IN TOUCH WITH NATURE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13820, 28 November 1908, Page 7

IN TOUCH WITH NATURE.

THE SHINING CUCKOO. ITS ARRIVAL IN NEW ZEALAND. (By James Drummond, F.L.S., F.Z.S.) There has been a very gratifying response to the appeal made through the columns of the Taranaki Herald and other newspapers for records of the habits of the shining cuckoo. Correspondents in all parts of the Dominion have forwarded contributions. Some of these record close observations made during many years' acquaintanceship with the strange parasitical summer migrant. Before the bird departs for other lands at the end of the present season, in January, February and March, a great deal of valuable information should be available in regard to its habits. Observations, so far, have been devoted mainly to recording its arrival in the different districts. This has been done well; and it remains now to undertake the more difficult and more interesting and important work of observing the way in which the cuckoo deposits its eggs in other birds' nests, the foster parents' method of feeding the young cuckoos, the young cuckoo's behaviour towards the chicks of the rightful owner, and the departure of the usurpers irom the property placed in .their possession by their most unnatural parents. The records confirm the belief that the shining cuckoo, together with the long-tailed cuckoo, arrives in New Zealand in September and October. It is impossible, of course, to obtain quite authentic dates of the first arrival in each district, or in the whole Dominion. Large numbers of cuckoos may be m the country before they are noted. It is natural to conclude that, as the inward migration is from northern islands to New Zealand, the birds reach the northern part of the Dominion first and come south. Apparently, however, the geographical positions of the districts make little difference. The bird arrives in some southern districts as soon as it arrives in northern districts. In dealing with this phase of the cuckoo's migration, it should be remembered that a bird's flight is very rapid, and that strong wings make short work of many miles. By flying continuously the cuckoo could pass from end to end of New Zealand in thirty hours and it would probably not be exhausted when it reached the southernmost point. It should also be remembered that the migration of the two cuckoos, like the migration of the goodwits, is not always absolutely complete. Every year some of the migrants remain behind, to pick up the outward migration j presumably, at the end of the folJowing summer. Mr D. Quinn, principal keeper at Dog Island lighthouse f in Foveaux Strait, for instance, states that he has seen the shining cuckoo in the bush at Otakou, inside Taiaroa Heads, Otago Harbour, at all times of the year. Other observers have seen the shining cuckoo in June, July and August. There is no evidence to lead to a conclusion as to whether cuckoos which remain in New Zealand all the year round accidentally miss the ordinary time of departure and do not care Lo leave at any other time, or whether they intentionally hold aloof from their outward bound fellows because they find this country more attractive than their winter residence in the north. In accordance with the theory that the birds move gradually from the north to the south, the first recorded arrival this year was at the Thames, near Auckland, on September 6, and the last at Stewart Island, on October 18. On the other hand, the first cuckoo at Whangarei, in the far north of Auckland, was recorded on September 19, and on the Buller Road, Westport, on September 17, two days earlier, while at Hokianga, another northern district, it was not recorded until Ocotber 9. The dates, taking the places of observation from north to south, are: — Motukaraha, Hokianga, October 9; Epsom, Auckland, September 15; Thames, September 6 and 13; Ruatoki, west of the Hot Lakes district, October 2; Hautura, a few miles south of Kawhia Harbour, October 1; Cambridge, beginning of September; Tongaporutu, ahout forty miles from New Plymouth, September 28; Pukekura Park, in New Plymouth. September 30: Whaua-whaua, Hastings, south of Napier, October 12; Kaitoke. Wellington province, October 10: Raetihi, South Waimarino, Wellington

province, October 8, l.tvin, October 8, \Vniuui-o-nuihi, near Wellington City, October 14; Cujut l''n row oil, norlli ul tho South Ivslnnd, Nopleinhor ,'X) ; Pnknwiui, south ol that point, ScptcinbiM' 29. Christeluuvh, September 'J') , Marshland. .September .'H) ; Aktinm, October 17; Tinumi, October 20, the Buller It ouri, West port, September 17, Nugget Point liishthousr\ ()ta»o, November 2; Westport, September 17, Callins, September 2!); und Stewart Island, October 18. There are no records of arrivals in any months except September and October, and it is evident that tho spring is tin accepted time for the migration to Now /inland. From the information .supplied, it seems to bo clear that the gn ,\ w .u'Mer is the principal victim of the cuckoo's parasitical habit, but it is not by mij means the only one. Mr Ojiinn, for instance, has found cuckoo's egg.s in the nests of tho fnntail, the South Island tom-tit, tho yellow-head, and tin South Island robin ; and on one occasion ho saw tho bell-bird feeding a young long-tailed cuckoo. Several correspondents have found the shining cuckoo's egg in tho nests of sparrows and other KngHsh birds. Mr H. ilneusler, of Pukerimu, near Cambridge, in the North Island, states that two yean ago ho saw a pair of grey warbler? feeding a young cuckoo in n hawthorn hedge in front of his house. While he was watching them, he saw another young cuckoo on a branch close by. Tho little warblers began to feed the second cuckoo also, and continued to feed both until night camo on. At about nine o'clock next morning a third cuckoo appeared. It was larger than the o! hers, and seemed to bo very wild. It had evidently learnt to feed itself, as it picked at the leaves, but' it still wished to bo fed by its foster parents. There were, altogether Five warblers, but as one always remained on the hedge, the work of feeding the young cuckoos seemed to be loft to four of the smaller birds. On the third morning the cuckoos were still in the hedge, but at about ton o'clock they began to move from bush to bush towards a gully, and disappeared amongst the trees. Mr Haeusler adds that on one occasion ho found two sparrows' nests, one in a pine tree and one in a bluegum, and each had a cuckoo's egg. The cuckoos seem to frequent all localities where native forest remains. Mr H. E Girdlestone, of Raetihi, states that both species are common in his district. The shining cuckoo generally inhabits the river banks and the long-tailed species tho ridges.