NATURE NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1932, Page 9

NATURE NOTES

BUSH EEGENERATIOff

KAPITI ISLAND SANCTUARY]

(By K. H. D. Stddolpn, R.A.0.U.)

The regeneration of bush which is taking place on Kapiti Island Bird Sauctuary affords striking evidence of the way in which the native vegetation can re-establish itself under favourable conditions. On the occasion of the writer's first visit to the island some years ago, at a time when almost the whole area, was overrun with goats and sheep, little undergrowth was to be seen over the greater portion of tha island and young trees were conspicuous by their almost total absence. Today, on parts of the island on which there was formerly but practically barren soil, there is now a prolific growth of young trees and shrubs. There can be no question that the change is duo to the removal of grazing animals from the sanctuary. What has happened on. Kapiti is occurring on the mainland ia many districts in which deer and goats are numerous—but the forests ara still in a devastated condition due to the presence of these animals, notably the Haurangi mountain area near Martinborough. If they are to be saved from ultimate destruction it is obvious that the deer and goats must be kept strictly within certain limits, if not entirely eradicated, at least from some areas. The foresight of those responsible for setting aside such a magnificent area as the Sounds National Park, embracing Milford Sound and the other fiords of the South Island is commendable, but the blunder ' permitted in allowing the introduction into this territory of such animals as moose and wapiti is deplorable. Who can visualise the effects of devastation in this precipitous country? And howcan these animals be kept in check ia areas more or less impenetrable?

It goes without saying that the regeneration of the native vegetation oa Kapiti means that the island's bird population will increase. In view of the general conditions being so favourable it is time some action was taken to placa on the island species in danger of extinction. Every year which passes makes it moTe difficult to secure such a bird as the piopio or native thrush; in fact, this bird may have actually; become extinct while the authorities are still thinking of placing additional birds on the sanctuary. The only, species ever transferred to Kapiti have all survived—the weka, kiwi, kakapo, and saddleback. Both tho weka and the kiwi (the brown and the : grey kiwi) are well established, while the kakapo and saddleback need their numbers increased. In the case of th» kakapo only three birds were placed on the island about twenty-five years ago, and yet these or their progeny, have thriven. The saddleback was'; liberated in more recent years. It has not been seen a great deal, but apparently survives. There is every prospect of these two species becoming firmly established if additional birds of their species were turned out. Other rare native birds should also be placed on the island, notably the blue duck, piopio, and crow. The rifleman wren, although a fairly common bird, • and the fern-bird could also be liberated on Kapiti. The^ area around Wharekohu Bay, at the south end, should prove an admirable haunt for the_ fern-bird. In any case, immediate action is necessary if some of thesa species are to be saved, as it only re-' quires the matter to* be shelved for * few more years and it will be too late,' for the birds will have passed away;' for ever.

There is no question that in. its present condition Kapiti Island is an efficient sanctuary. Many species o£\ native birds find a congenial home there amid charming surroundings. Probably the most plentiful bird on". the island is the whitehead, which is to be seen and heard from the summit to the beach. Its cheerful notes delight the visitor to this beautifulsanctuary. The bell-bird and the tir?! are fairly we'll represented, and in the first two weeks of January many family parties were to be seen. Another common bird on the island is the woodhen. or weka, which is distributed everywhere. In fact, it is possible th« weka is too plentiful, and a number, could with advantage be transferred to the mainland in an attempt to repopulate districts from which it has disappeared. It would be merely sending the birds to their death, however, if opossum trapping is allowed on the: ground in the areas in which they ara liberated. Strict supervision of trap-> ping would be essential if the birds were to have any chance of survival,, and the only safeguard would be toprohibit the traps being set on th» ground, but on planks placed against tree trunks. At the time of tha writer's visit the kaka was present in fairly large numbers, the flowering rata proving a great attraction. Oa the higher slopes of the island the noißy screeches of this bird were heard on all sides. The writer can, never remember the bird boing so plentiful on the occasion of former visits. The red-fronted parrakeet was also prominent, flocks numbering up to eight or nine birds being seen on the cliffs on the seaward side of the island. The smaller and more refined yellowfronted parrakeet was also seen, but. it appeared to be much rarer than tha redrfronted species. .

One of the most cherished of the island's possessions is the North Island robin, which appears to be generally distributed all over, the sanctuary. It certainly seems to be doing well. The usual smaller fry of the bush ara not. represented in such' largo numbers as one would expect. The pied fantail,. for instance, is comparatively scarce,but iv this the island is not alone, for; Fhis bird also appears to be scarcer j than usual in certain parts of th» i mainland. The tomtit, likewise, does ! not seem to bo very numerous, but iii this respect the same position holds on tho mainland. The numbers of tha silver-eye fluctuate from year to year, but at the present time quite a few; have remained on the island to breed.