THE KINGFISHER
—by
Tony Sinclair.
THIS brightly coloured bird, first discovered at Dusky Sound during Cook’s second voyage in 1770, is widely known in Pacific lands, the New Zealand variety being larger than most of its species.
The kingfisher is a bird of the open spaces; it frequents the sea coast, the banks of streams and lagoons, pasture lands, the fringe of the forest, and the haunts of men.
The kingfisher eats small fruits, insects,
lizards, fish, especially fresh-water fish, small birds, mice, and other vermin.
A nest is made by burrowing a hole in a rotten tree or bank about one foot in length and slanting upwards. They lay five or six eggs in midsummer. After quitting the nest, the young family keep together for several weeks.
Third Prize, Mr. M. Barr’s Essay Competition, Waipawa School.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/FORBI19471101.2.15
Bibliographic details
Forest and Bird, Issue 86, 1 November 1947, Page 14
Word Count
137THE KINGFISHER Forest and Bird, Issue 86, 1 November 1947, Page 14
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