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have reared two batches of young, and some are now on their third. At the present time, 31st March, one of our tame pipits has a nest with four eggs in it. The korimako brought her young ones to our syrup-dish, and these birds have become tame enough to alight on the dish while held in the hand. They will even fly into the house to meet the person carrying out the dish. " All over the sanctuary, young birds are in evidence. Pigeons, kaka, tui, korimako, robins, tomtits, whiteheads, and fantails all show an increase. This increase is more easily estimated at the present time while the birds are young. It is not so easy when they arrive at maturity, because the stronger-flying species travel to and from the mainland. Kiwi are now present in places where, a few years ago, they were absent. They have been heard calling from our cottage during the last few months. The luxuriant growth of fern and under-scrub throughout the bush, which keeps the ground damp, has induced these interesting birds to spread out more. " The grey ducks bred around in different parts of the island in increasing numbers, and also the paradise ducks, but I think the latter suffer occasionally from the attentions of the black-backed gull. A pair of paradise had a nest under a rush bush near the boat-shed in which were eight eggs. Out of this clutch five young were hatched. A few hours after hatching the ducks took their little ones to the water. A pair of gulls were nesting on the beach not far from where the ducks had nested, and as soon as the young ducks appeared the gulls showed considerable interest in them. They seemed as though they were waiting for the young ones to get far enough away from their parents so they could catch them. And this is apparently what did happen, because the little ducklings gradually disappeared. In three days they were gone. I feel certain that they were all killed and eaten by the gulls, although I never actually saw the gulls catching them. " The old ducks made another attempt to rear a family, this time farther along the coast towards the south end of the island. Some weeks later they were seen swimming about with some young ones. Then these little ones disappeared. However, several pairs of paradise ducks were successful in rearing families at the north end. " The little blue penguins nested all round the island. I think every nesting-place along the shore was occupied. At the present time they are ashore. Their weird wailing voices can be heard both night and day. In the early part of the night they are especially noisy. " Blue herons nested in their usual places ; no new sites of these birds have been found for some years. The shore birds, such as stilts and banded dotterel, were present in their usual numbers about the lagoon at the north end, and the gulls and terns occupied their usual places round the island and on the adjoining small islets. Shags are about in their usual numbers.
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