BELLBIRD COLONY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18263, 5 December 1933, Page 4

BELLBIRD COLONY

FOUND IN TAUPO DISTRICT HUGE NUMBERS PRESENT Sums time ago in a message from Christchurch mention was made of a large colony of bellbirds which existed in Canterbury. It was suggested that this was the only colony ot lire kind in New Zealand. Now, however, there is news of another huge Mock, this time in the North Island. Mr. A. C. M. Sieely, of Marten, a surveyor, whose work takes him all over the country, states that in the Taupo district, within easy reach of the Chateau, hundreds of thousands of bellbirds congregate in an area of about 100 acres. Their feeding grounds extend over 15.C00 to 20.030 acres. “The reason they congregate in such large numbers in such a restricted area,” Mr. Sieely said, “is that water is scarce in the Taupo district in the summer time. In the pumice country streams disappear underground for miles at a stretch. The particular area where these birds gather is where one of these streams reappears on the surface, and it also receives the lirst morning rays of the. sun. It is this which draws the birds. They sing only at the dawn and on 1 v on a fine, clear morning. They are at their best between the middle of January and the middle of February.” it, was impossible. Mr. Steely continued, for anyone who had not heard tlmm to imagine the sound of so many hell-like voices. Tt was something one con LI not forget in after life. A ear could he driven right into the hush when’ they were, and there was easy access off a good road. The area, which was chiefly covered with milling bush, was owned partly by the Crown and partly by Maoris. Mr. Sieely suggested that the Government should retain the place as a reserve so that- the birds might ha encouraged to remain there. If the bush were felled they would vanish.