NATIVE BIRD LIFE.

Shannon News, 6 August 1929, Page 4

NATIVE BIRD LIFE.

SOME SPECIES HOLMNG THEIR OWN. An' article which, will be of much interest to all nature students —and all who live close to Nature must surely come into this, category—is published in the annual report of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. To the question "Are our native birds incfeasing ?" Ranger T. Andrews responds, "It is very difficult to say definitely"; but,he goes on as follows: BITTERNS FAIRLY NUMEROUS. A visit to the swamp areas about Rangitane will probably give one the impression that the bittern at least is on the increase. Forty or more can be flushed in an hour or so on a thirtyacre lagoon. This local increase might be accounted for by the drying-up of surrounding swamp country, thereby compelling the birds to congregate m the small areas left. They are certainly fairly numerous throughout the Manawatu and Rangitikei districts. PUKEKO CHANGING THEIR HABITS. .

The pukeko are certainly more than holding their own. They rear at least two broods of five to seven in a season, so the increase is fairly rapid. On the grass flats about the lower reaches of the Turakina river they seem to have adapted themselves to the new conditions. Instead of living in the swamps, they now seem to put m most of their time in the lupins far back on the sand hills, only visiting the fiats to feed. They are very numerous in this localitv. They can also be. seen in large numbers about the Makerua swamps in the Manawatu. HAUNTS OF THE GREY DUCK. Grey ducks were certainly very plentiful about the Manawatu early in April, but by the time the shooting season opened, they were not nearly a. 3 numerous. A change takes place in the duck world about the first week in April. By\ then the late broods are strong enough on the wing to go further afield, and they leave the small lagoons and take up their residence on the larger bodies of water, leaving these only at night for their different feeding grounds. It is about this time that Acclimatisation Societies receive a host of complaints about duck poaching, but more often than not the birds have left, not on account of being disturbed, but simply because it is natural for them to do so. The duck is a very early breeder and broods are fairly common at -the end of August and eurly iu ; September. If the'shooting season- is restricted to May and June, as at present', I see no reason why the grey ducks should decrease in numbers.

SHOVELLEB DUCK AND LESSEE

The spoonbill, or shoveller duck,, i. 9 not plentiful, either in the Manawatu nor Rangitikei districts, but ..is quite common in some of the backwaters of the Wairarapa Lake, sometimes being seen in their hundreds.

The godwit ia only a visitor to our shores, and I have never seen a flight of more than fifty in any part of our district. From November to April they can be seen at the mouths of the Turakina, Eangitikei, Manawatu and Ohau rivers. I do not think we should have an open season for these fine birds. Banded dotterel can be seen at the mouth of most of our rivers, and sometimes far inland. They are quite numerous in pur district.

Tie pied stilt plover seems to be on the increase and can be seen in fair numbers on the estuaries of the Oroua, Turakina, Eangitikei and the Manawatu rivers. They also at times go many miles up our rivers. r The kingfisher at present seems to b-3 much in evidence, and only a day or so ago I observed several at Bainesse, miles away from any water. They seem to be holding their own.

The blue cranes do riot seem to increase. They favour certain localities and may be seen at Paekakariki, Porirua Harbou/ and Wellington Harbour, but only in pairs or singly. PIGEONS, KAKAS AND PARRAKEETfS. The native pigeon is, I think, holding its own and can be seen throughout the Tararuas. A local stalker reported having found a nest containing one egg as late as the 7th of April last. This nest was only seven feet from the ground and very roughly made. Needless to say, nothing was disturbed. The native pigeon must hav? a long breeding season. It is not often one sees or hears ,a kaka in these days, and our parakeets are equally as scarce. SMALLER FRY. The tit larks are, I think, the most numerous of all native birds. They can be seen in most places, including the foothills, cultivated fields, and beaches. The pied fantail comes a good second numerically, and can be seen practically everywhere. I personally have never observed a black fantail in the Wellington district. The pied tit can be seen in most places, 'but, strange to say, the males seem to be much more numerous than the females. On one trip in the Tararuas I counted twenty-odd mates before seeing a hen bird. The whiteheads are still to be seen at times, but I cannot say they are plentiful near Wellington. Members of the wren family seem to be holding their own, especially the' rifleman, in the higher levels. The white eye is numerous everywhere, arid to see them in the heart of the bush one hardly recognises them as the same birds often seen in town back yards. The native bush seems to give this bird a polish lacking elsewhere A CASE FOR THE HAWK. •Harrier hawks are, fairly numerous, and I.think do much more good than harm. They no doubt take heavy toll of young pheasants when first liberated in strange localities, especially if deficient of cover, but it is very doubtful if they get many wild birds. If

one cares to watch them of an evening hovering around catching ground vermin, the harrier goes up in one's estimation. I have never seen tbeni make any attempt to touch an unwounded duck, yet in the shooting season they will dare the guns on lakes and lagoons and account for all wounded birds, thereby doing good service. NATIVE BIRDS ABUNDANT ON THE RANGITIKEI. While ranging the upper reaches of the Rangitikei River I was amazed at the number and variety of native birds to be seen. We camped by a block of bush comprising about three thousand acres. This bush was composed of black and brown birch, with an occas ional totara. The bell birds were literally in their thousands. Whiteheads, riflemen wren and white eye were to be heard on all sides and appeared to be very numerous; an occasional pied fantail was to be seen. Tuis were there, but were not plentiful.. The harrier hawk, the sparrow hawk, and another hawk, that was strange to me were observed Thi3 strange hawk was smaller than the harrier, and appeared to have no fear, allowing me to approach within four or five yards of it. Two kaka put in an appearance about dusk, but they were the only ones seen. At night, woodhens and morepork were to hi heard on all sides and appeared to b-J very numerous. Kiwi were heard calling, but they did not appear to b'. plentiful. To hear the bell birds calling was indeed most beautiful. I cannot understand how such a variety of birds find sustenance in such unprom : ising surroundings a 3 birch forest. -