TOPICAL ITEMS

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LXIV, Issue 6581, 31 October 1939, Page 4

TOPICAL ITEMS

POACHING OF PIGEONS

More Publicity Needed

A citizen of Wellington has received from Gfeymouth a clipping of the 'Grey River Argus' which gives a re>port of its Hokitika correspondent to the effect that a man who shot seven native pigeons at Koiterangi was fined £7 10s with an extra £1 lis for costs.

It was mentioned on behalf of the Department of Internal Affairs that there had been numerous reports of the shooting of pigeons.

Unfortunately it is not easy to catch the culprits who are usually very cunning, but the Department is making efforts m several districts of the north and south islands to bring the lawbreakers to court. Magistrates are being urged to impose adequate penalties for the checking of poaching of protected native birds,, especially as the cost of ranging is very heavy.

THE FRIENDLY HEDGE SPARROW A Very Useful Bird I am glad that the Forest and Bird Protection Society has a protective interest in the hedge-sparrow, although it is not a native of New Zealand," writes one of the Society's well-wish-ers. "The beautiful graceful hedgesparrow is not really a sparrow at ail. Its real name is dunnock (perhaps due to its rich brown plumage). Its dainty Tittle beak is not suitable for the crushing of grain or other in* seeds. Like the grey-warbler it preys on grubs and insects.

"The common sparrow, which is one of the most cunning l of birds in some ways, is one of the most stupid, in its nesting habits. It does its building in full view of the world at large, and the untidy nest is usually very conspicuous. The hedge-sparrow, which ordinarily does not show fear of humanity, is very secretive about its neat nesting. It does not advertise the hiding place nor the manner of building. A pair raised a family in a dense bush of white broom in the middle of a Wellington citizen's garden. Two paths flanked the shrub, and there were washing lines above and below it on the hill-side. But the building and the rearing of the young were done before one of the parents was seen flying from the clump. The fledglings were then ready to take wing. The hedge-sparrows song is rather a well-meant effort than a proper performance. It is a loose string of metallic notes, not quite as musical as the chaffinch's staccato chortle."

SHINING CUCKOO'S LUCK

A Shining Cuckoo was picked up on a path by the front door of a resident of Paekakariki on 12th October. Evidently the bird was exhausted after a long flight. However, after half an hour's rest in the care of a friend, it was able to fly away.

Luckily the bird had alighted on a safe place for a spell. Chance had taken it to the home of Captain Sanderson, president of the Forest and Bird Protection Society, who sternly discourages the visits of cats to his section which has a little forest of native trees. If the cuckoo had dropped near the front door of an average New Zealander it would have served as a meal for a eat.

DEMOCRATIC WHIRLIGIG Citizens v City Council A very interesting letter has been received by the Forest and Bird Protection Society from a member of the Otago Scenic Preservation Society, which was formed recently in Dunedin as a sequel lo the policy of the Reserves committee of the City Council in the "unnecessary destruction of native bush in and around Dunedin." 'Here is a sad aspect of democracy" states the writer. 'The citizens have to organise to protect.native vegetation on public property against the persistent vandalism of their own elected representatives. It is another case of the old Roman saying: 'Quis custodret ipsos custodes?' ('Who will guard the guards?').

' Passing through Wellington, I have seen notices in public reserves: 'Citizens, protect your own property.' In Dunedin it seems that the request on notices should be 'City Couacil, protect the property of the citizens.'"

CRACKERS FOR MAGPIES A letter in a newspaper had this statement: ''I was brought up on a large farm in Australia where there were numerous magpies, which robbed hundreds of nests for the young ones. The correspondent who complained of dangerous magpies will find if she gets some ordinary fire crackers they will frighten them away." The giver of this advice does not say whether the magpies will stay away after the first fright. The writer rather leaves the reader with an impression thai One must be ever ready to. sally out with a packet of-crackers whenever magpies are troublesome— a celebration of "Guy Fawke's Day" the whole year round.