THE


Avicultural Magazine


BEING THE JOURNAL OF

THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY

FOR THE STUDY OF

FOREIGN & BRITISH BIRDS

IN FREEDOM & CAPTIVITY



Third Series. —Vol. XII. —No. 5 .- — All rights reserved. MAY, 1921.


A VISIT TO THE BIRDS AT THE

WELLINGTON ZOO


By C. Barnbv Smith.


I had an opportunity of visiting the Zoo at Wellington, New

Zealand, last February, and considering the institution has only been

in existence about twelve years, the collection of birds is most

satisfactory and interesting. The Zoo comprises some 17| acres of

undulating v ground on the edge of the hills in the outskirts of the

city, and is fairly well screened from wind—a great point at

Wellington. The large pond for waterfowl would carry any number

of birds, and the Paradise Ducks, Japanese Teal, Maned Geese, etc.,

which I noticed looked very flourishing. More waterfowl, however,

are greatly wanted. By far the most interesting thing I saw was the

place where a pair of Mantell’s Kiwis nested three years ago. These

birds were confined in a large wire enclosure on the hillside, the place

being fairly dense with trees and low bushes and having a little

watercourse running down the centre. The birds, unfortunately,

elected to make the nest in the bank of the stream at the lower end

of the enclosure. They burrowed a hole like a rabbit’s hole,

extending some 18 inches into the bank at right angles to the stream,

and then the hole had an elbow-turn, and was carried on for another

2 feet. At the end the birds excavated a circular hole of considerable

size, which they carefully lined with leaves from lime-trees in the

enclosure. It seems that the female bird did most of the nest-making.

The hopes of Mr. Langridge, the Zoo Superintendent, were great for a


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