Sydney Porter—Notes on Neiv Zealand Birds



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the Tui’s song which is similar to the one with regard to the nightingale

in England. It is a strange thing that though the skylark is very

plentiful in New Zealand its song remains unnoticed. Yet the most

wonderful bird melody I have ever heard was from a chorus of skylarks

in New Zealand. We lay anchored in the Bay of Whangarei. We

rose early, weighing anchor at about 4 a.m. on the most perfect summer’s

morning ; the water was as still as glass, and not a single sound was

heard. Then the sky began to flush with the faintest pink of the

early dawn, and suddenly a skylark mounted into the still clear air

and poured forth his sweet melody, then another and another until at

last there must have been literally hundreds. In the stillness of that

early dawn they formed the most wonderful avian chorus I have ever

heard or ever expect to hear again. Things like that only happen once

in one’s life-time.


On the Little Barrier Island the Tui, if not the commonest bird, is

at least the most conspicuous. It is seen and heard everywhere and

they seem in a great degree to consort with the Bellbirds, but this is

no doubt owing to their food supply being the same.


The old and knarled Pohutukawa trees which spread their crimson

laden branches over the waters of the blue Pacific, were almost alive

with both Tuis and Bellbirds in the blossoming season and although

there was a great deal of quarrelling between individuals of each

species one never saw the different species attack each other.


Around the caretaker’s house the Tuis and the Bellbirds as well

were very tame. One could stand within two or three feet of them and

watch them feed on the plate of porridge that was placed outside every

morning. The Tuis never fought the Bellbirds, though the latter

very wisely gave way to them at all times, no doubt owing to their

superior size.


When at the Barrier in January we saw a great many young birds

only recently left the nest. These resemble young Blackbirds with

a greyish collar on the back of the neck.


The Tui has wonderful powers of flight and it was always a great

treat to watch these birds indulging in their amazing aerial gymnastics.

The birds mount to a great height in the air and suddenly come down

with a terrific rush like a meteor falling to earth.



