NATURAL HISTORY BIRDS AND THE FARMER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 61

NATURAL HISTORY BIRDS AND THE FARMER.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sj ß! —Perhaps a few notes on the common occurrences ol two birds that frequent most parts of the country may be of interest to students of this subject. The first appearance after winter is of those pretty little heralds of spring, the sea martins— as generally called inland (and sometimes “tarns”). This spring I noticed the first welcome little visitor on'duly 23—a lone little chappie that followed my' plough hi quest of their favourite morsel grubs. The next day being wot, I was not out with the loam, but cn the’2sth quite a number were in evidence. The previous season I first noticed our little friends on July 24. on a river-bed adjacent, the paddock I was ploughing tins time. 1 want to note another observation in re these little farmers’ friends, an observation that has evidently escaped the notice of many—viz., their partiality to grubs and indifference to worms. Though I have been on watch for years in re tins matter, 1 have never vet seen one touch a worm. How different from the other bird I also have watched closely—viz., that, pretty, hut. alas! most abominable, member of the winged fraternity that visits inland, the blackbacked seagull. How often do wo hear farmers claim for it one redeeming feature viz., its destruction of grubs? Weil, as I said before, though I have watched thousands following the plough, I have never yet observed one pick up a grub; but let a worm appear, and so hungry for it are they that, in their greed for it, they arc often struck down by a stick in one’s hand. .—I am, etc.. Plough Boy.