PARTRIDGES

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 90, 13 October 1932, Page 19

PARTRIDGES

CHUKKOR AND ENGLISH

THRIVING WELL IN SOUTH

The success of ehukkor (Mil partridge) imported from India, in many places in the Dominion, was brought out at the Conference of the New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies yesterday. Mr. L. O. H. Tripp (president) presided. Mr. 1\ B. McKenzio (Auckland), "referring to the losses sustained t>y the Auckland Society in the case of a large consignment of ehukkor recently received, said that the disease which had so depleted the birds that it was impossible to supply Wellington with any of the hundred it had ordered was tropical dysentry. Ipecacuanha had saved a few of the birds. They now had seven which were laying well. Mr. C.-H.-Lawrence (North Canterbury) said that they had been more fortunate than Auckland, having saved 198 out. of 200, and these birds had done well. Some ia captivity had commenced to lay. Mr. T. G. A. Harle (Ashburton) said that in 1926 they had liberated 26 brace Of ehukkor, which had spread over 40 miles to the north and south, and far back into the hills. It could now be said that they were definitely established.' They had crossed tho Rangitata, and had gone into North. Canterbury. Stoats had been seen following the scent of a covey there, even in the high country. The usual, weight of the birds had grown till now they exceeded the weight of ehukkor in "their own haunts, perhaps because of the Ijetlcr foci here. The speed with which tho birds had spread in six years grivoiiproniise that they would eventually: become the first game bird in the country. % ...Mr. F-. H. Stoekwell (I'Vildinfr) saidthat some thirty birds had been, liberated there, and had apparently disappeared, but there were now coveys of i.-om 15 to £U birds at the. back lif Kiiubolton. \ It was stated that they were well established in parts of Otago. ■; Mr. J. W. Parkin (Whangaroi) said that five pairs of English partridge from the Auckland Society were liberatted some years ago. They did not do well in captivity, but one pair became established near the coast, ' and later a covey of ten had been seen. If these birds could bo established in the back country, where there was not too much shooting, they would thrive, but they did not travel much beyond five miles or so, and were- easily marked down and.thus shot out. One bird, however, reared from 10 to 15-chicks. Califoruian quail" were spreading rapidly. Six years ago Whangarei had no quail, but introduced sOmo, and-to-day coveys of 200 to 300 were not unusual Sportsmen, in view of the pheasant arid other shooting, wero leaving quail alone a good deal, but twenty years hence, if the other shooting decreased as it ap-peared-.likely to, quail would:.pro vide tho:.chief sport in that district.