Birdlife and insects Hunting and Fishing

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13.1.3 Fishing methods

Fishing in freshwater streams in the Rotokas area is restricted to crayfish and eels at upper elevations because of waterfalls blocking migration upstream. Below the village of Ruruvu, fish similar to Papuan bass can be found in the streams. As one gets closer to the coast, the fishing improves. On the coast, of course, there is an abundance of fish in the sea as well as shellfish on the reefs. The general name for fish is atari kare. Fish On the coast to the north of the language area, the people made use of the very sticky web of the kikiraeko spider. It has a large greenish yellow body with black head and legs. The web is large and sticky and purportedly able to hold small birds. The web, when rolled into a ball, can be used to catch small fish. Fish are speared with pronged-tipped spears or can be shot with arrows also with pronged tips. I have seen fish speared, but not shot, with bow and arrow. The spears are fitted with a cluster of bicycle spokes all filed to a point. These are about ten to twelve centimeters in length. Other than nets, fish hooks, and line bought in the tradestores, there is one other method of catching fish which has proved to be very dangerous, but effective. Still to be found from World War II days are unexploded bombs and hand grenades. These are taken apart for the gun powder contained within. The powder is put into a container with a fuse. The fuse is measured according to the distance the “fish bomb” must travel before exploding, either on the surface or under water. One young Rotokas man was quite proud of the accuracy he could attain with the fuses he used. In the mid-1970s, a young man blew his stomach apart and died making one of these fishing bombs. It is unfortunate, too, that this particular method has decimated the numbers of fish formerly found in the Rotokas streams and rivers. Crayfish The device used to net freshwater crayfish has already been described. They are also commonly “speared” using a rubber inner tube strap to propel the sharpened bicycle-spoke spear through the water. There are several types of crayfish to be found in the Rotokas streams, but one general name is used to cover them all, kavori kare. Three small varieties are poreo kare, oaraoto, and rusiva kare. The largest variety is called keetarao kare. Crab Crabs are also caught by hand or net and eaten. Smaller freshwater varieties are called ereku kare; large crabs, freshwater or salt water, are called okoe kare. These are general names, but more specific differentiations are also used. Watersnail Another common freshwater shellfish is the watersnail. These are collected and eaten as a regular part of the diet. They are called akoro kare. The shells are sometimes baked, pulverized, and used as lime powder with betel nut. Eel Finally, eels uo kare are a favorite form of meat. These animals are more commonly found in caves and near the base of the many waterfalls in the area. They may grow to over a meter in length and supply a good portion of meat. They are enjoyed partly because of the high oil tuga or “grease” content. Eels are usually speared, or when possible, caught by hand. They may also be caught on hooks which are set out just after a heavy rainfall when the streams are swollen.

