PROTECT THE BIRDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 160, 8 July 1922, Page 17

PROTECT THE BIRDS.

THEIR VALUE, SENTIMENTAL

AND ECONOMIC.

THE SINS OF NEW ZEALAND. (By J. LTDDELL KELLY.) " The same God formed the sparrow Tbat fashioned Man, the king; And the God of the whole gave a spark to the soul Of every feathered thing."—Anonymous. The extracts published in the "Star" of June 17 from the Hon. G. M. Thomson's book on the results of "Acclimatisation in New Zealand," and from an article in "Chamber's Journal" on; "Changes in Bird Life" in this country, must have impressed all who read them with a sense of mingled shame and indignation at the criminal neglect of our successive Governments to exercise effective control over experiments in the introduction of new flora and fauna into the Dominion, and more especially their failuTe to protect from extermination the many varieties of native birds. I I wish to direct particular attention to the question of bird life, its bearing on'human happiness and prosperity, and the urgent need that exists for prompt measures being taken to prevent the extinction of such indigenous birds as remain to us. As has been well remarked by Dr. E. W. Nelson, "Birds appeal etrongly to the interests and affections of mankind. Not only do they charm by their graceful forms, harmonious colouTs, sprightly actions and usually pleasing notes, but they have an even more important claim upon our esteem because of their economic value. Birds feed upon practically all insect pests. They are voracious, able to move freely from place to place, and exert a steady influence in keeping down the swelling tide of insect life. For economic as well as aesthetic reasons, therefore, an effort should be made to attract and protect birds and to increase their numbers." The sentimental and aesthetic value of wild birds is considerable. Any landscape without them would eeem a dreary waste. And what a wretched world this would be if the songs of the woodland warblers or the thrilling ecstacies of the "pilgrima of the sky" were silenced for ever! An American poet has declared:— "The loveliest lyric I ever heard Was the wHdwood strain of a forest bird." And he went on to say that could he but learn the secret of their melody, the world would be richer by "one poet the more." This suggests the thought: i Had there been no nightingale, there j might have been no Keats! Nearly all ! the poets have been passionately fond of wild birds. Women and children (potenI tial poets, all of them, before they are I crushed by the sordid tasks of life) all admire and love the little feathered friends of man. Talk of the attractions of a "zoo," or wild beast show! They are nothing by comparison with the delight and instruc|tion to be obtained from the observation I and study of bird life—not caged and confined, but in the free, natural state. What would be the value of a stately J flock of moas to New Zealand to-day? I hesitate to name a figure; but I feel sure many people would travel thousands of miles just to see them. The Maoris are not to blame if their ill-directed efforts to obtain flesh food resulted in the extermination of these wonderful -wingless birds. They knew no better; ' ] but we shall be inexcusable if we allow i the melodious tui and bell-bird, the fan- I tail, tomtit, and other native birds to j I follow the huia to extinction. I have J been over forty years in New Zealand ' [and have never heard the bell-bird; yet I early navigators have told how the ', melodious chiming of thousands of these feathered songsters could be heard over . a mile out at sea! Some natural cause, j. other than the felling of the forest and the depredations of stoats, weasels and • wild cats, has probably been at work to !' thin the ranks of our native birds;l ( but a little study and observation might enable v's to save them from annihila- . tion. The result would be well worth the trouble and expense. THE ECONOMIC ASPECT. j I am well aware of the difficulties in ; the way of bird conservation. The fanner looks on many birds as deadly foes to 1 his crops; the orchardist as vehementlyji condemn others for their depredations! among his fruit trees. Both these in- ] ♦crests are of vast importance to New 1 Zealand, but without overlooking their < claims, some more intelligent way of ] dealing with the "pests" might be found than indiscriminate slaughter. For lack 11 of discrimination the results of birdslaughter may be ruinous to the agricul- j turist and fruitgrower. An historic instance of this is afforded in the case ot • Frederick, the so called "Great" of : Prussia, and the sparrows that destroyed his favourite crop of cherries. The monarch issued an order for the exter- , mination of the sparrows, and these and other small birds were either destroyed or driven away. Cherries were plentiful for one year, but in the second year neither cherries nor other fruits could be found in the Royal orchards. Caterpillars and other insects in ewarme ate all the foliage from the trees, with the result that no fruit grew. The : madman, Frederick, had the sense to • acknowledge his error, and ordered sparrows to be imported. iNumserous! instances could be cited of similar die- j astrous results following upon the de-1 struction of the national enemies of insect pests. Attempts have been made to estimate the positive economic value \ of birds. It is calculated the ravages I of insect pests caused .a loss in the TLS.A.! of 795,100,000 dollars in the year 1904; but this loss would have been increased by 400,000,000 dollars but for the presence of birds. Observation has proved , that enormous numbers of insect pests are consumed by birds. Under the supervision of the United States Biological Survey, the crops of 3.500 birds were examined. In the crops of cuckoos were found as many as 250 caterpillars; in that of a night-hawk 00 grasshoppers; and in another 500 mosquitoes; in that of a blackbird 38 rut-worms, and so on. So completely is the beneficient -work of; small birds recognised by- American farmers that in a number of States a system liaa been adopted of erecting "bird refupres" on farme, consisting of natural and 'artificial shelter, such as houses and hedges for nests, ample water supply; , also the use of hedge plants that provide ; food ac well as shelter for the birds; and it is claimed that excellent results have followed the consequent increase nf bird-life. In the State of Oregon, it 13 icnactert by law that all public parks and school grounds shall be bird sanctuaries. There is a movement in some States to make all cemeteries also sanctuaries for birds. A POLICY FOR XBW ZEALAND. If we are to deal intelligently and wisely with out bird population, it is essential that our legislators should devote some attention to the protection

