NATIVE BIRD LIFE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21994, 1 July 1933, Page 5

NATIVE BIRD LIFE

10 THE EDITOR.

Sir, —Finding that letters about bird “ society ” in other people’s gardens are interesting. I write this in the hope that other people may find what is going on in our back garden, within a . stone’s throw of Princes, street south. Quite the most distinguished and unusual visitor was a pukeko. I wonder how many, small gardens cau boast that! His presence was not suspected till be flopped up, trailing his long, red legs behind him, from the centre of a patch of nasturtiums, where I suppose he was trying to make a meal of the caper-like seeds. How he got there among the high buildings—where he came from or w here he went to —who can. tell. Every morning, bread • and milk; shredded wheat, and sometimes jam and honey arc put out for our _ feathered friends, and the bird party begins, hirst come the wax-eyes, about twenty or thirty of them: then come hedge-sparrows, housesparrows. chaffinches, and greedy gobbling blackbirds and thrushes; which bolt tar too much at each peck and so rob the smaller birds.

One day while this motley company was feasting, a flight of goldfinches lit on "the lower shrubs,to find out what was going on. The . food did not attract them and they soon flew away, but. they were certainly a lovely sight while they stayed. Meanwhile, in the silver birch overhead, little redpolls were busy among the ripe seed catkins, making good time while,the sparrows were dining, as they, too, have a partiality for the birch catkins. A little grey-warbler sometimes hovers near, but, of course, being solely an insect-eater, does not deign to join the company. A starling also watches from a nearby housetop, but is not encouraged, as he, too, is hot restrained enough in the matter of large bites. 1 . , You see I have mentioned eleven kinds of birds, all seen in-a back garden.in the city, seven of which may be seen-any or every day if given a little encouragement. Living so far from the Town Belt, not for us is the joy of watching and listemng to those- aristocrats, the bellbirds and tuis, with their dash and sprightliness, of bearing, and their bell-like melody. I had the pleasure, last week, of visiting the garden at Alaori Hill described by “ T. in your Tuesday morning’s issue. On my coming round the corner of the house, there, standing out;in the sunshine, was the eucalyptus with its bunches of brilliant scarlet flowers, and on a branch, perched that prince of birds —the tni—in all his bravery of burnished black and blue, with delicately stencilled collar of white, and knot of immaculate snowy feathers at Ins throat. Presently he was joined by another just as lovely, and what a.picture they made among the vermilion blossoms! Bellbirds were also in evidence, flashing about in their coats of olive, green, and trilling.out a chime every now and again, but always with a watchful eye on the tuis. of whose chasings they stand in awe. What heavy-going old stagers, both in figure and flight, the imported blackbird and thrush appear by comparison with these svelte New Zealanders!: Would that we could fill our Town Belt bush with them again! Perhaps we might, if all those so fortunate as to live near the bush would provide for their winter needs, as is done in that garden, both by feeding with honey and water and by growing such winter flowering plants as the scarlet gum (eucalyptus ficifolia) and the tree lucerne. The gum is slow in growth and .a little tender as regards frost, but the lucerne is of the easiest and quickest growth. Hedges or bushes of the little common red, and purple fuchsia, so much planted by tbe pioneer settlers, also provide much honey earlier in the autumn, and the common flowering currant is among the. first honey-bearers to open in spring.— l am, etc.. Franciscan. Dunedin, . June 29. TO THE EDITOR. Sir —-I read with pleasure a letter written by “T.”' regarding- the birds and their habits, and I can say' much tbe same, for at a short distance "from Abbotsford I know of. bellbirds and tuis that come to a ribbonwood tree, six or eight feet from the back door of a house and close, to traffic to drink from dishes' hung in the tree, and that also come for a bath in a larger tin; and if any of the vessels are empty they soon; let one know that it is time they were" replenished —even at 5 or 6 o’clock in the morning. I have seen 10 and. 12 “ mokis "’ at a time as well as'other birds, all ready for a drink of honey and water or sugar and water. Fantails, tomtits, robins, and wrens all frequent this garden, blit the “ moki ” is very jealous of the others. I anj- sorry to say theV German 1 owl; is, playing havoc among our lovely native birds. Some people disbelieve this, but a ramble through the bush would convince' one, for you often find the owl’s- larder consisting of small birds they have killed and put past for a time when food is scarce. — I am, etc.. Native. Abbotsford, June 29.