NATIVE BIRDS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1929, Page 2

NATIVE BIRDS

TRANSFERS FROM SANCTUARIES. WELLINGTON, April 30. Jt is tlio :iim of the 'Department of internal Affairs to transler soil) j ol the principal New Zealand song birds from where they are most plontilul to some of the large forest areas in the north. Recently the Minister (the Hon P. A. do la Perrelle) arranged with the Director of the Dominion Museum Mr W. R. 11. Oliver) to take one or two bollbirs from the sanctuary at Little Barrier Island and I i hern to them in the Wainoua Forest. There has boon some criticism of the transfer of the birds, some students of bird life expressing the opinion that Waipoua Forest is unsuitable for the hellbird. When shown the criticism, Mr do la Perelic* said that the whole object of liberating bell iirds in the Waipoua Forest was to endeavour to increase the number of birds in various parts of the Dominion. “Complaint is made,” remarked the Minister, “because an officer of the Government took the specimens of the jpllbirds from a sanctuary. One of the objects of a sanctuary is to place native birds in it in order that they may multiply. It is part of the purpose to be able to transfer them from a sanctuary to other parts, so as not to have all one’s eggs in the one basket. Strict consideration is given to the protection of our bird life, and every effort is made to preserve the birds.” Officers had been to pains to ascertain the suitability of the Waipoua Forest for the bellbird, said Air do la Perrelel. It was obvious that there was an abundance of suitable forest for the bellbird in the North of Auckland.- Proof of this was that the birds were formerly very plentiful in that' region, although they had been extinct in the North of Auckland for over forty years. On Little ..Barrier Island the bellbird was observed in all kinds of forest, including the kauri. Like all birds, it was found wherever its fond could he obtained. The Minister said lovers cf our native birds could accept his assurance that he would exercise the full powers of his office in protecting our native bird life. It was recently stated that authority had been given to an American party to take some of our birds. No such authority had been issued or would he given. He understood, however, that the party had obtained some, stuffed specimens from some of the Dominion museums.