KAPITI ISLAND

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3752, 9 February 1928, Page 1

KAPITI ISLAND

DECEMBER SOUTHERLIES.

DEVASTATE LARGE AREAS

During a visit made to Kapiti Is* land bird sanctuary recently by Mr. Johannes C. Anderson and a party of friends, the first tiling noticed was the way in which the southerly gale which occurred shortly before 'Christmas had put everything back. It was the height of the breeding season, and the destruction amongst land birds and sea birds Avas vei’y great. On one little island where terns and red-billed gulls breed, out of twenty' nests only seven remained. On Kapiti itself trees were broken and eggs shaken^out of the nests to such an extent~'that the caretaker was finding it difficult to secure any photographs at all, and it had been hoped that this season he would have obtainel an extra good supply of photographs of birds and their nests and the feeding of their young. A SERIOUS SETBACK.

One night was spent on the top of the island. “Going up in the afternoon, especially in the /upper parts,” said Mr. Anderson, “we continually came on devasted areas where huge trees had been blown over, and in falling had destroyed the surrounding growth as well, so that there were patches many in extent, where all the vegetation was withered as if it had been felled for a burn.

“It was now especially noticeable how many big trees there are on Kapiti; and it is certain that at one time it must have borne heavy forest, a great deal of the present covering being the growth of the past eighty years or so.

“When the gale came the trees were in flower, and of those that were not blown down the flowers were destroyed and the foliage scorched as if by fire; which means, of course, that there will be much less feed in the present season, with a corresponding lessening in the number of birds.

“The island must, of course, have had many such setbacks before, but none so destructive has been noticed for a great many years. “In the interior of the bush it is evident how rapidly regeneration is going on now that all the goats have been got rid of, and a decided diminution of the sheep has taken place, and there is no doubt that in time the island will again become entirely covered with forest. “At present perhaps one quarter, including all the southern portion, is either in tussock or taukinu scrub, and when that portion is also covered with forest Kapiti will be able to maintain far more birds than at present. MUTTON-BIRDS AND •' OPOSSUMS.

“The night was spent on the highest point of the island, 725 feet above sea level, and as we sat there in the evening, before turning into our blankets, in the wooded valley below we heard the cry of the kiwi. The cry was also heard last year, so there is no loubt that the kiwi, which were introduced to Kapiti some years ago, are established.

“In the small hours we were startled, as we lay there, by the strange cries of the mutton-birds that flew around close over our heads. A number of these birds live in burrows on this highest point of the island.

“It has been questioned whether opossums really do damage to our forest trees. In an ordinary forest, whilst damage is no doubt done, it is not specially observable, but in a sanctuary where the birds and the trees are a consideration, theio is clear evidence that the opossums do a considerable amount of damage. “In one particular instance the caretaker took us to see a special tree that he had taken care of, and we found that it had been entirely stripped by the opossums, and there was doubt if it would vccoyci. “There is always a danger of any rare tree on the island being thus destroyed, and as Kapiti is a sanstuary for New Zealand birds and trees, it would be as well that the opossums should be exterminated m the same way that it was deeu e( o exterminate the goats and sheep.