IN TOUCH WITH NATURE

Otago Witness, Issue 3743, 8 December 1925, Page 81

IN TOUCH WITH NATURE

THE SHINING CUCKOOS ARRIVAL

By J. DRUMMOND, F.L.S.. F.Z.S. Beween 70 and SO observers in New Zealand reported the arrival of shining cuckoos in their districts this year. In some cases the ordinary time-table was observed, but in most cases the migrants were either earlier or later than usual, according to the weather that prevailed when they reached New Zealand from overseas. As in previous years, the general migration was in September and October. Hardly a day of those months passed without cuckoos arriving in some districts. September seems to be somewhat early for the migrants, as the record hardly begins until the third week in that month. There are 22 records of arrival in September and 52 in October. The long-tailed cuckoo is much less plentiful than the shining cuckoo, much shyer, or much less popular. It is almost completely neglected in this year’s records. Following are recorded dates of the shining cuckoo's arrival, names of places and observers, and some of the notes of the migrants' habits:— August 15.—I’ukekaroro, Kaiwaka, North Auckland, Mrs G. Taylor. "We heard two calling to each other and then saw them separately on puriri trees.” September 20.—Radio station, Knitaia, 213 miles north-west of Auckland, Mrs H. J. Anstis. "Heard in trees in front of our house.” September 22. —Ivaitaia, North Auckland, Mr 11. S. Matthews. "A small flock of shining cuckoos arrived at our homestead ani sang for about an hour before passing on. About 12 sang together. They have been hear! daily since that date. Last year we first heard the migrant on September 21.” September 23.—Ilauturu, Kawhia, Mr A. W. Babbage. September 24. —Remuera, Auckland. Heard in a glen off Oner street. September 24. —Victoria Avenue, Remuera, Auckland. "Just on? call, but heard again on October 7, and since then almost daily.” September 24. —Opua, Bay of Islands, Miss A. M*Naugl>»n. "Heard the clear notes in the early morning. Heard them at Pailiia, Bay of Islands, at noon the following day. Last year the migrants arrived at Paihia on September 21.” September 24.—Arney road, Remuera, Auckland, Mrs A. F. Puckey. "Four days earlier than last year.” September 25. —New Plymouth, Mr W. W. Smith. "Mr J. Frethey, of Franklyn Park Gardens, telegraphed to me that the pipi-wharauroa had been heard several times in his garden. This is the earliest local record by nine days. Would the strong northerly winds that ha* T e blown foi almost a month carry the migrants southeasterly ?” September 25.—Hobson's Bay, Auckland Harbour, Mr W. H. Peek, Coromandel. September 2U.—Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, Mr W. H. Makinson. September 27.—Pascoe’s Quarry, Newmarket, Auckland, "Rebek.” September 27.—Faikaka, I’io-pio, King Country, two miles south of Te Kuiti, Mrs N. Robison. "Heard early in the morning. It usually arrived here about October 2 or 3. Heard the long-tailed cuckoo on October 7.” September 27 Penrose, Eden County, six miles south of Auckland, Miss Margaret Wilkie. "Heard at Preston Hill, near the Tamaki Lagoon.” September 28. —Hull’s road, Waiuku, Manukau Estuary, Mr G. D. Arvidson. “It always comes to the same old place, an oak in front of my house, and utters its shrill notes. We notice it in the evening mostly.” 7 September 2S.—Huntenille, 130 miles north of Wellington. Mr A. Sutherland. "Heard several and saw one.” September 28—Karaka Downs, Aotea. 120 miles souch of Auckland. Mr E. ’lrolove. "Heard the whistle clearly while we were fencing near some bush. Several times it was just before rain. We are two miles nbrth of Aotea Harbour.” September 29—Warkworth, 45 miles from Auckland, Mr M. Hamilton. "Later than usual.” . • September 29—Donnelly’s Crossing, Dargaville, 100 miles north of Auckland, Mr W. C. Berry. September 29—Kaponga road, Coromandel, Mrs T. N. Peek. “Seen and heard in a willow not far from the house.” September 29—Inangahua, West Coast, Mr J. J. O’Regan. "Eight days later than last on account, no doubt, of very severe weather.” September 50.—Fairview road, Mount Eden, Mr A. Skeates. "They come every year to a kowhai that overhangs our place.” September 20 —Muriwai Beach, Waimauku, 50 miles north of Auckland. "Resident.” October I—Te Aroha, Mrs L. W ; M’Kaskill. Seen and heard by Mr M’Kaskill at Te Aroha on October 5,4, and 5. October I—Birkenhead, Auckland, *‘S. H. B.” "Heard three simultaneously at 7 a.m. The welcome notes came from the vicinity of Rugby street and Tennyson street. The latter is a well-named street foi; our sweet singers to announce their arrival. They were in private gardens. Their notes were very clear.” October I—Titirangi, Waitemata County, Mr J. 'U.-iii on. “Heard in a kauri about 50 yards Horn our house.’’ October 2—Pine Grove, Herekino, 230 miles north of Auckland, Vivina Powell. “First heard last year in September. Our farm is near high wooded hills by the mountain.” October 2—Puketerua. near Putaruru, on the Rotorua line, 140 miles from Auckland, M. A. Bent. "Last season we heard the notes first on October 5. and for the last time on January 6. A friend Inst year found a shining cuckoo’s egg m a grey warbler’s nest.” October 3—Waiotahi Creek, Thames, Mrs A. Dare.

