ANTS KILL BIRDS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1932, Page 6

ANTS KILL BIRDS

LOSS OF 200 PHEASANTS. ATTACKED IN THE THROAT. AUCKLAND, March 14, Flying ants have been responsible for the deaths of 200 pheasants bred by Mr T. Wise, of Te Rapa, to tUy,.orcler of the council of the Auckland, Acclimatisation Society. The total, lqss*MJJs&h r ed ds £105,. as ilio birds'were worth 10s 6cl each.

Apparently the pheasants were attacked din the throat while attempting; to devour the ants as food. The deaths, ■of the birds were due 'to the swelling, of the throat. According to Air W. T.Routledgfc, ranger for the Society, the loss of pheasants from this cause is not uncommon, * although the number affected in this instance was unusually large. The original order of pheasants was 1000, blit the loss of a further 200 from- other causes, including the ravages of pests, has reduced the total to 6.0. Already 400 birds, three months old and over, have been liberated in various parts of the ■Society's district in tile past six weeks. There are stih 200 to he delivered.

The dead 400 birds will be replaced, if possible, bv purchasing from other, breeders. A decision to this effect was reached at a meeting of Yho council. The president, Air F. E. McKenzie,said the previous season -the number of Ijiids liberated was 40C short of the original allocation, and if no effort were made to rectify this year's discrepancy. it would be simply inviting the criticism of sporting men. Suggestions that pheasaiHs should be obtained from other districts were eonsi'.lerod impractiable owing to the, higher cost. ‘‘We have been fortunate ill being able to obtain our birds' for; liberation in large quantities at a comparatively low price.” remarked Mr .McKenzie.