OBSERVATIONS FIFTY YEARS AGO.

Forest and Bird, Issue 23, 1 March 1931, Page 6

OBSERVATIONS FIFTY YEARS AGO.

{Rxtracts from Potts’ “Out in the Open,” 1882.)

PARROTS (Potts). —“It may be thought not out of place to make brief allusion to the influence which some of the habits of the kaka exercise on the condition of the forest; admitted amongst the Trichoglossinae as a honey-eating bird, in its search after this portion of its food, it may cause the fertilisation of the blossoms of trees, and thus assist in their propagation. Its love of insect food, and the toil w T hich it undertakes for the sake of gratifying this appetite, which Nature has implanted in the bird, materially affect the economy of the timber forests it inhabits. Although so often accused of injuring trees by stripping down the bark, from careful observation we are unwilling to believe a flourishing tree is ever damaged by its beak; it is the apparently vigorous, but really unsound, tree that is attacked, already doomed by the presence of countless multitudes of insects of various species, of which it is at once the food and refuge, either in their perfect or larval state “Living in trees, when disturbed it hops amongst the branches with much dexterity, beak and wdngs assisting its awkwardlooking but rapid progress as it threads its way amongst leaves and sprays with unruffled plumage; the peculiar formation of its grasping feet enable it to execute wonderful feats of agile climbing.

“Kakas do not travel in large flocks, most frequently but two or three are to be seen in company, sometimes six or eight are noticed together, solitary wanderers are not unfrequently observed ; when their cry is imitated it is often replied to. Their steady, slow, and somewhat laboured flight when journeying is not to be mistaken for that of any other native bird that we have observed on the wing; there is a methodical painstakingstyle that affords quite a contrast to their gay, rattling, offhand scaring and gliding about the bush; if exhibits the proper difference of behaviour to be assumed under business-like and pleasure-taking aspects; man is not the only biped enjoying the privilege of duality. In dull, moist weather, when the strangevoiced tui is silent, the kaka is perhaps more noisy than usual; its call is heard at the earliest dawn, even in the night it is not by any means a silent bird.

It lays its four white eggs on the decayed wood, without anv further supply of softer material by way of nest. We have never found the discovery of the nest a very easy matter to accomplish, unless mayhap it was disclosed

by pure accident; the old birds, with a wariness and wiliness well calculated to mislead the nest hunter, assume an air of utter indifference to the presence of intruders, as though they had no secret hiding-place to conceal from prying eyes; their work was to lick up honey from the nectaries of expanding blossoms, or to dig out with their strong mandibles, the dormant insect. . . . . As an instance of devoted attachment to its young, it may be mentioned that we have found the old bird dead at the entrance of its nesting hole after a bush fire, in which it had perished rather than desert its helpless offspring, yet, from the nature of the locality, escape would have been easy. “ .... In September we have observed it poised on the slender bough of some tall Panax, luxuriating on the viscid nectar of its blossoms; happy enough it looks when thus seen through some opening through the trees; its deep red breastfeathers lit up by the slanting rays of the declining sun; sated at last, it cleanses its huge beak against a neighbouring bough, then with grateful chatter, glides off to join its fellows. “Insects form no inconsiderable portion of its food, how diligently they are sought for may be judged from the heaps of bark chips that lie beneath decaying trees; often it may be noticed on the ground, tearing away the mossy clothing of the huge gnarled roots that spread around, even the soft rotten boughs are gnawed to obtain the larvae of some of the larger bush insects ”

FLYCATCHERS (Potts). —“To the quiet observer of the habits of our bird-friends, but few sights can afford more gratification than watching the patient industry which is displayed by the very energetic and useful flycatcher, in the construction of its compactly-formed nest. The nest is to be found near its food supply (for the young will make incessant demands on the exertions of the parent birds), and it seeks a sheltered position where insects ‘most do congregate’; it must at the same time afford ‘ample room and verge enough’ for the numberless evolutions to be performed by the rapid fluttering of two pairs of most active wings, which are soon to be constantly fanning the lazy air. To meet these indispensable requirements, the security offered by the densely tangled thicket is most commonly neglected for the retirement that is to be found beneath the high bank of some shady creek; the bough usually selected stands out well from the main stem, not too close to other branches. The foundation of the nest is laid by adroitly securing small slender chips of decayed wood with lines of cobweb to the spray selected; this delicate operation must of necessity be a work of great difficulty, c’est le premier pas qui coate; in places where splinters of decayed wood were not to be obtained, we have noticed that the glumes of a coarse grass have been

