Sydney Porter—Notes on New Zealand Birds



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were not persecuted in any way by the colonist. It certainly fell a prey

to the cats, rats, weasels, etc., and to the constant bush burnings,

but these facts cannot account for its disappearance from untouched

forested areas which were far from civilization and into which no

carnivorous mammals had yet penetrated.


Extremely confiding and familiar, it was known in the olden days

as “ the Bushman’s friend ”, for this bright-eyed songster was always

the constant companion of the lonely bush pioneer. It would share

his meals, and his solitude, perching oft-times on his shoes when he

sat down. In fact, to him it seemed the reincarnation of the familiar

“ Robin Redbreast ” of the distant Homeland.


Fortunately this species has found sanctuary on the Little Barrier

Island and on Kapati, where it is comparatively numerous, though

it is still found in one or two localities on the mainland, in heavily-

forested areas, but there is very little likelihood that this species will

ever increase as the Bellbird has done, for no bird is more adversely

affected by civilization ; on the slightest sign of settlement even by

the cutting of tracks through the forest, the Robin disappears. It is

a bird exclusively of the deepest virgin forest.


Nearly all the birds on the Little Barrier Island are fearless, but

this one is especially so ; a few hundred yards into the forest and

one is sure to meet with it. Upon seeing a human being he will at

once come up to within a foot or two to investigate ; if one sits down

and keeps quiet, he Will come right up, cock his head on one side,

look up into one’s face with his large, soft brown eyes as if to say,

“ Hello, fancy you coming here ! ” In a very short time he will make

himself at home, turning up the dead leaves in search of insects or

looking for material for his nest ; he will remain so close that one

can touch him.


I know of no more endearing creature than this dusky denizen of

the dense forests of the Barrier ; it is a thousand pities that it has

practically vanished from the mainland.


On the first day in the forests of Little Barrier we counted six of

these birds, several of them coming up to investigate the bright orange

rubber shoes which I wore as a protection to my feet when walking

up the beds of the mountain streams.



