BIRDS OF THE BUSH.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1929, Page 17 (Supplement)

BIRDS OF THE BUSH.

MAORI NATURE NOTES.

J.H.S

(By

—Copyright.)

The Red Bill— The aki aki (to dash), or red bill, is a small gull with silver grey wing, lighter head and breast, and. barred feathers in the tail. It frequents harbours in great flocks and sits'patiently along-the coast awaiting the signal that a ..slioal of .fish is approaching. This signal comes from the scout bird with a cry like “Kuru, Kuru,” and is answered by a clamorous evolution in the air, and a successful fishing flight. Frequently the birds watch the petrels probing the sand with the long, sharp bills for crabs; then they dash either: to the rescue or to robbery.

The aki aki is a greedy fellow, and can swallow a live fish as big as his own head and neck. He frequents the slaughter house or a drainage outlet near the sea, where he mingles fearlessly with the big gulls, and fights them successfully for tit-bits.

The White Throat Shag— The aroarotea (shining face) is the .Maori name of the white throat, shag. “Kaua e aroaro rua” (be not doublefaced), was a proverb applied to- this bird, which turned from side to side, showing first white and then black. This' awkward fellow was only distinguished from another variety by black ear lobes, whilst the other (Taringa Ma) had white lobes. They are both rare, and specimens are difficult to find, except in the museums. Old Maori hunters say they have been killed off by the big spotted shag parekareka (the pleasant face). It is not easy to picture the smile of a melancholy-looking and silent cormorant.

This is one of the largest of many kinds of shag, of which New Zealand has more varieties than all other countries together. When we fail to recognise the use or beauty of any created thing we may blame our own want of discernment. So far we do not even guess the shag’s purpose in the economy of life. The Sea Hawk—

The ha koakoa (voice of.a fool!) is the big brown “sea hawk,” though that riaii.e does not quite fit, for he seems to be afraid to wet his wings, and holds them aloft when he sits on the-.water, which is seldom. Another illusion is that the name sea hawk indicates bravery among all.his fellows/ He is an arrant coward and a sea scavenger, who lives upon offal and helpless young sea birds. Lacking the initiative himself, he now follows the karoro inland in search of worms behind the plough, and ■haunts the vicinity of abattoirs and freezing works.

A stranded whale, whose prized flesh had escaped the eye of the Maori until ripe rot set in, was a lure for the koakoa, which was then snared or hit on the head when over-full. The oil was valued as a lubricant for the hair and skin, and the downy feathers were woven into the flax kakahu clothing.

The Bush Canary— The liilii (a ray of sunshine), the stitch bird, or bush canary, is now, alas, the rarest of all our rare bush birds. He has a black back, head and tail, white splash on the wings and behind the ears, and yellow breast. The birds seem to live in no one locality, but haunt the lonely far-distant gorges from month to month. The cry sounds like “stich, stich, stich”; hence the common name. Its rarity and-beauty made it a prey to ardent specimen-hunters, even in the earliest days. It is said that there are no bush canaries on Kapiti, and but , very few on 4lie Barrier Islands, whern as recently as<lBBs, three specimens were ruthlessly shot by a vandal, under the guise of a “naturalist.” The staccato ■. whistling cry is uttered at every move of the ever-active little searcher, as if to guide its mate. The nest, has apparently never been seen, for no one describes it.

The Knot— The hua hou (new fruit) has a shortlegged, plump body and sharp bill. It seems to change its plumage with each change of season. It is* known in England as the knot.

The Maori of the sea-side says the name was given because only in comparatively recent years has this bird been known to nest and breed here. It is still another of the crowds of migratory birds which are said by naturalists to breed in Siberia. We have still to learn that this little-known northern land ever abounded in bird life. Perhaps the aeroplane will dispel this and some other of our illusions. Some writers think the knot it gradually abandoning its migrations and adapting itself to the changes from summer to winter by a natural change in its plumage. This, after all, seems more in keeping with nature’s laws, and more protective than to die in thousands on the long flight..

The Quail Hawk— The ka rewarewa (high flyer), quail hawk or falcon, is the handsome one of his species, but he. is ,a robber of the worst kind. Sitting patiently on a post awaiting an un.vary victim, he could sometimes be snared from behind by a hunting small boy, who, however, must beware of beak and talon. An enemy of the farm yarn anu. the domestic pigeon, and robber of the nest of game birds, he had a price upon his head. The Australian magpie has beaten him so badly that he now leaves the magpie in peace. On the cliffs of the upper Otaki River, five mapgiea took jt in turn to chivvy a hawk in the air. After an hour the hawk fell to the ground exhausted, and was torn to pieces by a concerted attack. This bird of prey attacks a new-born lamb, and was once a source of anxiety to the farmer, who shot him on sight He has been seen to pluck an oily weka quite clean with great care before a meal, or, on the other hand, to swallow a spiall bird, beak,, feathers ahd_feet.