KINGFISHERS IN WANGANUI DISTRICT

Forest and Bird, Issue 139, 1 February 1961, Page 7

KINGFISHERS IN WANGANUI DISTRICT

By

Tom Shout

During tramping holidays in North Auckland, on Great Barrier Island, and round the Coromandel Peninsula over the last decade I found the kingfisher (Halcyon Sanches') so numerous that I concluded these areas were carrying, possibly, heavier populations of this bird than other parts of New Zealand. From observations since, however, I am now of the opinion that my conclusions were not altogether justified. Whilst travelling between Raetihi and Wanganui by the Parapara Road in the early part of last June I was so surprised at the number of kingfisher seen en route that I determined to make a count along this valley when a favourable opportunity offered. This occurred on the 16th of the same month. Leaving Wanganui by a midday bus I located the first bird when some two miles distant from the city and my final one when the last mile to Raetihi was entered upon, the total number seen over the 56-mile journey reaching the amazing tally of 86. Some of the birds were seen in flight, others were perched on telephone wires, and the remainder, fully 80 per cent, of the total, were resting on power lines which stretched across the clearer tracts of grasslands. As some miles of these lines were either too distant to be seen from the road or obscured by hedges and bigger tree growth it is reasonable to assume that many birds were passed that the eye failed to detect. In view of the fact that changed. environmental conditions combined with increased pressure from enemies have badly depleted the ranks of our native birds it is pleasing to note that this beautifully coloured specimen is still to be found in goodly numbers. Other bird lovers will say with the writer—- “ Dear little Kotare, may his tribe increase”.