MUTTON BIRD SEASON

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 24, 16 November 1943, Page 5

MUTTON BIRD SEASON

POPULAR MAORI EXCURSION

TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY

MAKE TRIP

Hunting for the succulent young mutton birds on Whale Island is a Maori privilege which few pakehas w r ould ever like to see lifted, and annually there has been an enjoyable excursion arranged for the Maoris of this district to Whale Island in the early part of November when the young bird has reached a stage of maturity considered 1 "just right" for preserving or for consumption. This year a record crowd Avas transported to the island, by means of the Harbour Board's launch, and men, women and children to the number of 'Jo'O made the trip and ; from all accounts had. one of the most erfjoyable. and most profitable excursions to date. The temporary camp,, resembled a settlement, and at night large fireswere constructed around which the community sat and sang for hours. The task of capturing the birds anil dragging them from their harrows is done by means of twisting a stick into the snowy down with which the bird is covered at this period of its development. Some thousands of birds were thus captured and cured and judging from all reports the whole outing should be quite remunerative for all hands. The Port Whakatane brought back the last of the adventurers yesterday, after previously making six separate trips to the island. -It is interesting to note that the bird which nests on the Whale, and is commonly known as a mutton bird is not actually a member of that but is a bird known as the Owe (O-wee) wdiich has the same heavy oil content in its body and which also nests and, breeds at the same season. l't is estimated that this year's haul averaged no less than 200 birds a head, a probable total of 50,000 for the week-end.