13.1.4 Birdlife and insects

There have been over one hundred and ten different species of birds, including migrants, recorded on Bougainville and Buka islands. East of New Guinea island and the Bismarck Archipelago, only Guadalcanal Island has more bird species than Bougainville in the whole Pacific. There are several species of migrants which arrive from the Arctic regions of Canada, Siberia, and Russia in September and return to their Arctic homes in February or March to breed in the spring or summer months. Some of these birds can be seen on the Wakunai airfield, as well as along the seashore. 167 Some of the birds common to the Rotokas area are named and described below: Willie Wagtail A black and white fantail tutupariko with a tail that is constantly in motion, waving back and forth. Brown Honey Eater The siikui is commonly found around the villages where ornamental flowers and shrubs have been planted. It is about 10 centimeters in length with a light brown body, yellow breast, and sickle bill. Yellow-Bellied Sunbird This little sunbird suriketo is twelve centimeters in length and is a tiny, long-tailed, yellow-breasted bird which is seen gleaning in the shrubs around houses. Its back is yellowish olive and the male has an iridescent black throat. The male also has a pleasant trill. It constructs a thin hanging nest with an entrance in the side. In the past, this little bird would accurately foretell a death or other significant event by its call, so it is said. A small yellow bird very similar to the suriketo, but found at higher elevations, is the piupiuko. Midget Flowerpecker Possibly, the siisiipiri averages about eight centimeters in length. The tiny bird has a short tail and bill and moves actively among the trees, making a rattling call. Dark grey above, whitish below, the male has a diagnostic bright scarlet patch on the breast. The Rotokas say that this patch is from the time the little bird became too curious and looked over the rim of Mt. Bagana. While it was looking into the fire below, its breast became scarlet red and has remained so to this day. Rainbow Lorikeet The Rainbow Lorikeet tagiteva averages twenty-seven centimeters in length. This bird is basically green with a dark blue head. There is a yellow collar across the back of its neck. The throat and breast are bright red and the feathers are edged with black, giving them a scaly appearance. Another lorikeet similar to this bird is the takesei. Cardinal Lory All red with bright scarlet head and body; the wings are more blood red. The sirivi is common and noisy. It breaks into young coconuts and drinks the juice. Parakeet The siraiko is a small, all-green parakeet which is commonly seen in the coconut plantations and garden areas. White Cockatoo The identification of this common bird is unmistakable. It averages about thirty-five centimeters in length and is a pest in the fruit and cocoa trees. It is called kakata. Eclectus Parrot About thirty-five centimeters long, this parrot is not seen in the forest very often, but commonly seen and heard flying high from one ridge to another, calling loudly. It is quite distinctive in that it holds its wings below its body most of the time it flies. The male sikarato is all green with blue wing edges. The female sikarava is red and blue. The Rotokas people keep these parrots as pets in the village. Unidentified Parrots A small parrot with green body and red head is named differently according to its sex. The male is the visosoto and the female, kukutauvu. Another green parrot kuuvato is the totem of a small sub-clan located in the Aita village of Kusi. 168 Pacific Swallow The ekeriko is about fifteen centimeters long with a black body and bluish back and tail. Its forehead and throat are a rufous chestnut. It builds mud nests. The name tegeri is either an alternate or a name given to a swallow similar to the Pacific Swallow described here. Vanikoros Swiftlet A small ten centimeters swift-like bird, it is all dark and flies in flocks, darting bat-like here and there, not getting anywhere fast. It always flies thirty to forty meters overhead hawking insects. In Rotokas, it is called siikurai. Mackinlay’s Cuckoo The most common dove found in the Rotokas area is about twenty-eight centimeters in length, with gray to rufous coloring. The male is named kurue and the female, distinguished by a small crest, is the uruvao. They are hunted for their delicious meat. Another gray-colored dove rereveoto is found high on the slopes of Mt. Balbi. It makes a nest of sticks on the ground. In the past, these birds flew in large flocks and were caught by stretching woven bird-nets across their flight paths. Papuan Myna About twenty-five centimeters in length, this bird is conspicuous because of the noise it frequently makes in the forest. Dark in color, it has a white rump and undertail. The white bar in the wing is diagnostic. Its lower abdomen is yellow and the face color is orange. These are more common at lower elevations near the coast. Bougainville Crow All black and noisy, this bird has an unmistakable identity. It is about forty centimeters in length. The Rotokas name is rakao or less common, aaita. Brahminy Kite A large 45 cm. chestnut hawk keravo, or possibly, ruega with pure-white head. Quite often one is seen circling high over villages looking for stray chickens. There are several hawks which are predators of young chickens in the villages: avaruka, tookuito, tuvetuve, and ravute also called vakaaua. Owls The kuuoa is about twelve centimeters long and has a brown body. The eyes are large and yellow. The base of the beak has wire-like tufts on each side. A larger owl utuuko is also identified by its large “staring” eyes. It hunts at night and has been seen killing opossum. Wild Fowl There are several larger birds which live mainly on the ground. The apaeo is one of these. It lays its eggs in warm areas where they are covered over and allowed to incubate and hatch unattended. A favorite place for these birds to lay their eggs is within the warm perimeter of Mt. Bagana. River Kingfisher A small, dark blue kingfisher tuituiie with deep rufous underparts; it may be seen perching on sticks near or in the water. It is said that in the drier times, it cries more frequently, calling for rain. Ducks Besides the domesticated ducks found in villages, there are at least two types of wild ducks found in the Rotokas area. One is named the same as domesticated ducks, i.e., ururuera. Wild ducks can be found on the two large ponds near the Pioto springs as well as on quieter pools along the rivers. The kiikariko is said to have been plentiful at the higher elevations. Because of their habit of nesting in shallow holes on the ground, however, their numbers have been significantly reduced by wild cats. The name 169 is onomatopoetic. The Rotokas say that its call, kiikariko vuura gariko, expresses the bird’s well being, i.e., “Kiikariko’s good place.” Heron The white or dark heron is found mainly near coastal streams and swampy places. The name given to this bird or a crane-like bird is vaakira. Migrants Of the migrants, the Golden Plover, Curlew, Whimbrel, and various Sandpipers are often seen on the Wakunai coast. Of these birds, the Sandpiper is identified by the name siruirui most likely another one of the several onomatopoetic names for birds and insects. This bird has a buff and white body and a straight beak. It can usually be found on the Wakunai airstrip. Other birds could be described and named, but the preceding will give a general idea of what may be found in the Rotokas area Hadden 1970. Insects There are innumerable insects and butterflies that could be named and described, if one had the time and energy. A detailed study of insects was made in the late 1960s by a team of men who collected parasites from rodents in the area. This was done as part of an investigation of diseases contracted by soldiers serving in the Pacific. Butterflies Bougainville Butterfly Postage Stamp The one butterfly kokopuoto we will mention here is a rare and beautiful birdwing found only in the North Solomons Province. A variety of this subspecies of the Ornithoptera victoriae exists only in the Buin area and has been worth several hundred kina. The male of this particular race, Ornithoptera victoriae regis, is golden yellow, yellowish green and black colored. It is a large butterfly. The specimens kept in the collection of the British Museum of Natural History, London, have wingspans of 13.97 to 15.24 centimeters. The wingspans of the colorful female of this subspecies have wingspans measured to be up to 19.05 centimeters in width Szent-Ivany cover. This is but one of many beautifully-colored butterflies of all sizes that can be seen darting and gliding through the Rotokas jungle.

13.2 Domesticated Birds and Animals Used for Meat