NATIVE BIRDS

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 March 1932, Page 10

NATIVE BIRDS

NUMBERS INCREASING. All lovers of wild life will be interested to hear that the rare nativp birds on the Little Barrier sanctuary in the Hauraki Gulf are apparently steadily increasing in nujnbers. A report recently received by the general manager of the Departqient Cl Industries and Commerce, Tourist and Publicity, from Mr Nelson, tjie department’s caretaker on the island, states that the kiwis particulaily, both North and South Island species, have been very much in evidence close to the house every evening. He considers this largely due to a dry spell of weather during which he has been placing water in receptacles- for. the birds-

“It is interesting to find the kiwis at night feeding silently, drawing their food up from the hard earth,” states Mr Nelson. “Standing quietly beside them, I am able to place my lantern, on their heads without dis? turking them. When another kiwi calls, a little distance away, the bird by me will stand up all attention and answer immediately- Each of the kiwi appears to have a different call, and occasionally they all get going at once- One evening two of these birds started fighting, and I had to step in and separate them. •‘Numbers of the birds are increasing, particularly the red-fronted parakeet and the North Island robin“It is a most pleasing sight to watch the large numbers of native pigeons which gather near the beach and feed on a. small sweet grass that . grows there. They come to this feedingground every day, and are so tame that I can almost touch them. The rare “Stitch” birds are holding their own well, and are constantly seen and heard in the bush gullies. “There appear to be large crops of berries on all the trees forming the usual feeding-places just now, while a delightful feature is that marry of the birds come quite fearlessly into the bouse each day. The tuis and bellbirds perch on the table while we are at meals, and provide us with a wonderfully sweet chorus, which is as novel as it is entrancing.”