October 4—Red Mound, Pnpakura, Manukau Harbour, Mrs J. E. Elliott. "It seemed to join in the birds’ chorus, as there were a fcui in a gum tree, a song-thrush in a tall almond tree, and a kingfisher on the rose arbour, all taking part in a concert. Just aB I write, on October 14, 1 hear it again, ar, 2 p.m.” October 4—Bell road, Remuera, Auckland, Mrs F 5L •'“i Morton. "Heard one in our willow anti another in the gully below. The migrants seem to be settled in the gully, as I have heard them frequently since. They usually stay here until tne late autumn.'*

October s—Wanganui, Mr T. H. James. "Heard and seen in trees adjoining my garden.” October s—Waikaino,5 —Waikaino, five miles from IN aihi, Mn Drinkwater. "Usually heard from September 2l to September 23.” October s—NVhangarei, Mr 11. G. Hoey. October s—Beach5 —Beach road, Levin, Miss Gwen Hill. "Saw and heard in native bush near the house.” October 6-Cranford, Nelson. Mr E. Atkinson. October 6 —Wharehine, 69 miles northwest of Auckland. Mr A. E. Brookes. During the first five years it has arrived within a few days of this date.” October 7—Patutahi, near Gisborne, Mr H. W. Davidson. October 7 —Matakohe, Kainara, North' Auckland, Mr G. Callie. "Slightly later' than last year. Very stormy weather may have delayed the migrants.” October 7-Peria, North Auckland, Sid-ney-Ritchen, Peria School. "The songster was on the top of a bluegum in the school grounds.” October 7.—Te Kopuru, North Auckland, i r Pi iP’ F ulh r- V The wa » beautifully dear, but lacked the final trill on euch occasion. The bird was in high pines Oil the bank of the Northern Wairoa. . October 7-Te Aroha, Mr E. A. Bruce. “Eight days earlier than my daughter reported it last year.” October 9-Tolaga Bay, East Coast, North Island, Mr V*. Simpson. October 10.-Te-pae-a-te-Rangi, Tikokino. Hawke s Bay, Mr P. Smith. October 10—Motueka, Nelson. Dr D A Bathgate. “I was told that it had been seen here three days previously. I heard the long-tailed cuckoo on October 14.” October 10— Runa-runa, Hokianga, Mi Hector Holland. “It arrived last year on August 14, and in 1923 on August 6.” October 11—Walton. Piako Country. 115 miles south of Auckland. “To-day, * October 13, the notes have been much in evidence in a kahikatea bush not far from \ny house. A pair evidently come every year, as I have seen them every summer for the past four years. Last year they were first heard on September 27. About 7.30 p.m. to-day, when it was quite dark, I heard the long-tailed cuckoo’s harsh notes.” October 12—Waitakerei Range, neaf Auckland, Mr 8. Smith, Manurewa. "Somewhat late; I have often hoard it from September 27 to October 3.” October 13 —Maioro, Otaua, Waiuku, Manuka Estuary, Mr J. Thomson. “Heard the ‘kui, kui, kui’ unmistakably. It is exactly a week later than last year.” October 14—Waingaro Springs, 80 miles -outh-west of Auckland, Mr J. D arrow. Back to the same