MYSTERIOU S BIRD

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1931, Page 6

MYSTERIOU S BIRD

WEIRD SOUND IN DARKNESS. THE ILL-OMENED UAKAWAI. .Mutton-birders who returned recently to the mainland from the islands otf the southern coast of New Zealand brought back the interesting news that the mysterious hakawai was frequently heard this season, reports the “Southland Times.”

As usual, the bird was not sighted, though several people watched for it. -Hakawais seemed particularly plentiful on Solomon’s, Big South Gape and Pontama Islands, -a group covering a scope of .several miles ; and on tluse places the weird sound was generally Heard early on moonlight nights. 'The noise begins with a booming at a great height, and this increases in volume as the descent is made till the air vibrates with it. At the end the sound changes to a noise such as is made by the chain on a small craft when the anchor is let go.

' Although the immense volume of sound would suggest a large bird, this cannot be the case, as the latter would surely be discernible in the clear air. It i» possibly identical with—or related to — a snipe found in the North of Scotland which makes a similar noise in the early night, though in the case of the halvawai there is apparently a variation at the finish. Those who have listened to the bird believe me sound is made by feathers of the tail or wings—which would account for the damming noise. It is of .interest to note that a Bluff resident has received a letter Irofn MrEdgar Stead, the noted naturalist, at present in the Old Country, in which the writer states that, he intends to spend some time on Solomon's Island during the coming summer. Hearing of the hakawai’s presence in the recent mutton-hirding season, it is certain Mr (Stead will make every effort to discover the “mystery ‘bird,’’ which in the pastlias been a source of apprehension to many, though nowadays it does not excite the fear it .inspired years ago. It should be mentioned that it has been rarely heard in recent years, so that its frequency (in the season justended excited considerable interest.