COURAGE OF TUIS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 102, 20 December 1939, Page 6

COURAGE OF TUIS

FIGHTERS FOR THEIR RIGHTS

"Many New Zealanders may have been rather startled by the report that a tui killed a thrush in the garden of a hotel in Auckland, but the news would not have surprised close observers of the tui s habits, A\iites a Wellington member of the Forest and Bird Protection Society. "The tui is indeed a valiant New Zealander which lights Jor its rights. Some time ago when starlings poacn ing on a preserve of tins on a "Wanganui farm —a clump of flax with a wealth of honeyed flowers —the trespassers were fiercely attacked by tuis, and the intruders were soon glad to seek safety in quick flight. "It is well known that when a hawk swoops into a forest tuis sound the alarm, and gladly join any special force of small birds in an effort to scrae away tlie killer. "The strong fighting spirit of the tui has enabled it to survive various misfortunes such as the cutting and burning of native forests and the stupid introduction of stoats, weasels cats and other nuisances. As compensation for the loss of much ot its natural feeding places, it enjoys the nectar of many introduced, trees and shrubs and also the sweetened porridge and syrup 4 offered by friends especially during tlie winter."