MOTTON BIRDS
A BAD SEASON. ' Messrs Cecil Hazlett and Jules Tapper, who are making their annual visit to the Titi or Muttonbird Islands, report that the ■ present muttonbird harvest is the worst that the Maoris have experienced-foe aome years (says tlie v Southland Timsa). The birds, both ini quantity and condition are" • not up* to the standard of the last*three ■ or four years. Many young birds are to. be fdund dead in tlieir Buoha; condition of affairs, saye Captain Walter; Joss, a veteran who has seen SO seasons pass, must be entirely dne .to the lack of small fish on which the parent birds feed. The Maoris this week have commenced torching operations, that' is, they go out late at night and in the early morning with torches the light from _ which- partially blinds the young bird which comes out of 'its burrow to exercise its wings and to rid itself of its fluffy feathers before commencing its Jong migratory flight-to unknown lands. The parent birds have already taken their departure, and' it is one of we mysteries to naturalists how tie-* young birds are able to locate their own way and direction. Owing to the condition of the young muttonbirds; this season their flight and departure will be an early one from the islands. The general . health of the Maori community is of the best. - One of the surprises to Messrs Hazlett and Tapper was the large number of tuis to be seen— more especially jn the locality of the Breaksea Islands. They were feeding on the small black berries on the pounawae, a plant with large round I leaves which is to be found on all the Titi Islands. The tuis were in hundreds and appeared to be very tame. The inquisitive weka was also plentiful and kakas and pigeons Were also-to be seen. .- . During their cruise Messrs' Hazlett and Tapper were’lucky in getting* amongst a school of groper which gave them ", fin* sport and in , less than two hours they landed 36 of them. When headed and cleaned the ■ catch totalled 6701 b.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 18547, 6 May 1922, Page 10
Word Count
346MOTTON BIRDS Otago Daily Times, Issue 18547, 6 May 1922, Page 10
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