VANISHING NATIVE BIRDS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2200, 13 July 1914, Page 6

VANISHING NATIVE BIRDS.

LACK OF FOOD SUPPLY . At 'a'meeting of the Wellington.. AcThursday even- - ing, the chairinan, Mr 7 L; 0.: H'.i 'Iripp', mentioned' that Mr.'. Guthrie- Smith,- 111 lua Jastr.book,-had:state(3 that heivas satisfied that'if- tho food supply of the . native birds was-'increased most ; of ;tlie •: different species-of native birds would -\ 1 •b'e • preserved in; spite of, the,. increase - oil ■' '■ '.•their natilral enemy, y- With that object -. •in-! view,'.'ho-, (tho -chairman)-"had -U-on making inquiries as-to .shrubs -which are easy; to grow .would ■■■ supply :tood.forttlio^bircls.f..',.A gentle- •; ■ mail vho was:an authority on the:sub- ' j^ct. had sent him the following notes : on alien • trees and shrubs . for planting,, with the. , object of provid- . ing a food supply for birds. ; -V',; -'"The first berries • of the: season are ivy berries (hedcra): , Tlieso rre 111 great,demand bv the.birds. - The June- • bcrrv' (amelanehier) ripe >m December, , is another early berry .'that the ./birds arc very;keen, after..'. Tins is,a very, fine, llowcring, large: shrub: Aisara, microphylla, a- beautiful evergreen' shrub with strongly-scented flowers, bears berries that tlic birds -arc vory .fond.. of. r . Then there is the. bird cherry, several speoics (cerasus),. that', provide • much food the birds;. they aro also ornamcntal. and one species, cerasus serotina, is ■ 'a .-.valuable, forest -tree. . Elaeagnus ~ longipes is another shrub' which-fruits' abundantly, and .the ,berries, are vciy. much sought, after by birds. For tho \ honey-eaters, the fuohsia ■is a favourite ■ tree: <, Other trees bearing berries, and • suitable for growing in plantations to . provide food for birds, may bo men- .1 tioned: as tile bear berry, (arotos taphy. Sos). aristotelia racemosa,' aucuba,. ja*' - ponica.'beiberis (many species), cotone- • asters (many species), coprosina, (several species), whitcliorn (Crataegus) (many Species), - 1 tho holly , . (ilex),' junipers, honoysuckle ,(lonicera/j ■'wild; plums . ■ (primus), podocarpus, prumis, rbamnus,. ribes. Rosa, rubus, sanibucus,- taxus, all are berry-bearing, and tho berries eaten by birds here." . : $ ' The chairman: stated' tliat . lio._ was making further inquiries 011 the subject. ■He thought the idea an excellent one, and lie was.sure'that many people would make a point of planting trees with the object of preserving ' our ■ nasive birds, if-, they only knew whut to p'si.t. He mentioned that ■ lie' intended to bring Mr. . GuthrkrSmith's ! suggestion before.the Government. , .. , v