tree he comes every year.” October 4—Waikawau, Coromandel Peninsula, Mr J. Harris. October 14—Manurewa. Manukau Harbour. “E. E. C.” October 14—Riverton, Southland, Mr P. Jenkinson. October 15—Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island. Mr J. Marshall. “They whistled all day. Last year they arrived on October 19.” October 16—Palmerston Bouth, Mr H. H. Smithson. “Tho songster was in good voice, but seemed tired.” October 17—Wanganui, Mr F. V. Powell. "It was singing at 2.15 a.m., and kept it up for at least two hours. I have heard it each day and night since the date of writing, October 19.” October 17—Taieri Mouth. "J. H. C.” “The bird was in beautiful plumage, its metallic feathers glistening in the sunshine.” • October 17 —Waikawa, south coast -of Otago, Mr P. W. Peverill, “I hailed it as a fellow-visitor to this district.” October 18—Invercargill, G. W. Jackson* "Seen in lovely setting in a garden.” October 18 —Hokonui, Southland. “Observer.” "Earlier than I saw it last yea**£ October 19—Owaka Valley, 77 miles south of Dunedin, Mrs W. Benson. October 19, Kaikoura, Mr H. Bingham. "Saw and heard it in the bush on a hilltide.” October 19—Oxford, Canterbury, Mr H. A. Partridge. “Saw one when I was spending the day there.” October 20—Asbestos Cottage, Upper Tokaka. Nelson, Mrs IT. F. Chaffey. October 20 —Akaroa, Mrs S. Atkinson. “It was in native trees in the town, near the road.” * _ October 21—Little River, Miss Dorothy Forsyth. "Heard in a tea-tree copse on the Maori Reserve.” October 21 —Geraldine, Mr J. Adkin. October 22—Otira. Mr D. Adamson. October 23—Cheviot. Mr T. A. Bennetts. October 24—Arthur’s Pass. Heard iit light bush on the river bed. Octoer 25—Greymouth. Mr W. W. Henderson. October 26 Lawrence, Central Otago, Mr J. B. Anderson. "Seen and heard in an orchard.’* October 27—Moeraki, North Otag<* "H. D.” “Seen on a tree close to the shore.” October 28—Montrose, via Culverden, Mr Alister Rutherford, per Mr T. M‘Gill. “The bird evidently was exhausted after a long light.” October 29.—Milford. Takapuna, neaf Auckland, Mrs Heauslen. "For several days it stayed in willows opposite our house, and uttered its plaintive notes. ’ October 31—Grey Lynn, Auckland, Mr S. F. Whifccombe. w lleard in the grounds of the Zoo. There were two cuckoos in the same bush, not. far from the grounds. ’ November 7—Kereru. 30 miles from Hostings, Hawke’s Bay. Mr IT. B. Hughes. "The curious ventriloouial quality of the not.e9 was in evidence.” One record qf the long-tailed cuckoo thif year is by Mr J. Anderson, who heard iti at 11 p.m. on October 8. He writes:—“lb seemed to be coming from the sea to the land, and to be making what sailors call a landfall, which seems to be the practice with it when it flies at night.” Another record is by Mrs IT. F. Chaffey, Asbestos Cottage, Upper Takaka, Nelson, where it arrived on October 15, at 8.30 p.m., in warm, wet weather.