BIRD LIFE AT MAUKU.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 295, 24 July 1917, Page 4

BIRD LIFE AT MAUKU.

Under the heading: of "Nature Notes" last Saturday's supplement of the "Herald" contained the following:— Mr Henry E. R. L Wily, of the Falls, Mauku, lives in a district that is a slightly elevated plateau about 300 ft above sea level, between Manukau Harbour and the lower reaches of the Waikato River. Most of the forest there has been cleared, but behind his house there is a piece of fifty or sixty acres, and he records with pleasure that some of his'old bird friends are establishing themselves amongst the trees. The most notable of these is a colony of North Island crows, which have increased in number to about thirty. Five or six kakas aften are in evidence. They seem to divide their time between his bush and a similar piece about three miles away, remaining in each a few weeks. Tuis, which are fairly common, utter their notes in trees near tha house. Last spring, a pair of robins were seen in one of the darkest dells. Pigeons pay occasional visits, but do not stay long, although tarairi berries are very plentiful- The shining cuckoo attends in the spring, and occasionally a long-tailed cuckoo is seen, but parakeets and bellbirds have been absent for many years. In the open country, it is unusual to walk for a mile along the bank of the Mauku stream without flushing a bittern or hearing its booming note. A colony of shags has found a suitable nesting place on the bank. Teal are plentiful. A pair of grey ducks sometimes appear. The pectoral rail is becoming quite common again, but is not often seen unless flushed by dogs in low and swampy places. When a small paddock was being mowed last year, three ne9ts of these rails, with richly-spotted eggs, ware disclosed. It was the last week in December, yet the eggs were fresh. There are two colonies of pukekos, with about a dozen birds in each. In a strong thicket composed almost exclusively of titoki trees, several morepork owls may be found almost any day. Kingfisheis peck holes in decayed trees and lay their round white eggs there At the estuary of the stream, they burrow in the sandstone cliffs. One day Mr Wily caught an eel that had swallowed a kingfisher whole ; the eel weighed 181b. Fantails are plentiful, but at times they seem to completely disappear. The fern-bird haunts the swamps; it remains low down, builds a very neat nest, and is heard more frequently than it is seen. Wekas are plentiful, inquisitive, and acquisitive. When heavy weather comes up from the north east, black swans cross from Manukau to the Waikato. A hill in front of Mr Wily's house is in the line of their route. They pass the hill within a few feet of the ground, always at the same place. He has seen them going south scores of times, usually about sunset, bat never has seen them on their return journey. His general observations show that native birds are accustoming themselves to changed environment, and are learning to live under conditions which some years ago seemed to be fatal to them.