SEA SWALLOWS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 13, 9 October 1942, Page 4

SEA SWALLOWS

At the mouth of the Rakaia River a lagoon runs for a short distance along the seafront. Above this rise several steep clifrs. One cold season flocks of sea swa'lows or whitefronted tern crowded on to the rough edged cliffs and within the following two days it was plain to see what was in progress. Nests were swiftly being built while birds flew anxiously about from dawn till dark.

All was peaceful now as the birds] began to settle down, and this would have continued so if it had not been si-hool holidays. Children began bombarding the innocent birds and nests with stones, Out of the wreck about nine little chidks survived. The growth of these chicks was not unlike that of a yoimg sparrow, and it seemed no time till the little birds Avere well fledged.

The last and perhaps the most interesting lesson these young birds learn from their parents is how to fish. Quite early in the morning the flock sets out on its way to the river mouth. It is thero- that the birds spend the day fishing. As the tide runs out shoals of silveries wash to and fro in the waves., The mother bird begins bj* catching a fish. With this she flies high into the air ,and lets her captive drop. The small bird is then taught to dive for this fish in the same manner. The teaching is an interesting process, for if by any chance a young bird makes its way too far out to sea it is immediately followed and brought back. To do this the parent takes it by the very tip of the wing and swings it high into the air. The startled young seem to understand this. If a young bird takes no notice this punishment is repeated. This is the only method the parents have of punishing their young. They do not try to train them all in one day but return each morning to the river mouth for about ten days.

I remember one incident very clearly, when a young bird caught a fish and flew out to sea with loud cries of delight. An old bird followed it, apparently because it had ventured too far out. It. Avas suddenly thrown high into the air while the fish dropped into the sea. Besides this, there were many othei things about this training of the young birds that took place before the family parted. Flocks of these birds are often seen on beaches where fish are caught.

These birds are real'ly very tame and il' they are not seared, will come right to your feet for food. Yet the boys and girls from towns never seem to realise this. Year after year whenever a chance "occurs you will sec numbers of children throwing stones at these harmless creatures, and finding great, delight in it. Perhaps they would not do so if only they could sec some of ithe" birds that die in misery from injuries which could so easily be avoided if only thought about. The main facts about these sea swallows were tokl to me bj' an old fisherman of 78 who spent his life in the back country. "Nature," he said, "is the grandest, education man can have if he can only understand it."

"Forest and Bird"