NATIVE BIRDS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1929, Page 2

NATIVE BIRDS

RARE STITCHBIRD INCREASING. AN INTERESTING REPORT. Lovers of native birds will bo interested to learn that, according to a memorandum, the Minister <f Internal Affairs (Hon. P. A. do la Pcitcllc) lias received from the oaretker ol the Little Barrier Island sanctuary (Air It. Nelson), the rare stitchhird is in creasing in numbers in the sanctuary. “When travelling in the bush, especially in the interior of the island,” Air Nelson states, “T have seen the birds in twos and threes. On one oeeasion when in the gull.v nearest the bouse, I located fifteen stitch birds. Once on a ridge I was glad to see live of the species. Now lam seeing them regularly which proves that they are increasing.” N (JT AB LE H ONEY-E ATER. As students of New Zealand bird life know,. Ihe stitchhird is a notable member of the family of the honey-eaters by its possession of a protractile tongue. Tt differs from the tui in its smaller size and absence of throat tufts. It is about the same size as the liellhirdj hut differs in its rounded tail of pointed featlisr. It is best recognised by the white hand on the wing, and, in the male only, tne white tuft \of feathers behind the ear; upper sur- [ iface brown with a white hand on the j wings; breast and wing coverts bright j yellow, abdomen brown and white. The I Ifemale is brown with a white bifnd on the wings, as also is the young. The J name stitchhird is given to it on account ! of its call resembling the word ‘ titch. The Maori name, hilii ,is similarly an imitation of the bird’s note. The stitch bird is confined to Now Zealand. For nierly it inhabited the whole of the North Island, being quite common about Wellington. It lias now, however, become extinct on the mainland, the last bird having been seen about 1883. It is found only on Little Barrier Island. In 1980 Air Reischek, an Australian collector spent some months on -the island, but saw only a few birds. The species is now undoubtedly increasing. Buller records the stitchbird on the mainland as building in the branches df trees, but GuthrieSniitli, on Little Barrier Island, found the bird breeding in boles in the trunk of trees. Possibly this is an adjustment to the presence of rats, which probably was the main lactor in the extinction of the species on the mainland. The stitchhird feeds on the nectar of flowers, fruit, and soft-bodied insects and spiders. By the Maoris the stitchhird was used as food while the yellow leathers from the wing were used to decorate the cloaks used by the chiefs.

THE SADDLEBACK

The native bird known as the saddleback, is also reported on by Air Nelson He states that eight of the birds were liberated some years ago on the Little Barrier Island. “They have not,’’ he says, “been seen or heard by me since the week after they were liberated. They may have flown hack to the Hen and Chickens Island, as they got ’o rest from the tuis. The tuis chased them everywhere. It is, however, possible that the saddleback may ho living in the far interior of the island.” It is stated that the saddleback belongs to the same family as the starling which it resembles in size, and general build. The ridge of the hill, however, is stouter, and there are wattles at the base of the bill. The bird can at once be distinguished by its colour, which is black, with the back and wings coverts deep chestnut. The wattles are generally orange, but vary between red and yellow. The young is entirely brown. The name saddleback is applied to the bird on account of the chestnut back; the Maoris gave it the name “tickc” in imitation of its call. The saddleback is nearly extinct on the mainland, it being known is a few localities only. It is, however, common on Hon Island, east of AYhangarei Heads, and South-west Island, off Stewart Island. Some specimens were, a few years ago, transferred from Hen Island to Little Barrier and Kapiti Islands. It is now reported as having become established on Kapiti island, but, according to AH Nelson, has not been seen on the Little Barrier island since a few days alter it was liberated. Although the distinctive plumage of the young bird is known to last for a year in the South Island, it was for a long time believed not to be present in North Island birds. This led to the young bird being described as a separate species supposed to bo confined to the South Island. It js now known that the young bird in the North Island is coloured as in the South Island, but evidently assumes the adult plumage much earlier in life. The saddleback feeds mainly on insects and their larvae, but berries and buds are also recorded as forming part of its food. In the South Island saddlebacks have been observed following flocks of yellow-beads through the Imsli. It is thought that this is in order to feed on the insects disturbed by the yellow-beads. The bird is regarded with a certain degree of reverence by the Maoris of the Arawa tribe on account of a pair once building in the hollow ol a tree supposed to possess miraculous properties. In other districts it was regarded as a bird of omen, portending’ according to the direction from which the cry was beard, victory or defeat to the war party which beard its call.