NATURE NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 84, 5 October 1940, Page 9

NATURE NOTES

BIRDS ON MOUNT

VICTORIA

THE SKYLARK

{By R. H. D. Stiaolph.)

Wellington City Is fortunate in being more or less circumscribed by an open i space, familiarly known as the Town j BsyS. in which birds of several species are to be found. One of the most attractive of its inhabitants is the skySslk, which was introduced into New many years ago. Eeference to fee presence of the skylark! on the slopes of Mt'. Victoria is made in a letter written by a correspondent under the norn de plume of "Hark, the Lark" on September 23, "Near the summit of Mt. Victoria yesterday," writes this correspondent, "my wife and I -saw half a dozen larks and heard a couple singing high in the air. Only one of these lovely aerial singers was visible and that was close rto a big cumulus cloud. The young artilleryman on guard duty told me that he frequently sees and hears this small colony of larks. As it is such a long time since I heard a lark I thought the hedgehogs must have exterminated them all, so it is a pleasure to record them near the old signal station." This letter recalls to the writer the finding on the city side of Mt. Victoria, many years ago, on December 30, of a nest . of the skylark containing three newlyhatched young. .<■••« "SUPREMA A SITU." The site of this nest and of others ■■' on Mt. Victoria must present the young birds when they leave the nursery with i a vivid impression of height and of the j panorama below them. Could a skylark ever be reared in a more impressive place, with the rush and scurry of a city at its feet, as it were, and yet peace and quietness in its own i hunting grounds? Such an environ- 1 ment should induce any skylark to put j all its soul into its singing at every i opportunity, that is, if the- surround- J ings actually do affect a bird's song, i As long as pasture remains, there is every reason to expect that the skylark will continue to live peacefully in the city's Town Belt, but, on the other hand, if the entire area were ultimately planted with trees, no doubt the skylark would disappear. The skylark is essentially a bird of the pasture and if the grass goes so does the skylark. This correspondent's fears about the numbers of the skylark being affected by the hedgehog are groundless. In most districts the hedgehog is quite common, but where the conditions are suitable, the skylark remains abundant. It is one of the most numerous of introduced birds, in spite of the hedgehog, stoat, ferret, weasel, wild cats, rats, and any other enemies that may prey upon it. . . •■ . > # HEDGEROW SKULKER. On the same day on which the writer found the skylark's nest on Mt. Victoria, the nest of another introduced bird was discovered at a lower altitude, that of a hedge sparrow. It was placed low down in the fork of a holly, well hidden from prying, eyes and right alongside a path used-by many people every day. Although the nest itself, to outward appearance, was somewhat untidy, the interior of the cup was attractively finished off with fine material and in this cosy nursery 'rested three beautiful blue eggs. Who has not admired the colour of the hedge sparrow's eggs? It is among the most exquisite shade to be encountered in bird-land. The hedge sparrow has many enemies to contend with but in spite of them it thrives, though- its presence is often not suspected. Another nest which the writer had under observation on one occasion illustrates this point. One of the four young lost its life owing to a hair used for the lining of the nest choking it. By some means the hair got round its throat. Just when the remaining young were ready to leave the nest, a marauder, probably a cat. discovered it and tore the bottom out of it. The young were never seen again. . ■ • • • • INTRODUCED INHABITANTS. As is to be expected in such an environment, most of the birds to be found on Mt. Victoria are introduced species. Both the black- . bird and the song thrush find congenial homes in the shrubberies ■ arid hedges surrounding many of .the homes. They are birds that can live ev£n in the centre of the city, provided there are shrubs of some kind about. The chaffinch, too, is present and never fails to display its pretty plumage to advantage. Wherever there are pine trees, the greenfinch is to be found and as there are several belts of these trees in this portion of the Town Belt, true to form, •this bird is present., Always attractive, the goldfinch flits along with 'dipping flight and is to be seen where there are thistles. As enterprising as it is elsewhere, the starling forages amid the pasture for food with characteristic bustle. Of course, the sparrow prefers to glean a living from pickings around the houses and other buildings of man. The yellow hammer, too, inhabits the area, at least at certain times if not the whole year , round. Not so well known, the redpoll puts in an appearance and attracts attention to its presence by its jingling flight. This about completes the list of introduced birds of Mt. Victoria. SOME NATIVE FRIENDS. What native birds inhabit the area? First and foremost comes the unobtrusive grey warbler, the merry notes of which are perhaps better known than the bird itself. It is able to live wherever there are shrubs or trees. Even more common is the silver-eye, with its distinctive ring of white feathers around the eye. Although it is more in evidence in the colder months of the year, some birds remain to breed. At times, the ever-popular pied fantail may be seen. So engaging is it in ilts ways that there is hardly a single person who would harm it, though it finds life somewhat of a trial ih thickly-populated areas on account of the ravages of cats. Sometimes, too, at night, the cry of the morepork may be heard, though this bird may be more a visitor to than a resident of the area. Much rarer native visitors include the tui and the pigeon but these beautiful birds cannot be claimed as inhabitants, of this locality. Perhaps some residents of Mt. Victoria may be able to add on© or two birds to the list given here. It is •as well to remember that birdlovens can often see something of interest in spite of the fact that they live in a city. Some of the most valuable observations on record have been made in centres of population.