FORESTS & BIRDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 October 1941, Page 4

FORESTS & BIRDS

INTERDEPENDENCE STRESSED CONDITIONS IN EARLY NEW ZEALAND. UNUSUAL LACK OF

The importance of bird-life in the protection of native and other forests from the ravages of injurious insects, as pollination agents and as a means for the dispersal of seeds was a matter of some moment at the present time, when so much was heard of the disastrous effects of erosion in New Zealand, said Mr R. H. D. Stidolph, when speaking at today’s luncheon of the Masterton Rotary Club. In order to appreciate the relation between birds and the forest in this country, it had to be remembered that in primeval New Zealand birds reigned supreme, as the only other land animals were one or two diminutive frogs, a few lizards and two bats, the last being the only .mammals. That gave a primeval forest population with a great abundance of insect life, for the checking of which birds played a big part. More than one authority had expressed the view that no other forest was known which was so dependent on birds for its welfare as the New Zealand forest. It had been estimated that 47 per cent of forest plants depended, on, insects as pollinators, 40 per cent on wind and 13 per cent on birds. In the latter class, however, birds appeared to be entirely responsible for the fertilisation of the flowers of the puriri and rewarewa, two important timber trees. What was even more important was that 65 per cent of forest plants depended on birds for the dispersal of seeds and these plants included such well known forest trees as the totara, matai, kahikatea and rimu. Following the settlement of this country, with the consequent destruction of forest and bird-life early settlers had their crops ruined by armies of caterpillars, which also brought a train to a standstill in the Wanganui district by reason of the immense numbers of caterpillars on the lines causing the engine wheels to slip. These and other experiences were the reasons fpi’ the introduction of many small birds into New Zealand, though sentiment also played a part, in some introductions. As to the forest-dwelling native birds, out of 36 species 28 or 77 per cent were insect-eating. Sovwe of these birds devoted their attention to the forest floor, others to the trunks and larger branches of trees, others to the leaves and twigs, and yet others to the air, so that every portion of the forest area was covered by the activities of the bird population. Even the New Zealand kinfisher and the morepork were largely insect-eating. Mr Stidolph proceeded to contrast the attitude of the old-time Maori and the Englishman to the forest. The Maori regarded trees as his equal and did the forest no harm. He recited incantations when he desired to fell a tree. Everyone knew the extent of forest destruction in New Zealand since its settlement, with the consequent problem of erosion now facing the country. Referring to the kauri forests, no less an authority than the late Sir David Hutchins had said that had the French flag waved over New Zealand the kauri forests would have been a national asset equal in value to anything the last war had cost the Dominion.