HASTINGS— Bird Notes from McGrath's Flat. 53 



ing home to Port Lincoln had arrived, they were very loth to 

 go because they believed it would mean breaking up the swal- 

 lows' happy family, but to their surprise the birds went with 

 them. 



The first evening the male bird was seen frequently flying 

 round the boat, but was not seen to settle ; the next day all 

 went well until late in the afternoon when a gale sprang up 

 and they were afraid that the male bird was lost. Next 

 morning, however, the weather had calmed down and both 

 birds were there apparently quite happy, Mr. Dabovich 

 believed that the male bird had got into an upturned dinghy 

 on deck to escape the gale. When they got down abreast of 

 Wedge Island the two birds were noticed chattering together 

 and then flew straight in the direction of the Island, evidently 

 to procure food having had nothing to eat for over 36 hours. 

 They wondcM-od very much whether the birds would return, and 

 sure enough in about lialf-an-hour back they came apparently 

 satisfied. 



On arrival at Port Lincoln they anchored the boat, and as 

 Mr. Dabovich said, to his great delight, their young ones 

 hatched and were reared in the Port Lincoln Harbour. 



Bird Notes from McGrath's Flat. 



By Joseph Gordon Hastings. 



The v.hite-fronted or blue cranes have i)ut in an appearance 

 earlier than usual this year. All through the year odd ones 

 are to be seen, but only in the winter do they appear in large 

 numbers, w^hen there is plenty of food to be had in the form of 

 snails and insect life which is provided by the rains forming 

 pools or ponds in the low lying country near the Coorong. 

 The only reason I can give for their early arrival is, perhaps, 

 the very low slate of the Coorong where crabs are more 

 easilv procured. If that is so. I feel very sure upon this. 

 they are doing a splendid work which should be highly appre 

 ciated hv all lovers of bird life, fishermen in particular. 

 The latter, I am afraid, are men who do not fully realize what 

 a great help birds are to the fishing industry. About oOO 

 cranes came to roost every night in the trees near our house, 

 among them being a pair of wiiite ones (a very rare bird in 



