FOUR WHITE BIRDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22740, 28 May 1937, Page 10

FOUR WHITE BIRDS

APPEARANCE NEAR HUNTLY BELIEVED TO BE HERONS [from our own correspondent] HUNTLY, Thursday Four strange birds, believed to be white herons, have appeared at a pond near the Waatu Pa, Huntly West. The birds are pure white, with long legs and necks and long yellow beaks. One pair is larger than the other. The larger birds have black legs, but the legs of the smaller birds are yellow. The larger pair of birds disappear at intervals during the day, but return again late in the afternoon. The smaller ones stay about the pond and occasionally fly up and perch 011 the trunk of a tree. The larger birds can be approached to within about 50 yards, but the smaller ones become nervous and one can only view them at a distance of about 100 yards. The Maoris believe the birds to be white herons, but have never seen birds of this kind in the district before. WHITE HERON AT MATATA I'KTl'lvN AFTKR THIiEIS YEARS [BY TELEOUAI'H OWN COKKKSPONI>KNT 1 WHAKATANE. Thurstiay Alter an absence of nearly, three years, a white heron which was a familiar sight on the property of .Mr. I'\ J. Burt, of .Matata, has returned to its old haunts. White herons arc as rare in the Whakataue district as elsewhere and keen interest is taken in thi.s bird.