. Fisher, for the ‘ Evening Star.’] The tui is undoubtedly one of the finest songsters of our New Zealand birds. Friendly to man and quick to adapt itself to changed conditions, it is one of the few native birds that have shown no great change in numbers since the coming of the white man to this country. It is becoming as common in the suburban gardens as the imported blackbird, and far more welcome. Wherever there are nectar-bearing flowers or shrubs, its song is beard from morning till night, and every garden should contain at least a few of our native shrubs, such as rata, icaraka, and fuchsia, so dear to the heart of this handsome bird.

Although the tui is called the “ parson bird,” on account of the little tuft of white feathers that sticks out from its throat and contrasts with its sombre plumage, it is not very sedate or staid in its bearing. Its flight, indeed, is distinguished by gaiety, and sometimes it sends forth a wild burst of joyful notes. Its song, which consists of a great variety of musical notes, is hoard mostly in the breeding season. J. C. Andersen, who fully investigated Now Zealand bird song, states that he has heard 70 variations of the tin's song, and that these vary from season to season, and according to the district. The tui is a great mimic, imitating every kind of noise it hears, including such things as ipigs squealing, other birds’ songs, and a man whistling to his dogs. It was the only bird kept as a cage bird by the Maori and taught to talk and sing. For this purpose the Maoris trimmed the bird’s tongue, and early writers state that the vocabulary of some domesticated tuis was amazing. Oil January 17, 1770, Captain Cook was struck with the beauty of the early morning song of the tuis. He writes; — “ At the distance of somewhat less than a quarter of a mile from the shore, and in the morning, we were awakened by the singing of the birds; the number was incredible, and they seemed to strain their throats in emulation of each other. This wild melody was infinitely superior to anything that we had ever herad of the same kind; it seemed to be like small bells, most exquisitely tuned, and perhaps the distance, and the water between, might be no small advantage to the sound. Upon inquiry we were informed that the birds here alwavs began to sing about two hours after midnight, and, continuing their music until sunrise, were, like our nightingales, silent the rest of the ■day.” Evidently Captain Cook did not hear tbp day song of tho tui. The tui is an accomplished aerial acrobat, and in fine weather it is well worth watching. Parties of about half a dozen may be seen turning, twisting, turning somersaults, dropping from a height with expanded wings and tail, and performing other antics, till, as if guided by some signal, they suddenly dive into the forest and are lost to view. When journeying from place to place they usually fly at a considerable height and descend suddenly to their destination. Their flight is noisy and boisterous. When darting through the forest or pursuing one another tuis pass like a flash and disappear among the trees with a sound that earned for them among sealers the name Breaksea devils, Breaksea being one of the sounds resorted to by sealing gangs. ; Tuis are courageous_and bold, and rather pugnacious. This character has probably been the cause of their being attacked, and sometimes killed, by com-> panies of starlings and blackbirds. Between these latter birds and the tuis a feud seems to exist. Perhaps the tuis resent, and rightly so, the usurpation of their feeding grounds by these introduced birds. It is said that tuis never lose an opportunity of persecuting the long-tailed cuckoos. The tuis seem to have a natural aversion to the robbers, probably because they fear that their nests will be robbed, and that they themselves will be saddled with the burden of rearing another bird’s young. The usual nesting site of the tui is in a shrub or tree from 5 to 30 feet from the ground. Quito often it is placed under the protection of a cluster of bush lawyer or supplejack. The nest, which is largCj is constructed of slender sprays intermixed with moss and with the down from the tree fern, and lined with fine wisps of grass—a cosy home. There are generally four eggs of a pinkish-white colour with small pink spots, the latter being especially numerous towards the broader end. The usual nesting season extends - from September to December, but on occasion it is possible to find nestlings at a much later date. The young, which do not leave the nest until they are a fortnight old, are fed for the first week on insects and afterwards on berries. From the fact that the nest is often stained a deep purple one would judge that konini berries are popular. Many people appear to assume that the tin is the same species as the melodious bellbird. This is not so; the tui is quite distinct from the bellbird, and the only similarity between the two is that th’ev are both honey-eaters. .. The tui was an important article of food of the Maori. Large numbers were snared for feasts and were considered a great delicacy. They were also preserved in their own fat for future use. Various methods were used by the Maori for taking the unfortunate tui. Tho “ mutu ” was a perch which was first exposed to the weather to give it the appearance of a dry branch, while the end of the perch and its lashing to the pole were concealed by moss. To each perch was attached a snare controlled by a cord which was operated by the fowler seated on a platform in a tree. The “ whakamoe ” method was simply to take the birds on cold, frosty nights, when they were captured in the trees without much trouble, as their claws were contracted by the cold and they were slow to take to flight. Tins were also taken by spearing and by the 1 jiao ” method, wherein a decoy bird was used to attract wild birds down a pole within reach of the fowler concealed by greenery. As well as the morning chorus, tho tuis indulged in a beautiful evensong which Henry Stowell describes thus: — “ In a tui grove, a little after 4 in tbe afternoon, the quietness is suddenly uroken bv a female tui uttering ‘ kru-u-ru,’ after the manner of an indrawn gur<de. There is then perfect silence for a few moments, and she begins tbe same gurgle again. The very instant that she makes the second beginning every male, and no doubt female, tui in the grove bursts into a wonderful wealth of harmony. Folk may speak the delights of an early morning concert There is largely an outside element in such, for every bird in tho woods contributes its part towards that universal hymn to the sun, or to the o-od of dav". But for pure tui music nothing can possibly compare to this evensong; no other birds join in. As to solo singing, as'far as my exnerienee n-oos the same may be said. The most beautiful solo that I over heard from

tlie throat of a male tui was an afternoon solo.” It will be noticed here that Henry Stowcll states that many other birds join in the morning chorus. This is obvious from the fact that in the extract from Captain Cook’s writings quoted above he describes sounds “ like small bells.” Evidently there were a number of bellbirds taking part, as they so often do. Whether or no, the fact remains that for richness in sound and harmony, the chonis of the tuis betters any music of man.