White Heron a Regular Visitor to West Coast Garden

Forest and Bird, Issue 184, 1 May 1972, Page 19

White Heron a Regular Visitor to West Coast Garden

A WHITE heron has made Mrs Ethel Muir’s property near Greymouth its home during the off-season from nesting for the last 17 years, wrote Frank Snow in a recent issue of the “Press”, Christchurch.

Mrs Muir has named the stately male bird “Peter Kotuku”. She believes its regular annual visits establish some kind of record.

“Since 1954, when he put in his first appearance in the back garden, Peter’s seasonal visits have been as regular as clockwork,” she said. “He usually arrives soon after Christmas and makes my garden his temporary headquarters until about the end of August, which is the beginning of the breeding season. Sometimes he leaves later, depending on the weather.”

During its seasonal visits, the bird spends much of its time in her garden or perched on the roof of the house. It makes regular visits to nearby Saltwater Creek as soon as the whitebait starts running. Steak Diet “But he’s always at my backdoor every morning waiting to be fed. I buy at least 3 lb of steak a week for him,” she said. “Then, some of my neighbours are very good. They’re always bringing him suitable extras, chiefly herrings they have caught or mice they have trapped; he just loves mice.

“I think what attracted him to this house in the first place was my late husband’s keen

interest in fishing. John, who died 5 years ago, used to do a lot of fishing and eeling, and from the very start always fed the cleanings to Peter.

“He never visits any other private homes in the neighbourhood. Only mine. He’s a beautiful bird and I simply love him. I never have attempted to touch him, though I sometimes feel certain he would allow me to pick him up. But I’d never risk doing anything to frighten him, and he’s so quick on his feet.

“After all, the species is still regarded as a quite rare one and this makes his long attachment to my home all the more interesting. I have heard of a few instances of white herons making periodical visits to particular properties, but I’m pretty sure Peter’s long and complete adoption of this place must be some sort of a record.” “He always takes off in the direction of Okarito sanctuary anyway,” she said. “And I always know the day before when he’ll be leaving. He suddenly acquires a most voracious appetite, coming back time and time again all day for more to eat. If I don’t happen to be in sight he’ll stand at the backdoor clicking his beak to attract my attention. Another clue to his imminent departure is the way the bridal feathers in his tail gradually assert prominence.

“But you should see him when he comes back months later—bedraggled-looking, usually pretty thin on it, and feathers all looking as though they were moulting.”

Overwintering of Monarch Butterflies

In answer to Miss M. A. McLachlan’s inquiry about the migration of monarch butterflies for overwintering (November 1971 issue of Forest and Bird) Mr J. H. Styles, of Rotorua, states that this question was discussed in “The New Zealand Entomologist” a few years ago.

Dr G. M. Ramsay wrote a paper “Overwintering Swarms of the Monarch Butterfly, Danus plexippus (L.), in New Zealand”, which

appeared on pages 10 to 16 of volume 3 (number 3) of that journal in 1964. The paper gives a useful reference list to other publications on the migration and ecology of the butterfly. Mr Styles considers it inadvisable to enclose the butterflies under netting placed over a shrub as was described in Miss McLachlan’s note.

Symposium Postponed The Extension Department of Victoria University of Wellington has postponed its symposium on population, resources, and environment, which will now be held from Friday 26 May to Sunday 28 May. The programme comprises 15 lectures and a panel discussion. Registration is to be made to the university, P.O. Box 2945, Wellington. Incentive To Replace Trees An Auckland company, Frank M. Winstone Ltd., has begun a scheme to give a voucher for a tree to each buyer of a chain saw. If the scheme succeeds in making the buyers of the saws think of the value of trees and that what is cut down should be replaced, it will have achieved a worthwhile objective. It is another illustration of the growing awareness of the importance of conservation and the environment. Book Wanted A member wishes to buy a copy of the 1955 edition of W. R. B. Oliver’s “New Zealand Birds” and is prepared to pay $l6 for it. Anyone who is willing to sell a copy of this edition is asked to write to “Oliver”, 67 Brookfield Street, Hamilton.

Coming Events Auckland Branch 28 May: Waiheke Island. Tree-planting scheme at Society’s reserve, Onetangi. (Native trees only.) Tea supplied, bring own cup and milk. Leader: Mr J. Gunson. Check departure time, Waiheke Shipping Co. 24 June: Auckland Museum tour and Domain hothouses and fernery. Assemble Museum main entrance 1.30 p.m. 8 June: Film evening, “Seals of Macquarie Island”, “Penguins of Macquarie Island”, “The Living Pattern”, etc. Timaru Section 18 May: Talk —Mr T. L. Fancourt, South Canterbury Catchment Board, “Co-existence: Heavy Industry and the Washdyke Lagoon”. 15 June: Annual meeting. Film — F. S. W. Oldman, winner of the Innes Trophy, “Documentary on Lake Manapouri and its Conservation”. 13 July: Travel talk illustrated with slides, Mr and Mrs L. Dockerill. August (date to be decided): Tree planting under supervision of City Council reserves department. 10 August: Film evening. All evening meetings will be held in St. Mary’s Church hall unless otherwise stated in advertisements. Reminders will appear in the “Timaru Herald” 2 days before outings or evening meetings. The secretary, Mrs H. W. Washbourne, is overseas. During her absence inquiries may be made to the acting secretary-treasurer, Mrs A. B. Carnie, 28 Nile Street, Timaru.