WEST COAST BIRDS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1925, Page 4

WEST COAST BIRDS.

In his notes “In Touch with Nature” in the “Lyttelton Times,” -Mr J. Drummond, F.L.S., F.J.S., states: Boring and prospecting lor coal on the Westport Coal Company’s leases in rough country gives -Mr J. Leonard, of Granity, West, Const, many opportunities to meet friends he makes in the bush. He is a native of New Zealand, and most of his life lias been spent in the bush—farming and bushwork in the North Island, and mining and bushwork in the South Island. He can call close to him most native birds. The tui, he finds, is one of the shy birds that will not respond to his friendly efforts, but be, on occasions, lias seen it close at band by accident. There are not very many tuis where he works now; they arc rarer than lie has found them in the North Island, much duller in plumage, and less tame and less inquisitive. Bellbirds are as plentiful as in (lie North fsland, but they also seem to have duller plumage than North Island bellbirds; last winter he called to several bellbirds in a piece of bush, and soon had no fewer than eleven about him. Some four years ago, when lie returned to Alillerton, bis present place of residence, after an absence of twenty years, lie felt a thrill of joy on seeing a pair oi black fantails, like old friends, 011 the StocktonMillerton Track. “ I have met many old friends and acquaintances, men and women. down here,” -Mr Leonard writes, ” but none I think, gave me more pleasure than seeing these two little black fautails.” Both the black ami the pied fantails are fairly plentiful. -Mr Leonard has seen only one woku there. In the winter of 1921 the noise l ol the engine when a bore-bole was being put down attracted ike weka. which came regularly for (lead. Mr Leonard took

an extra allowance for the weka, and, when the machine was working, dug

up worms for it. In camp at Mnlinkinui last Christmas, Mr Leonard heard a kiwi at night and residents told him that they had heard it almost eyery night for live years or more. Me has seen only three or four grey warblers near Millerton. lie lias not .-veil a single ycllowhend or bush canary there, and lias not met anybody who has. He has seen only two wrens and two parrakeels. Tom-tits arc plentiful, but wood-robbins are rare. A few weeks ago lie saw five kakas fly overhead. Both species of cuckoo have been seen hv him in the district.