NATURE NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15807, 2 January 1915, Page 1 (Supplement)

NATURE NOTES.

BY JAMES DBTTMMOND, F.L.S., F.Z.&

A vert satisfactory report has been received of the state of bird life in the wild country at the head of the Waingaro ind Takaka Rivers, which run into Golden Bay, Nelson. The most interesting item in this report is a record of the presence of the saddleback. The report is from Mr. F. G. Sparrow, of Urn Whenua, who has had many years' experiejjce of New Zealand birds, and who could hardly be mistaken. In addition, the bird was seen by a friend who was with him at the time. Mr. Sparrow also heard the shrill whistle of another saddleback. Both birds were well up in the rough country dose to the head of the right branch of the Waingaro Although Mr. Sparrow spends a great deal of time in the forests, these are the first, saddlebacks he has met for 40 years. In the same district he saw robins, parrakeets, white-heads, tuis, wrens, kakas, pigeons, bellbirds, and native ducks. At one time the banks of those two rivers were alive with busy miners, who did not spare the birds, but for many years men and dogs have ceased to trouble forest dwellers, who have returned to their old haunts. This is specially noticeable in regard to grey ducks. When miners worked the rivers, grey ducks were seldom seen there, but now they frequent all the branch creeks where there is water, and, in the proper season, rear large broods. The blue mountain duck, perhaps the tamest of all members of the great duck family, came close to the camps when the tent was pitched on the river's bank. In very secluded places, the blue duck is so tame that it can be caught with the hand. When the friendly Maoris, commanded by Captain Mair, marched through the Urewera Country in pursuit of Te Kocti some 45 years ago, they found blue ducks in all the mountain streams. They sometimes caught 50 in one day, some by hand and some by being struck, with stones and sticks. Mr. Sparrow saw several broods fully grown and several a few days old, showing that the blue duck sometimes brings up two broods in the year. Most of the native birds seen were near the creeks or the main rivers. In the high, open country there were some larks and many redpolls. A question in regard to the habits of the native pigeon is raised by Mr. Sparrow. He states that in September and October of this year the forests on the sides of the valley were alive with pigeons, all very young and very poor in condition • hey disappeared suddenly. They are usually rare at cjat time of the year, and he wishes to know if native pigeons have put in an appearance unexpectedly in other districts. The pigeon's migrations probably may be explained by variations in its food supplies. In captivity, the pigeon feeds on potatoes, rice" wheat, berries, and almost any kind of vegetable food given to it. In natural conditions, it lives to some extent on leaves, but mainlv on the berries of native plants. Its movej ments therefore are regulated by the seasons In the spring and early summer, it eats large quantities of the leaves of tee yellow kowhai and other plants It is then very lean, and its flesh is bitter and unpalatable, and almost uneatable.' that season usually lasts from the beginning of October to the end of December As the autumn approaches, berries ripen, and the pigeon becomes fat and tender and its flesh is delicate. In January about six species of berries are available In February, March, and April these are replaced by others. In May and June when the miro and the pate are ripe the pigeon comes into better flavour and in July and August, when it feed's on the purple damson-like hinan berries, .t is a dish fit to set before a king. Mr Sparrow, writing generally of the large native birds, states that in the district where he lives, their principal food in the early summer seems to be first the nuts of the " red birch," then the berries of the native fuchsia, called konini, then the miro and the hinau. the last-named being the standby for the winter months.

A note on the Jong-tailed cuckoo, the koekoea, or kohoperoa. has been sent by Miss A. Watkin, of Onehunga. She states that some years ago she noted the appearance of tbis bird in the garden regularly, but when dwellings began to increase in the neighbourhood its stopped its visits. On November 29, however, she heard a thud on the roof of the verandah. She thought that it was caused by a falling branch, but, on making investigations, was surprised to discover a splendid specimen of the migrant lying exhausted on the roof. It was breathing heavily and looked angry, and, apparently, had been chased by a pair of blackbirds, which were heard scolding harshly a few minutes previously. It was exceptionally well nourished, and its plumage, unlike that of cuckoos observed in previous years, was in good condition. Miss Watkin's brother climbed on to the roof to try to capture the visitor, which, in spite of its exhaustion, had sufficient energy to fly away. The following morning its resounding note was heard from the trees of a neighbour's garden. " While I was writing this, on December 7." Miss Watkins says. " I heard the cry of the shining cuckoo—the pipiwharauroa—which also has appeared in our garden again this year. Yesterday I saw it in the gum trees in our yard. We have a beautiful old purriri trees and other native trees, and I think that these birds are attracted by the flowers or berries."

A few weeks ago, Mr. A. Bauckham reported that he had seen a shining cuckoo feeding its young, and Mrs. R. Hutchinson, of Wairiki Road, Mount Eden, now records a scene in which a shining cuckoo followed the parasitical practice that has made the cuculidse family infamous. The scene took place in Taranaki in February lasrryear. A party, picnicking in a piece of native forest, heard a squeaking sound in the trees above. Investigations showed that it came from a young cuckoo, which was uttering its perpetual cry for food. A tiny grey warbler, about a quarter of the size of the noisy cuckoo, was diving here, there, and everywhere in order to satisfv the awful hunger of the young bird left to its care. " Some of us are mothers,'' Mrs. Hutchinson said. " and we had quite a murderous feeling towards the cuckoo, who followed the patient warbler from tree to tree."

For some reason that does not seem to be clear, the kiwi has never favoured the Poverty Bay district as a place of abode. It has there all the conditions that make life from a kiwi's point of view worth living, but it is seldom found in the district Mr. Watere F.uha, however, writing from the Wairere station. Whatatutu, states that a party of bushfellers found a specimen about three months ago in the forest behind Mr. H. D. Buchanan's property. on the range known as Mnuneahaumia. the southern terminus of the uturn ara Range. Unfortunately, a dog bit a piece out of the side of the bird, which seems to have been an adult. A kiwi's footmarks were seen in the snow, and also marks of scratchings.

Mr. P.. E. Clouston. of Rockville. Collingwood. reports that several very good shoals of creylings. or upokororo. have been seen going un the Aorere River this season. It is years since this beautiful fish was seen in the river previously, and residents thought that it had completely disappeared. The ereyling has been reported from the Arnold River, Lake Brunner. and Mr. R. E. Clouston saw a large shoal at Motueka last season.