RARE BIRDS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 430, 11 May 1937, Page 4

RARE BIRDS

j BANDED DOTTEREL At Home On The Airport Visitors to the St.ratford airport re. cently were Interested' in the movements of a number of little blrdv, which were to be seen running about on the lookout for Insects for food. The birds progressed by a series of short laps, running fast for eight or nine feet, -then stopping for a moment or two before continuing their search. Th© name of the bird is the Banded Dotterel, and it will be news to many people who have observed the birds to learn that they have lived in the East Road- area and the airport property for at least ten years to the knowledge of a local resident, who is a lover of birds and a student of Nature. There is no migratory season with the Banded Dotterel, he says, as they have not shifted from the airport since learing operations were first commenced, and have no doubt made it. their habitat. Many netts have been found with eggs, but,unfortunately, in a number of cases- they were plundered by roving boys. The nests were simply bare hollows in the ground, with a few small pieces of sticks, probably to keep the eggs steady. In spite of the destruction of the eggs, however, the birds have increased in th© district. The bird is about the size of a song thrush. It is slaty grey above and Iwhite beneath, with two very con. spicuous bars of chestnut, across the breast, whence it derives its name of Banded Dotterel The colours harmonise with th© surroundings’, and afford protection from its natural enemies. The most characteristic note of the Dotterel is a thort sharp “twit,” uttered with a toss of the head. Handful of Fluff. An incident in the course of a visit to the airport last year is worth mentioning. The attention of a visitor was attracted to the peculiar move. I ments of two of thes© birds, and' soon ' it wat found that the pair were show. | ing anxiety over -their offspring, a ■ mere handful of fluff which was hopI ping and running alternately over tho ! surface. It was caught and examined, I the parent birds all the time increasj ingly twittering with alarm and calli ing their lit 1© one. Suddenly lb ■ jumped eflit of the visitor's hand' and 1 shot several feet away, landing un. ! harmed, and running towards the I parent birds. Together they made off I into the longer foliage, and were Tost jto view. i Now that the identity of- Hie birds- | has been established and- their habits I recorded, it is hoped that -the public, I and the boys in the district especially, will endeavour to protect -these tea. , thered fauna and preserve the bird I life of the country. Wader Bird Shot. I An Instance of the stupid and bari barian act of shooting any and every ! bird that may be within range of a gun—a disposition that unfortunate- ■ ly is peculiar to a lot of people—ocj curred at the beginning of the present ' year. The bird was said to have been i found dead' on the road at Toko, but really it had been shot -by a local man, who brought it to Stratford for identification, as it was a stranger to the district, It was evidently a member of the long-legged wader family. The legs were red.coloured, about six or seven inches long, carrying a small black body, with whit© patches under tho neck and wings, and a prominent beak. It is said to have been a specimen of a Black Stilt, which breeds on shingl© beds, notably 1° the Manawatu and Wairarapa. The Black Stilt was not uncommon at one -time in its natural habitat, but. now it appears to be decidedly rare.