NATIVE BIRD LIFE.

Shannon News, 10 August 1923, Page 3

NATIVE BIRD LIFE.

♦ . WANTON DESTRUCTION. PROTECTION CAMPAIGN. “ BIRD DAY ” SUGGESTED. A strong effort to put a stop to the wholesale destruction of native bird life which is taking place in New Zea ' land is being made by the New Zealand Native Birds Protection' Society, which recently epibarked upon a campaign of publicity with the object of enlisting the sympathy and co-opera-tion of the people of the Dominion in securing adequate protection for the country’s unique bird lifo. That people are keenly interested in the matter is proved by the fact that the secretary of the society has received! communications from every corner of the Dominion, all protesting against the wanton destruction of native birds (says the Auckland Herald). Some of the writers blame the weasels for much of the destruction, while others hold the diminution of forest areas responsible, but the fact remains that there is still ample forest standing to retain its quota of bird life. The dominating factor, Judging from the reports received, is undoubtedly the uncontrolled use of shotgun and pea-rifle. In the North Auckland district th e Maoris appear To ba the main culprits, but the shooting off pigeons is by no means restricted to them.

A sporsman of many years’ experience has written to the society ing‘ the ineffectual methods in existence in New Zealand for the preservation and increase of game birds. No efforts, he states, appear to have been made by Acclimatisation Societies to restrict the number of natural enemies, and very few, if any, are tfble to give proper attention to' prevention of poaching. The common cry is •‘weasels” the excuse often being made that these creatures are hard to catch, although the opposite Is the case. Probably, after the-poacher, the wild cat is the birds’ worst enemy, Bush and scrub contractors introduce these to keep down rate which the

waste food attracts to the camp, and when the contract is completed, the cat la left behind, generally to maintain herself. A cat requires one small bird or chicken daily, and the toll soon mounts up. In an effort to secure practical re< cognition for its objects, the Native Bird Protection Society is endeavpurlng ito introduce into New Zealand schools, “ Bird Day,” which has been accompanied by good results in Australia and America. The movement was started in Australia about 12 years ago, and the Gould League of Bird Lovers has now about 225,000 members, mostly school children. In a North Queensland district, over 90' trees have been grown in the school grounds for birds to build their nests in, and finches, flower-peckers, parrakeets, martins, and wagtails have all reared their young in these trees with out molestation. Birds have considerably increased in numbers in the district, and, with the exception of canaries, there are no caged birds in the homes of the school children. In this and Other districts the children are all eager to protect the birds, and their small feathered companions may. be seen walking in and out of groups of children, eating the crumbs dropped at lunch time. The value of birds as a factor »n the control of insect pests is one of the main points in the bird protection movement. Scientists state that birds are the greatest factor in keeping down these pests, so that, on the score of practical utility, as well as for higher reasons; the movement to proi tect the native bird-life of the Dominiion should be accorded public sympathy and support