Game Birds Show Steady Increase In Whakatane Locality

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 58, 2 November 1949, Page 8

Game Birds Show Steady Increase In Whakatane Locality

Reports have recently come to hand through the Rod and Gun Gun Club indicating that the numbers of pheasants, quail and grey duck in the district are steadily increasing, particularly in the Golf Links area and the sand-dune lupin belt lying beyond. Mr J. D. Rivett president of "the Club, said yesterday that the- numbers of game birds heard and seen recently has been a matter for general comment. There is little doubt that this striking improvement is largely due to the vermin eradication campaign launched at the beginning of the year by the Government 'Ranger working in conjunction with the Club. It has been ascertained unofficially that bonus has been paid by the Ranger on approximately 2,000 hedgehogs and nearly 170 hawks as well as on weasels and shags. The bulk of the hedgehogs were killed along the coastal strip between the Board Mills and Thornton. There are still large areas virtually untouched. Pheasant Breeding

To reinforce this improvement comes the pheasant breeding scheme whereby private breeders are rearing pheasants for the Department for liberation next year. These breeding ‘stations’ stretch in a line from Awakeri to Cape Runaway and the breeders may either liberate the grown birds themselves or sell them back to the Department for official liberation. It is understood that over 600 eggs are being distributed this month and the scheme is under the local control of the Government Ranger. As pheasants are difficult to rear 100 per cent success cannot be expected, but even half that will assist the district materially.