KAPITI ISLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1929, Page 2

KAPITI ISLAND

: NATIVE BIRDS THRIVING. . . An .interesting report on Kapiti Island was made to the Wellington: Acclimatisation-Society last week by the president. Mr L. O. H. Tripp, i . “Last month I spent a most en‘ioyall!© week-end at Kapiti,” said Mr Tripp. “I cannot? speak too highly of the work that is being done there by the caretaker, Mr Wilkinson, and his wife and by the trapper, Mr Fletcher. •’ There being no stoats; weasels and ferrets c-ni the island, and tiro birds being absolutely protected, the birds have few -enemies except the rats - , and are very tame. T have, no doubt that the weba helps to keep the rats, wlxich-1 understand tiro- fairly .numerous, in check, ‘ and I understand - a dumber ate caffglit by the. trapper, ;but what is wanted is a trap whioh would be> cheap and serviceable and which would catch the rats alive so that if a bird were caught it could be let go urilnjured.” ' “Wo saw and heard many wekas, also bell-birds, tuis; pnraquets, p\g T eons, white-heads, kakas, and fantails, and 1. was more than pleased when sitting in the bush to see an old friend, the robin. We did not see any .kiwis, saddle backs, or kakapos. but Mr Wilkinson informed me that they have been seen during the year, and. are evidently thriving, and I understand that the little grey kiwi and brown kiwi have both been seen on the 'island. In the evening we saw bats flying about.” GOATS AND SHEER FINISHED. “The goats and wild sheep. have been practically shot out, and there is no doubt from what I saw and from what Mr Wilkinson told me that the regeneration of the forest is most marked. We' went round the island in a launch, and one conlcl see that on the cliffs on the western side many plants are gradually getting a hold. Though we had glasses we did not see a sheep or goat on the cliffs. Splendid work is being done by Mr Wilkinson in planting native* trees, and as there is a considerable area, of the sanctuary under grass I hope it will! not be long before all this is planted. When this is done not only will the food supply of the birds be considerably increased, but also there will be much less danger of fire.’’ “Mr Wilkinson asked me to get him some paradise ducks to turn out on the 'island, and I am arranging with the Southland Society for same to be caught for him.” “I came away from the island convinced that in the interests of our native birds we should have caretakers appointed to any other island sanctuaries that are suitable for habitation. In this way our beautiful and . interesting native birds are going to be absolutely preserved, and in the future when the rabbits Have been exterminated from the mainland and we can afford to have trappers to trap out the stoat, weasel, ferret and other enemies of the birds, it will be an easy matter .to restock our forests from our sanctuaries, and, of course, to-day the island sanctuaries are to a limited extent supplying tlie mainland with Mrds whioh fly across tlie water.”