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Bird Life on Island and Shore

II. The Kittywake

page 12

II. The Kittywake.

In its habits this elegant Gull is something of a scavenger. Representatives of the breed may be found about the nesting quarters of certain species of Shag, devouring the half-digested fish fragments disgorged by overfed nestlings. Perhaps with a similar undignified object in view, the Kittywake builds in the immediate vicinity of, or actually amongst, Terns.

The Kittywake also comprehends the benefits of fishing operations, great and small. Preparations for angling off rocks will, anywhere and at once, attract stragglers. At sea, whilst the catch is being cleaned, hosts of these Gulls hover in the wake of returning craft, screaming and quarrelling for liver, roe, and other tit-bits; although, however, they have learned to catch biscuit and bread tossed in the air, they have in no degree acquired the diving habit, and thus lose much of page break
Kittiwake On Nest.

Kittiwake On Nest.

page break page 13 the offal thrown overboard. At a depth of three or four inches quantities of good food sink before their very eyes. On the remote beaches where I have most often lived on familiar terms with Kittywake, they retain habits picked up about harbour, wharf, and the busy haunts of men. However far temporarily retired into the wilds for breeding purposes, they still are ready to accept doles; there is eager competition still for bread and meat.

On Porangahau beach, cheek by jowl with a large Tern colony, several score of Kittywake had built their nests in December, the eggs hatching out a few days later than those of their companions, perhaps, in some degree, their hosts. Nests were built of such material as was provided by the waves and winds, and were more often than not placed on the higher humps and hummocks available. There, in numbers varying from scores to dozens and twos and threes, the Kittywake nested and nourished their broods amongst the Tern. The two species were in the happy position of having no conflicting interests, no hostile points of contact. In amity they flew together and fed together. Always on the turn of the tide a cloud of wheeling, hovering, pouncing, and diving birds followed the flow of water over the flats of the lagoon, the Kittywake selecting page 14 what appeared to be shrimps and crabs, the Tern, fish—fish probably themselves in pursuit of these small crustaceans. As we shall see, the two breeds shared the good and evil fortunes of the beach in other ways also.