PUKEKO SURVEY.

Forest and Bird, Issue 22, 1 October 1930, Page 6

PUKEKO SURVEY.

District. Number of Birds taken. Approximate Date of Capture. Where Stomach Manawatu. Manawatu 2 Manawatu. Swamp material, grass. 11 • • 2 6/1/29 ,, . . Macerated green vegetation, and seeds of Kairanga 4 19/2/29 From swamp with crop of partLolium perenne and buttercup. Macerated vegetation, and seeds of Lolium ff Karere 22 6/1/2921/5/29 •• • vicinity peas ridge Macerated green vegetation, and seeds of Lolium perenne and buttercup. Taken on crop of rape perenne, Poa annua, Eleocharis ovata, Carex sp., and Glyceria fluitans. Macerated vegetation, fat-hen and sedgeweed. Kairanga 11 4 2 19/2/2929/5/29 with From part- of swamp Lolium Macerated vegetation, duckweed. (grass) ridge peas in near vicinity perenne, Poa annua, Eleocharis ovata, Carex sp., and Glyceria fluitans. Karere Ranfurly 22 21/5/295/11/28 of Taken crop in rape Macerated vegetation, fat-hen and sedgeweed. Otago. From vicinity of cropping-areas . . Small roots and little macerated green mater2 11/12/28 ial; also remains of insect-larvae and spider. Macerated green material and seeds of Poa ”Waihola 22 29/5/2914/1/29 pratensis. Macerated grass and part of an insect. From swamp area with crop of rape in near vicinity Otago. Macerated vegetation (grass) and duckweed. 2 12/12/28 „ Macerated vegetation and clover-leaves; also seeds of Eleocharis ovata. 2 5/11/28 From vicinity of cropping-areas .. Small roots and little macerated green material ; also remains of insect-larvae and spider. Ranfurly 2 11/12/28 Macerated green material and seeds of Poa pratensis. yyyy 14/1/29 • - Macerated grass and part of an insect. 2 2 12/12/28 ” Macerated vegetation and clover-leaves; also seeds of Eleocharis ovata. W aihola

Ranfurly 2 9/2/29 Chewed up vegetation, and seeds of Eleochoris ovata, Alopecurus geniculalus, and Poa annua. 11 Chewed up vegetation, and seeds of Eleocharis ovata, Alopecurus geniculaius, and Pda annua. 11 2 6/3/29 Swamp Macerated Few rush-seeds and some rye. *1 . • 2 4/4/29 ,, Waihola 22 4/4/2918/3/29 . ,, , ,, ft 2 18/3/29 Few rush-seeds and some rye. Ranfurly 2 1/5/29 miles cropping-area Vegetation, and Lake . Waihola 2 10/5/29 Berwick vegetation of rush-seeds. Waipori 2 13/6/29 Lake ; seeds. Ranfurly 2 11/6/29 From . Macerated vegetation „ 2 6/7/29 Near Macerated and vegetation • • »> Waipori . 2 5/8/29 From cropping-area (u) Macerated and vegetation crop of ) vegetation barley-grain. 2 1 6/7/29 Waipori . . Macerated swamp vegetation and rush-seeds. WaiporiV 12 6/7/2916/8/29 Southland. .Macerated black-swamp vegetation. W'aipori Macerated swamp vegetation and rush-seeds. ”Waimea Plains . 24 16/8/29 and Southland. Macerated black-swamp vegetation. Jan. From vicinity of cultivated land .. Aiacerated vegetation (grass). Waimea Plains . 4 Dec. and Jan. From vicinity of cultivated laud .. Macerated vegetation (grass). C .2 Ditto .. Shot in oat-paddock No oats found; stalks and heads of weeds and other vegetation. o Plains . 2 18/4/29 Twenty-five chains from nearest crop Macerated vegetation (mostly marsh-fox-tail) ; Alopecurus genictdatus. ft • • 2 From cultivated areas on plains .. Macerated vegetation (grass) and oat-seeds. ,, 1 . . 2 14/5/29 ,, Macerated vegetation (grass). 2 25/6/29 Taken beside an oat-stack Macerated vegetation; oat and rush seeds. ft • • 2 . 25/6/29 From swamp, half a mile from cultivation North Canterbury. Macerated vegetation; oat and toad-rush seeds. oCheviot 22 Ditto .23/4/29 in oat-paddock Alleged damage No oats found; stalks and heads of weeds and other vegetation. stacks Macerated vegetation (grass) ; few cloverleaves. Plains . 99 • 2 20/7/29 99 Macerated grass and other vegetation. 2 18/4/29 Twenty-five chains from nearest crop Macerated vegetation (mostly marsh-fox-tail) ; Alopecurus geniculatus. „ 2 From cultivated areas on plains . . Macerated vegetation (grass) and oat-seeds. „ .. 2 14/5/29 ,, Macerated vegetation (grass). *1 2 25/6/29 Taken beside an oat-stack Macerated vegetation; oat and rush seeds. Cheviot 2 25/6/29 From swamp, half a mile from cultivation North Canterbury. Macerated vegetation; oat and toad-rush seeds. 2 23/4/29 Alleged to be causing damage to stacks Macerated vegetation (grass) ; few cloverleaves. 99 • • 2 20/7/29 ” Macerated grass and other vegetation.

The following is the result of a stomachic survey of the Pukeko, which was conducted by the Department of Internal Affairs consequent on the earnest solicitations of the Native Bird Protection Society. As will be seen, the result is altogether in favour of the Pukeko: —