Nest Of Rare N.Z. Birds Seen In Auckland District

Wanganui Chronicle, 22 December 1950, Page 4

Nest Of Rare N.Z. Birds Seen In Auckland District

RAETIHI, Last Night (0.C.1. New Zealand’s rare native crows, (callaeas Wilsoni) the kokako of the Maori, were seen by the Tongariro National Park warden, Mr. T. Shout, when on a recent visit to the Mangatawhiri watershed, part of one of the catchment areas for the Auckland city water supply. A nest of these birds was found in this high bush country on December 2 by Mr. F. J. Lownsborough, headmaster of the Clevedon School, the nest being in a small tawa 24, feet from the ground and containing three newly-hatched chickens. In the fortnight that has elapsed since the finding of the nest, the development of the young birds has been closely watched by prominent ornithologists and close-up photographs, including the feeding of the young by the parent birds, have been obtained.

While spending 50 minutes at the nest during a sunny afternoon, Mr. Shout saw the parent birds feed the chickens on three occasions. Notwithstanding that he stood within three feet of the nest and was fully exposed to the gaze of the birds, neither old nor young took the slightest notice of his presence. The parents approached the nest silently, but fearlessly and no sound was uttered by either chick or parent during the process of feeding. Sleeping under the tree gave Mr. Shout, the advantage of an early morning acquaintance with the crows, and he was rewarded with some ’ rich notes from one of the birds just as dawn was approaching. After watching the movements of the old birds for a further tew hours and ascertaining their favoured item of diet, Mr Shout returned to Clevedon.