Notes

P acific Nature Notes

Conducted By Raimanu

No. 4—Migration of Waders jl/fAKING observations on the IT J. migratory wading birds—“snipe” . to most Europeans—becomes easier when one becomes familiar with their habits.

At first, seeing ones and twos or small flocks scattered far and wide over an expanse of mud-flat or reef on some island shore, you think it will be difficult to do much in the way of identifying or observing. On the other hand, if you go along at high tide you will have a job to find any. Perhaps there will be a few perched on the mangrove roots, but most of them will have gone inland to the grassy slopes, or the native gardens, or the rice-fields.

In between the tides is the best time. Then, when there are just exposed patches of sand or mud, especially at the mouths of creeks, you will quite likely find flocks of these birds. Forced from the main feeding grounds by the rising tide, the waders first gather on these higher spots; then, when the tide rises further, they take off for points inland. Later, as the tide is drop ping, you will see them returning.

In March, these flocks will be get ting bigger as the birds assemble for the long flight north to their breeding grounds in Siberia or Alaska. This is the time to look put for species not usually seen dur- ! ing the year; the chances are you will spot them as they pass through, j There may be a few Sanderlings, i running busily back and forth on the very edge of the water. Per haps there will be a Sandpiper, a Stint, or even a Kentish Plover. At the other end of the scale of size there is always the chance of a : Whimbrel or a Bristle-Thighed Curlew; almost as big as the familiar Reef Heron, but dis- I tinguished by the down-curved bill. ■ But the flocks will be made up chiefly of the four most common ■ species, in Fiji at all events, the i Eastern Golden Plover, Wandering i Tatler, Pacific Godwit, Turnstone. I If you get close enough for a good i look at the plumage, you will notice at this time of the year that some of the birds are beginning to as sume their fine feathers for breed ing. The Godwits will perhaps be ; a bit reddish on the chest. But it is the Golden Plover which is worth a second look. Some will be sporting their fine black chests, so different from the plain dirty white of the non-breeding season. Border ing this black area will be a fine line of pure white on the sides of the neck, separating the chest from the upper plumage, the grey brown feathers, flecked with gold, which give the bird its name.

Rev. S. Ropeti. of W. Samoa, bound for a Methodist Conference in Australia, was met in Auckland by Miss F. Ropeti and Miss L. Ropeti, now resident in Auckland.

Mrs. N. Herman and Mrs. T. Cameron arrived from Aitutaki.

Mr. Pati NAso, of Nofoalii, returned to W. Samoa from holiday in NZ.