used instead. Who can fail to admire the persevering efforts of these little architects; what care, dexterity, and cleverness is employed in raising the frail platform on which is to be built the thick felted wall of the snug home? As the work advances, additional exertions are called forth; from the variety of materials required, longer flights become necessary for their collection, mossy stones and roots are scrutinised, and places frequented by live stock visited; fine grasses, thread-like roots, dead leaves or skeletons of leaves, hair, green tufts of moss with tiny imbricated leaves, and the down of tree ferns, are now wanted, crevices are searched, and the numerous holes before which 'the murderous spider,’ lurking in the dark, has spread the treacherous net. “It is whilst collecting cobwebs that the plumage of the flycatchers is exhibited to the greatest advantage; hovering on the wing, the fan-like tail outspread to the utmost width, with rapid gyrations they move round the spot till enough has been secured for a load ; the quantity made use of would surprise those who have not witnessed these labours; it is a most important element in felting; in fact, it is the mortar of the growing structure. Whilst building, the exterior of the wall is always kept higher than the centre of the nest, so that at an early stage of its progress it assumes a saucer-like shape; the birds (for both join in the labour, although the female appears to undertake the greatest share) try the strength of their work in every way; it is well trampled, the webs are carried from the interior to the outside in festoons from left to right, and right to left, as far down as the beak can reach; this working in of the web is persevered with throughout the entire building of the fabric, thus the materials are repeatedly braced together. As the wall rises, the bird, with tail elevated, is itself the mould by which the rounded cavity is beautifully shaped; seated in the centre of the rising structure, it turns round repeatedly, fluttering the wings, which action keeps the curving of the wall to its proper shape, the head and chin are pressed on the top or rim, the materials pulled in towards the centre; this manoeuvre is repeated at frequent intervals. So earnest are these little workers that they scarcely rest for hours; sometimes, by a sudden flutter, they obtain a few insects, or the creek is visited for water; ....

“As the nest approaches completion, it assumes a cup-like form, a still more abundant use of cobweb may be noticed, the festoons are multiplied, the wall being finished off with numberless ties and braces; the interior is now lined with fern-down, the slender fruit stalks of moss, or other soft material other than feathers, and the structure is complete, and admirable finished; it is warm, strong, and elastic, and so well felted that it is not easily pressed out of shape; it is a marvel of construction, effected by the beaks of two small birds which have had numberless other offices to perform.”

BELLBIRD (Potts.) —“It is at the grey brea'k of dawn, and in the still hour that closes-in the day, that its chimes strike clearest on the ear. It is comparatively silent during the noontide heat, unless some few individuals meet on a tree or shrub that offers, it may be, a tempting show of honey-bearing blossoms, a note or two is briefly sounded, the numbers rapidly increase, after much noisy fluttering of wings a gush of clanging melody bursts forth from a score of quivering throats, forming a concert of inharmonious, yet most pleasing sounds. Nor is the ear alone gratified, for the actions and postures of the melodists are extremely quaint and droll during this performance, which seems to be only undertaken by cock birds; it is usually commenced by two of them that perch opposite to each other, now with swelling throat and puffed out feathers they deliver note for note with curious precision of time and swaying action.

“Probably Cook indicated the bell-bird, then in a comparatively unmolested state, when he wrote ‘the ship lay at the distance of somewhat less than a quarter of a mile from the shore, and in the morning we were awakened by the singing of the birds; the number was incredible, and they seemed to strain their throats in emulation of each other. This wild melody was infinitely superior to any that we had ever heard of the same kind; it seemed to be like small bells, most exquisitely tuned, and perhaps the distance and the water between might be of no small advantage to the sound.’ “This cheerful bird does not confine itself to forests and their deep and gloomy shades, it rather affects shrubby gullies, and is a constant and well loved inmate of our gardens and plantations, and vastly doth it delight in ransacking the sweets yielded by the blossoms of the acacia, fuchsia, tritoma, etc. The berries of the konini, of various species of coprosma, ripening early, furnish some part of its food supply, later on in the year the bead-like seeds of the ti palm are laid under contribution “Placed among the Mcliphagidac or honey-eaters by ornithologists, it nevertheless shows an accommodating appetite for many kinds of food. We have already pointed to some of the numerous kinds of drupes and berries on which it luxuriates; yet as an insect eater it is not without its value to the culturist; in twisting and turning amongst the leaves, as spray by spray it searches for the living hordes housed in barky crevices, it exhibits habits and ways that may be likened to those of a true creeper. In dull foggy weather we well remember to have seen numbers of this bird twirling and climbing about the rampant intertwined cords of the muhlenbcckia that hung almost from the very top of a lofty tree —here the bellbirds were most busy in their insect search, fluttering with half spread wings and swaying on the slender Ilians that hung pendant from the outspread branches. After moths and large insects on the wing we have often seen it

