MUTTON BIRDS SHOT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29515, 17 May 1961, Page 17

MUTTON BIRDS SHOT

Mistaken Identity At Ellesmere

Mutton birds are being shot in mistake for ducks at Lake Ellesmere, according to shooters who only yesterday identified the birds as a result of the report in “The Press.” Mr E. G. Turbott. actingdirector of the Canterbury Museum, said this shooting was forbidden, although authorised persons were permitted to take young mutton birds in their burrows for the market over a limited season. Mr Turbott said mutton birds were listed in the schedule of birds with specific but not absolute protection. They were definitely not approved game for shooters. The party of shooters who reported their discovery of mistaken identification of the mutton birds said that hundreds had been over Lake Ellesmere ever since the shooting season opened more than a week ago. Mutton birds in flight closely resembled ducks, the men said, although an observant watcher would note that, after every 20 or 30 wing beats, they stopped to glide. On the water the mutton birds looked like spoon-blil ducks. “It is quite obvious that many mutton birds are being shot in mistake for ducks,” Mr S. J Mundy said. “I found seven wounded on the lake shore and put them out of their misery. Other shooters have asked me to identify the mutton birds they have shot. “I am sure no sportsman would intentionally shoot these weakened birds which have been blown in from the sea in recent storms,” Mr Mundy said. “I report these happenings simply because other shooters ought to be warned to take special care in identification this year.” Mr G. Mugford, president of the North Canterbury Games Shooters' Club, last evening issued an urgent appeal to members and all other shooters to avoid harm, ing mutton birds. Many shooters had been out at Lake Ellesmere and other favourite spots for much of the last week and would not know of the appearance of an abnormal number of mutton birds close to the coast, he said.