THE SMALL BIRD PEST.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 909, 31 August 1910, Page 10

THE SMALL BIRD PEST.

IMPORTATION OF OWLS. The experiment, of importing , the Eug- / ''lish owl as a destroyer of .small birds' . ' was 'commented on yesterday by the Hon. • D. Buddo, Minister for ; Internal' Affairs;' . ... who informed. a' Dominion reporter that ,' so, far something,like 300 owls had been landed in . New - Zealand, ; various • agri- /. ■ cultural -associations'• having obtained permission to import theni on the ground .that they would be useful as destroyers ' of small birds, which were a. pest to orchardiste and farmers' growing grain.; . So far, no'general approval of the work of these, birds had been received by the - . Department, although several orchardists. vin "Central Otago '.had stated that .since ■ the ; introduction ■of the owls their or- ' chards,' had "'.been free -'.from the small-. , bird nuisance. <At • the same time .complaints .had been .made that the owls were destroying, quail 'and small native birds which were-considered to be. very useful about; gardens. After'giving-the •matter careful .consideration, the Minister has taught it desirable to wait .some evidence of tho/. benefits. derived from the introduction' of the owls, and until some definite information approving of tho work, they are doing has .been received by the Department, no further "importations will be, sanctioned. The , cost: of . the- destruction of small birds ' in. grain-growing districts, is,. says Mr. : Buddo, a heavy drain on local bodies, and. the damage sustained 'by fruit growers us also ■ severe.'"Anv"remedy that is ' x easy,:of application .would undoubtedly be . ' approved of, , but in .regard to the owls the is of • opinion- that it is '' (wiser. to wait .for some definite evidence of the benefits from their introduction before committing the - country to any / ; :-Berious: number of the. birds. TJp to the (present. the birds have only been- liber- ' latcd in the Hawke's- Bay, Nelson, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, districts.