SEABIRDS AUCKLAND HARBOUR

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue XX, 17 May 1902, Page 954

SEABIRDS AUCKLAND HARBOUR

The black - backed gull, which I ng’es over the whole of the I luthern Hemisphere, is ex- I emely plentiful on our coasts. I prefers smooth sea beaches I id the sandy spits of our I lai rivers, and is always there to I ■ met. with in large quantities. It Hows in the wak- of a departing

steamer, ana oaten accuiupanies ’ar out to sea, eagerly watching for any scraps thrown overboard. The term “sea swallow,” as applied to the tern, is a very appropriate one, for, on watching the evolutions of a flock of these birds one is forcibly reminded of a flight of swallows coursing through the air. Their aerial manoeuvres are truly beautiful, and the apparent ease with which they dip into the water and capture their prey cannot fail to interest an observer. The mackerel gull is easily tamed, and will do much good in a garden, eating snails, etc. It will eat cooked vegetables or almost any scraps, but prefers raw meat. Sir Walter Buller chronicles the peculiar fact that, when tamed, this bird is very fond of music, and will always come to a window if music is being played in the room.