THE USEFUL CHAFFINCH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 110, 26 May 1941, Page 2

THE USEFUL CHAFFINCH

A FAVOURITE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT The short staccato song of Mr Chaffinch in spring and summer must be well known to New Zealandcrs in many districts, because the bird has spread widely through the North and South Islands. It is a useful (inch, for its diet consists mainly of insects, grubs and soft sfj-ed of weeds such as dandelion, thistle, chickweed and groundsel. Its beak is not strong enough to cope Avith wheat, oats and other hard grain. It is mentioned in "Forest and Bird" that what is regarded as a valuable suggestion has been made to the Forest and Bird Protection Society relative to the Government's intention to introduce a Bill dealing with erosion. Writing to the Society. Major .T. Tl. Kirk points out that in South Africa, where the ravage.s of erosion are being tackled by the Government, a colour film has been produced showing how rapidly much of the country is becoming a "dust bowl" through neglect, over-ploughing, over-grazing, eros ion, 'drift sands, veld fires and other evils. while there are amazing ■scenes to show how quickly, relatively. such del crioration can be checked and fertility restored by nroper veld management, the introduction of pastures, re afforestation and other measures. O'ne farmer member of Parliament who witnessed the screening said that it was the finest object-lesson on the subject ever produced in his country, and urged that means should be found to screen the films to farm^ r s in every part of South Africa. "Erosion is one of New Zealand's deadliesS enemies," writes Major Kirk, "but its potential dangers are so little heeded that such a film dealing with conditions in the Dominion would be of inestimable value in arousing the people to action at times other than those when Hoods, blocked highways and broken bridges bring the subject home to them."