MAORI NATURE NOTE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 June 1930, Page 4

MAORI NATURE NOTE.

FOR THE “DAILY TIMES.”

(Copyright, J.H.S.)

TOREA, the oyster bird, said to be an adept at opening the oyster with its long sharp red bill. Has black head and back with square white fronted breast, crimson legs and. but three toes, lacking the usual.back spur. Many thousands were seen in harbours and near the river mouths. Approach within half a mile meant a shrill cry of warning from a leader, and a hasty flight. The day old chicks follow the mother, and are as skilful in hiding as she is in misleading. In the breeding season these birds are a mystery, and seem to succeed in complete disappearance for a few weeks, taking flight to the bush or the mountains in pairs or separately. They are said to be known throughout the world, but do not appear to migrate, though no known radical change in circumstances would warrant their almost sudden diminution.