RARE BIRDS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5259, 2 April 1928, Page 1

RARE BIRDS.

PROTECTED IN LAW. BUT NOT IN FACT. The New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society writes; — “Are those native birds that do not happen to ba game birds entitled to a (Share of revenue from licenses and forests ? Licenses to shoot game pioduee a revenue which, is devoted by the acclimatisation societies to the conservation of game birds and of fish, not to the conservation of other nai-tive birds. The same remark applies to the opossum trapping oyalties, or to the half of such royalties allocated to the acclimatisation societies. As to the other half, it is allotted to the Forest Service, and is understood to be dedicated to the destroying of goats, deer, and forest enemies. But instead of being utilised it is allowed to accumulate, so that the native birds do not even gain the benefit that should properly accrue to them through the protection of their forest home from the attacks of browsing animals. PIGEON-SHOOTING. “The native birdfe include the pigeon, which is not now a game bird, but which was deemed game for many years. It was shot until the sportlessnesls and devastation of the shooting caused the Government to cease to authorise an open season for pigeons. But the unlicensed shooting of pigeons continues. By accident some acclimatisation societies may occasionally secure a conviction for pigeon shooting, but as a rule the societies have forgotten what they owe by way of reparation to the bird, and they generally lack any adequate sense of the need of preserving the rare indigejious fauna (whether’ a mean®, of or not). By no stretch, of imagination can it be said that the ‘absolutely protected’ native birds, including the pigeon, are adequately protected in fact, or that there is any ranger, service adequate to their needs. “The list of thesa absolutely protected birds, as set forth in the Animals. Pootection Act, 1921-22, includes all ’our rarest and' some of our 1 economically most valuable birds. The Act does not, however, state definitely whose business it is to enforce the conditions, and we have been unable sb far to fix the responsibility. The department on which responsibility falls primarily has no apparent means of checking poaching and other breaches of the Act with reference to these absolutely protected wild life souhees appear to be set aside in the interest of game birds. Further, all the income is for bird and fish conservation, excepting a half-share of opossum skin royalties allocated to the State Forest Service for the purpose of destroying goats, deer, etc. This latter, now amounting to a. largo sum, awaits, utilisation. ■ Our most valuable birds are thus left out in the cold. The State Forest Service, so far as their special reservations are concerned, some acclimatisation societies, and occasionally the police interest themselves, but the whole matter, of enforcing the conditions of the. Act, so far, as these specially listed birds are appears extremely vague and certainly requires elucidation, as the present state of affairs is not conducive to they conservation of native birds other than native game birds, and to the enforcement of the Act so far as they are concerned. Moreover, conserjvation Can never be effective unless administered by those possessing a forest and nature sense.,,jn. addition to a practical knowledge gained by personal contact. Although the work of preserving our birds' efficiently is. as yet practically in its infancy, still we have to report a fast-rising public conscience to which there arei promi-

went exceptions, such as on the West Coast of the South Island, where it looks as x If the only protection pigeons have is,their feathers. EFFICIENT RANGER'SERVICE'. “It Is by no means the first time that attention has been called to the lack on "the West Coast of a sense of •respect for the law protecting pigeons. If certain districts, and certain individuals. in other districts, are unwilling to step into line with the s;anctuary spirit of modern times tliq oii/y remedy seems to be an. efficient ranging service. Ranging . could be conducted by a special force of at least six game wardens,'moving fnoin locality to locality, and' equipped with fast transport. They should operate from a common centre. It is argued that such a ervice would make tihq various bird sanctuaries, which, include nearly all the islands round the coast, more effective. Little Barrier and Kapitl both already have caretakers, and are' conserved) in a reasonably efficient mannar “The question arises whetlher’, a greater measure of single .control and common policy .has not become essential. Wild life is at present under (several departments and many societies. There is a sectional development, and a sectional use of. revenue. A common policy cannot be attained under multiple control, nor can an efficient ranging service.”