W.E.A.

Evening Star, Issue 19665, 19 September 1927, Page 6

W.E.A.

DICLBGY CLASS This class met last’ Friday, tho_ subject being ‘A Few Now Zealand Birds.’ Miss Fyfe introduced her subject by saying that, owing to New Zealand having been isolated for so many centuries, the bird life had developed a striking variety of types. Tho habits of tho mutton bird were then described. This _ migratory bird travels north for the winter months, but spring brings it back to the islands near Stewart Island, where it remains throughout the summer. It used to be said that all mutton birds laid their eggs on the same day—namely, November 25 but this is "incorrect, as observations have proved that at one time eggs may be found in all stages of, incubation. Tho islands frequented by mutton birds arc a breeding ground for petrels of many kinds. _ These petrels breed on these islands in thousands. The male birds leave the islands at dawn and fly off in search of food, leaving their mates at home to look after tho eggs. At sunset they return and descend_ on the islands, falling everywhere, like ripe fruit. The birds seem very stupid after their flight. Sometimes they stand motionless and can bo caught easily. While they are in this dazed condition the seahawk comes among them, Inking what ho wants. The Maoris have wlmres on the mutton bird islands. They take birds of two_ stages. First, the fluffy fledgling, which is very fat. When the fledgling is grown it comes out of the burrow on a windy day, and waits for the wind to blow away the down and leave the feathers _ underneath. It is then tho Alaoris catch them. They are preserved in kelp bags in special oil, and arc sold and exported. The kea is a perfectly harmless bird in its own habitat. At the bend of the principal rivers of the Southern Alps kens are found in plenty. In those regions the kea reigns supremo. Alan invaded the kca’s territory, and with man came the sheep: with the sheep came temptation for the kea, and finally its fall. Normally the kea is a vegetarian, though it also will eat grubs and insects. Tho kea is not a very graceful bird. It lias the flat head of the parrot and grey-green plumage. The most striking thing about it is the band of red down the.back and on the nndcr-siirface of the wings. The legs are very short, and its tail, being long, very often trails on the ground as it walks. The kea is said to develop a taste for the sheep’s kidneys. This is nob true. They do oat the kidneys, but it is just tliafi,_ when a sheep is standing up. the kidneys lie in the part which is most easily attacked. The eggs of the kea are placed in most inaccessible places, away up in the cliffs at the end of long tunnels, so that there is little chance, of extennmtincc tho kea by destroying the ca^s. The tui, or parson bird, is of a beantifnl dark hhioy-green color. The male and the female both have white tufts of feathers at the throat. Tho young bird does not have, these tnfts. It lias the power of mimicry, and on this account has often been kept ns a pet. Its song is a. chime of five notes, but it also these notes. The young tins do not'learn to sing of their own accord. but have to bo taught by their parents. , , , .. , The kakapo is called the owl bird. It has the beak of a parrot, but it has the fluffy look of tho owl. It also bns the nocturnal habits of the owl. According to native tradition, the kakapo once was very abundant in New Zea.nml. but now it is confined to very small areas. In the North Island it is round very rarely in the high country round Lake Tanpo. In the South Island it occurs more frequently on the Mest Coast and down the Sounds region o, Otago. It has wings, but docs not use (hem for actual flight. The kakapo is very clever, and also very affectionate. It will rub against one and fondle just ns a dog docs ' The cat, the_ rat, the doc, and the pig are all enemies to the kakapo, which will be extinct betore many years are out.