fluttering heavily, noisily it may be said, yet wheeling with sufficient speed to ensure frequent captures “To return for a moment to its position amongst the honeyeaters, when the phormium in the months of early spring sends up its lofty flower stems ranged around with tiers of orange tinted blossoms, then the bell-bird and tui indulge in ample hone}'

feasts “In the busy breeding season, both sexes work at nest building; placed at no great elevation from the ground, the structure may be found in a variety of positions, but we have noticed it very frequently beneath a sheltering canopy of bush lawyer ( rubas ), near the top of some moderate sized shrub or bush: very often under a thatch of the persistent leaves of the ti palm that hang down the tall stem. It is rather flat, loosely yet strongly built of sprays, grass, moss, etc., well lined with feathers; on examining the foundation of a nest, we have several times found green sprays of manuka amongst the interlaced materials, a fact which disclosed a pretty good proof of the power of the bill in breaking off twigs from so tough a plant. From wall to wall across the top, the nest measures about five inches; diameter of cavity, two inches, nine lines; depth inside, about two inches. We fancy that the lining feathers are often selected in such a manner as to afford some evidence in their

disposal and arrangement of the bird’s love of harmony of colour; as, for instance, we have noted specimens with the inner lining red, as the feathers used have been those of the kaka, another has been ornamented with the bright green plumes of the parroquet The eggs, four in number, are of the most delicate white, sometimes flushed slightly with- the faintest glow of a pink tinge. They are marked principally towards the larger end with a profusion of reddish brown spots; rarely they are found of a pure white, sometimes they are speckled with a few spots or blotches, or marked with fine hair-like lines The breeding season extends through spring and summer, the young are fed till long after they are well fledged.” HARRIER HAWK ( Kalm ) (Potts).“The big hawk soars aloft noiselessly; it performs its aerial evolutions with a vast amount of ease and freedom; it seldom appears to be hurried, but floats calmly in ascending circles, with its wings so apparently motionless, that it might be saluted as the albatross of the plains. “Heinous offences are laid to its charge, many of them true; but they are often exaggerated, frequently shared by other criminals, who are allowed to go scot free .... The harrier feeds on offal or garbage, and in his visits to the lambing ground, the object is not to kill and destroy the young stock, but to feed on the cleansing of the ewes. ....

Lizards and the larger insects, such as cicadas, grasshoppers, and crickets, furnish it with some portion of its provender. To the introduced rodents, rabbits, rats, and mice, it is winged destruction ; pick up some of the castings from one of its favourite haunts, these will tell of its doing in checking undue increase in the number of the animals mentioned. The writer has some of these castings, which are compact masses of rabbit fur. . . . / these harriers are daily, hourly, on and about the ricks of oaten hay, keenly alive to the expediency of making rats and mice contribute to their support.

“They usually select a breeding-place in a low-lying situation, among swamps or by the margins of lagoons; . . . . The nest, nearly always built on the ground, is made of coarse grasses, such as tohc-tohe, or the leaves of raupo form part of the material; . . . . When its breeding place is approached, it makes not a resolute defence of its eggs, like the falcon, but, if incubating, with shrill squeal of alarm, darts off with its long legs dangling below during the first few beats of its wings. “ Above the gorge of the Ashburton we have found the nest partly built with sprays of the thorny discaria, and the dead flower-stems of the large alpine form of Aciphylla Colensoi; above this dreadful bed of thorns, grass was carefully placed .... ; the eggs, usually four in number, are not glossy, but of a pure white; . . . . The months of November and December appear to be the height of the breeding season “Nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice.”