BIRDS OF THE WAYSIDE.

Forest and Bird, Issue 36, 1 May 1935, Page 14

BIRDS OF THE WAYSIDE.

(By H. Ross, Invercargill -a junior member.)

Observations of Camping Trampers.

One bird we nearly always heard, wherever we set up camp, was the melodious grey warbler. It seemed not to matter what was the nature of cover afforded —willow trees, black scrub, flax or fir plantations—the riroriro was ever to be found. When we were fortunate enough to see the little chap he was usually fluttering high up among the tree tops, twirling or twisting among the branches in an ecstasy of never-ending delight. From time to time the sweet cadence of music was wafted down to us. Almost invariably the warblers were to be found in pairs. In South Canterbury, miles and miles from any bush, we saw a pair of shy rock wrens, one of the smallest of New Zealand birds, inhabiting a pile of rocks under a railway bridge. The cheerful pair appeared to be very much at home there. Hopping from rock to rock they went briskly about their business, which appeared to be searching for minute particles of food adhering to the stones. In between times they peered at us with bright friendly eyes and uttered their low-voiced cries. It was only through hearing their notes that we were able to locate them. In spite of close examination we found no trace of a nest, but somewhere in that pile of stones they would, no doubt, build a home. I think, too, that any spiders sharing the stones would have a very unhappy time.

At one place we camped near a clump of blue-gums. From somewhere among their tops, clear and sweet, came the notes of a bell-bird. Until far into the dusk he sang, and from time to time throughout the night he uttered a sleepy “ ticka ticka tock,” as though to let us know he was still there. Long before dawn he resumed his carolling. For some time after this we saw no native birds. Raucousvoiced magpies were present in large numbers. Also we noticed several German owls which had been killed by motor-cars. Dozens of hedge-hogs had met a similar death. While we were chatting at one stage, a vivacious thin-looking tom-tit fluttered down from the telephone wires to the top of a post. Here, after bobbing up and down and vigorously jerking his tail several times, he suddenly emitted several piercing trills of song, in order, no doubt, to let us know he didn’t feel nearly as bad as he looked. We were delighted to see him; yet the person to whom we spoke remarked: “What a horrible squeak.” Some people are not interested in birds.

The only silver-eyes we saw were clustered in willow-trees on the Ashburton River; we heard their peculiar plaintive cries and saw them clinging to the branches in every acrobatic attitude conceivable as they feasted on blight. We believed that the presence of the silver-eyes meant a storm for a certainty. We therefore pitched our tent and fly with unusual care. During the night it rained, and the following morning one of the worst hailstorms in years swept over Ashburton. It was followed by several days of boisterous weather. Then it was that the green birds clustered around our doorway, eagerly accepting the bread and scraps with which we fed them. Hunger and cold made them indifferent to our presence, and we were provided with endless amusement by a score of them feasting and fighting at the tent door. Much to my surprise I noticed several young ones among them. The sturdy youngsters appeared to have endless appetites, and eagerly ate everything their hard-working emaciated parents carried to them. The silver-eyes apparently nest in the willows on the Canterbury river banks.

To me quite the most wonderful sight was at Oamaru. We returned home in the train, and no sooner had it stopped at that station than a large number of sea-mews came flying across from the sea, only a few chains distant, and alighted beside the carriages. Eagerly expectant they ran up and down. Presentlv the passengers began to feed them with crusts and pieces of cake. How those birds did fight over the tit-bits! A few of the more agile ones deftly caught the morsels on the wing as they were thrown, and then flew swiftly away to enjoy their feast in peace, free from the onsets of less fortunate mates. I shall never forget those gulls which, tame as pigeons, apparently eagerly await the coming of the train and the feast that they know will be given to them. A week later we were once more camped in the bush south of Balclutha. A flock of small birds surrounded us. We were happy, and more than ever it was impressed upon us that he who has birds for companions, especially where they are the glorious songsters of New Zealand, is indeed heaven-blessed.