The Australian white-backed magpie has a sentimental place in our countryside with its musical call but it is a frequent killer of native and introduced birds. Anecdotal evidence blames it for the loss of field birds such as pipits and skylarks, diminished finch flocks and the death of many native birds, eggs and young. Attention drawn to their aggressive behaviour by Forest and Bird has led to some eradication and a heightened awareness of the damage they do. A recent report from Makarora near Wanaka tells of a pair 'downing and killing a kaka. The silvereye or waxeye is a popular native bird in the garden, though a pest in vineyards. While accepted here as a native bird, it was first reported as arriving from Australia in 1832, becoming widespread through New Zealand during 1856. It joined a large number of Australasian species which have become New Zealanders over the millennia.
DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
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Bibliographic details
Forest and Bird, Issue 292, 1 May 1999, Page 24
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154The Australian white-backed magpie has a sentimental place in our countryside with its musical call but it is a frequent killer of native and introduced birds. Anecdotal evidence blames it for the loss of field birds such as pipits and skylarks, diminished finch flocks and the death of many native birds, eggs and young. Attention drawn to their aggressive behaviour by Forest and Bird has led to some eradication and a heightened awareness of the damage they do. A recent report from Makarora near Wanaka tells of a pair 'downing and killing a kaka. The silvereye or waxeye is a popular native bird in the garden, though a pest in vineyards. While accepted here as a native bird, it was first reported as arriving from Australia in 1832, becoming widespread through New Zealand during 1856. It joined a large number of Australasian species which have become New Zealanders over the millennia. DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION Forest and Bird, Issue 292, 1 May 1999, Page 24
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