Extermination of Small Birds.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXIV, Issue 3753, 9 April 1908, Page 2

Extermination of Small Birds.

The extermination of small birds, which are the cause of much loss to farmers every year, says the Otago Daily Times, is likely to be brought about in time by little owls. Writing to the Otago Acclimatisation Society, Mr A. C. Iverson, of Earnscleugh, states that the owls liberated in that district, after breeding, went away, but returned later on. He thought they must have gone to some place where the small birds were more plentiful. Whenever the owls came about the birds disappeared. It made little difference, he thought, where they were liberated, as they would soon spread all over the country. He hoped the Government and the society would introduce each year as many more as could be obtained. They should be netted for the first month and fed until they gained the strength of their wings. He had noticed that at any place where the owls had camped there were the remains of wings and legs of small birds. Further, he had seen the owls trying to catch the birds in daylight. The council of the society has decided to take the necessary steps to procure more of the owls and to seek the cooperation of the Farmers'jUnion in the matter.