NATIVE BIRDS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 245, 15 September 1932, Page 2

NATIVE BIRDS.

PLENTIFUL IN HAURANGI FOREST.

WELLINGTON, Sept. 15,

“Native pigeons are at present very plentiful in the Haurangi f orest, near Cape Palliser,” reported Mr T. Andrews, the ranger, to tho Wellington Acclimatisation Society last evening. “Hinau, pigeon wood, and supplejack berries are in good supply, and no doubt they are the attraction. The white-bead or bush canary was also seen busily feeding in the foliuge of ngaio trees well out on tho clearings, and several rillemen wren were observed. They were also a considerable distance from "the main bush. The pied tit and pied fantail were both seen in fair numbers, and an odd tui or two and a lesser number of bell-birds also made their presence known. The kowliai, which is flowering very early this year, is the main attraction for the tuis and bell-birds.” Several dead chaffinches had been picked up, hut tho cause of their deaths was a problem. There had not been any pollard poisoning laid for rabbits recently. Mr Andrews thought that some native berry might bo fatal to these imported birds.