White Herons Disperse From Okarito For The Winter

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28263, 29 April 1957, Page 8

White Herons Disperse From Okarito For The Winter

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 28. White herons, the birds the ancient Maoris revered, are making their annual winter dispersal flight, from their ancestral nesting site, at Okarito, South Westland. The birds have been seen near Invercargill, Kaikoura, in Taranaki, near Wellington and Gisborne. Six white herons, the biggest flock ever seen in Southland, were found in the Gorge road district. A coloured movie film of one of the birds fishing was taken on Anzac Day by Mr S. L. Lobb, of Gorge Road, a member of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand. He was accompanied on this occasion by Mrs O. Sansom, curator of the Southland Museum, and Messrs H. T. Thompson and G. I. Moffett, of Invercargill, who are also members of the Ornithological Society. Two white herons have been reported from Taranaki, another one has been sighted on Porirua harbour, near Wellington, and two more were seen on the Awapuni lagoon, near Gisborne, last week. The heron which landed near Kaikoura yesterday was rudly received by the magpies and sea-

gulls. The visitor landed in an artificial pond near Mr and Mrs W. J. Westoby’s home at Oaro, ate some of the goldfish in the pond, and then flew to a pine tree where it withstood successive attacks from the magpies and seagulls. Despite these sorties, the heron remained near the house for most of the day. Today, it was seen on the coast, a few miles further north. The Director of the Dominion Museum (Dr. R. A. Falla) said that the herons were taking part in the annual dispersal from the nesting site at Okarito. “Between April 25 and May 1 the birds leave Okarito, the ancestral and classic nesting site for all parts of New Zealand,” said Dr. Falla. "This is just about a deadline for the birds to appear.”

“There is a sudden burst for the North Island, and the birds can appear anywhere between North Cape and Stewart Island. “There is every indication that the birds are increasing in numbers at Okarito,” he added.

In its safety and seclusion between 16 and 20 young white herons were hatched and brought up each summer. This natural increase should more than offset the annual mortality from natural causes and accidents, said Dr. Falla.