Birds move in

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 39, 17 March 1987, Page 11

Birds move in

Turoa Skifields' Mountain Manager Robin Foubister is an enthusiastic bird watcher of many years and has been taking considerable interest in some 'visitors' to the Waimarino. What he first thought to be a magpie turned out to be a spur-winged plover, so named because of the spurlike growths on its wings used for attack and defence against predators.

The birds predominantly populate the South Island but have been present in the North Island since I973. Plovers nest up to 600 metres above sea level, the approximate altitude of Ohakune. A flock of around five birds was spotted by Mr Foubister around two weeks ago at the Turoa 9-hole golf course and since then have been sighted at other places around the district. Brent Bishop of Horopito

has discovered a flock nesting on his property. The spur-winged plover is identified by the bright yellow wattle on its head and similar body markings to a magpie. Those people fond of shooting magpies are asked to make sure they have the right bird in their sights — magpies may be a nuisance but spur-winged plovers feed on insect species that are agricultural pests and so the plover can be considered beneficial to man.