FROM NATURE’S BOOK

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1921, Page 4

FROM NATURE’S BOOK

(By J. Drummond, F.L.S., E.Z.&, in Lyttelton Times). A visitor to South Westland, who spent a- few days at Lake Kanieri, sawon and near the lake a fairly large number of birds which, evidently, arc crested grebes. They are graceful swimmers and divers. It is regrettable that they du not adorn more of New Zealand’s lake scenery, ft is regrettable, also, that only two New Zealand naturalists have given any attention whatever to the habits of these birds in this country. They belong to the

same species as the crested grebes ol j the Old Country, which have been un- j dor observation by Selous, Hudson and other eminent ornithologists. Recent information on the courtship of crested grebes, supplied by Professor J. K. , Huxley, Texas, shows the extraordinary rich field for delightful study these birds afford in New Zealand, as well as in England. Professor Huxley did not use a camera. He had a paii of powerful binoculars, a telescope, a pencil, paper, a punt on the Tring Reservoirs—they are four large sheets ol water on the estate of Lord Rothschild, Hertfordshire, England—and two weeks’ leisure. With those lacilities he noted sufficient details to iil! a fairly large volume. Some of the scenes lie describes are very quaint. A solitary lien alighted on the shore ol one reservoir, and began to swim to the opposite shore, looking from side to side, and giving short, harking calls. The’'ruff on the top of her head had been thrown forward in curtain form ami; as the head had been thrust forwards and backwards, swept the water on each side. She soon put down hei ruff and raised her neck until it was almost straight, in order to enlarge her circle of vision. She then relapsed into her first position, with neck outstretched.

She changed from one position to another, until a male, some thirty yards away, seemed to notice her. He pricked ’ up his neck. 1 okotl towards her, and dived. Her whole demeanour then changed. Up went her wings, and back between them, with erected ruff, went |,cr head. In this position a henutilul white bar and a lyoad white blaze on the wing shone out vividly. Her head, I'.-nm the front, somewhat resembled an old-fashioned picture ol the sun. As

she waited for the male’s reappearance she turned eagerly trom side to side. ! swinging nearly to the right-about and b:Hi again, as if not to miss him. He came up on the far side ol her. in Hm most amazing attitude. He seemed to grow suddenly out of the water. I‘iist came his head, with Hit ruff almost circular, the hill pointing clown along the neck in a stiff and peculiar manner: then the neck, quite sir, : ght and vortical ; then the body, straight and vertical also; finally the whole bird, except for a Jew inches, was standing erect in the water, like a liy|>nofised phantom ol a slender penguin. As he grew out ol the vutoi lie gradually revolved on belong axis until, at his lull length, h. K . lace to face with the lemale. ,o’ii his still, erect position lie sank slowly to ther surface. The female put it her wings and raised her neck. Ha. pair then settled down to a bout ol head-shaking. r rhey gradually drilled apart ami went olf together to preen themselves and to fish. ('listed grebes seem to he strictly (barn..!. Observers watched on the r. soi coirs jill night, hut during the (I. rk hours, the grebes were neither , en nor heard. In the early morning e.i tin first showing of the ialse dawn. jo,, called, and oilier species oi birds slio.,ed signs of activity. In spite ol Ihe iact Unit they are active during only daylight, grebes spend many hours o! 1 lie day icsting or sleeping. One ol the grebes caught a very large fish*and tried to swallow it in the usual way. b,• jerking it, head lirsi, down the grebe's throat. The iish was too large to swallow. After much fruitless jerking. the grebe had to put the fisll ooi into the water. The iish, which was still alive, swam oil. This was too mueh lor the grebe, which dived, caught the iish again, and once more tided to swallow il. Ihe lish was caught, and put out lour times. On the fifth occasion il escajKid. Each lime, the grebe made fewer ellorts to swallow it. and finally relinquished the attempt, showing that it profited by experience. Male and female in this species, apparently, play almost equal parts m all activities connected with the lainily. The mule lakes an equal share in building the nest, and almost an equal share in incubation, and in the early care ol the young, which later on pass "to the care" of one parent, probably the female. The nest seems to he made mainly oi weeds brought from the lottom. Surface weeds are also used, and largo water logged sticks, which may he anchors. As a further means of steadying the nest, s°me of the weeds

are woven amongst the stems of growing water plants. The main bulk of the nent is built in a few hour*. Ii this very active building, male and female work simultaneously. They work very hard, averaging between Hem more than two cargoes of weeds a min. uto, one continuing for half an hour or an hour without stopping. After cne nest has been completed another may he begun and almost completed the following day, not far off. In one instance, the male, while each nest was being built, made a. platform for himself close to the bank not far off the nest that wan in progress.