of useful species and prevent the unskilled dealings which are now the rule. The Americans hare their Department of Conservation, which looks after the natural resources of the country, including minerals, vegetation, trees, fishes, bird and animal life, in the interests of the whole community, not only of the present, but also of future generations. Something on similar lines would seem to be necessary in Xew Zealand. Or, if that be too ambitious, there is one matter in which we might with great advantage adopt American methods. A few days ago I received from a friend in Montgomery, the capital of the State of Alabama, a copy of what is called the "Bird-Cay Book of Alabama," and is published by the Department of Conservation. This is a handsome though not costly volume cf 110 pages, containing a mass of valuable matter relating to the economic value of birds, and is ilustrated by a number of coloured plates. From this I learn that one day in the year is set apart as bird day in the public primary schools, when all teachers are invited to devote the whole day to instructing and entertaining the pupils by songs, readings, recitals, and addresses on the subject of the economic value of birde and the duty of everyone to protect the winged friends of man. A suggested programme for this year's bird day in Alabama contains such items as opening and closing eongs, address by the teacher; reading, of John James Audubon"; recitation, "Sing On, Sweet Bird"; paper on conservation of birds; recitation, "The Boy and the Bird"; reading, "Economic Value of Birds to Agriculture'; recitation, "The Birds' Party"; and so on, through nineteen items in all.

I can hardly imagine a more delightful and nseful innovation than the intro. duction of "Bird Day" in our New Zealand schools, more especially those in the country, where children are too often encouraged in the wanton killing of bird* and robbing their nests. This, in conjunction with enlightened laws regulating the bird-life of the Dominion, would produce a great change in the course of a few years. The humanising influence, alone, on the children would ibe worth having. Of course, in all legislative and other measures dealing with this matter we should have to remember that there may be an overplus of birds as well as a shortage at times. There is an interdependence in Nature, and the balance ie well preserved, as a rule; but when human operations disturb that balance, human effort must restore the equilibrium. As Professor Forbush puts it:— "But for the vegetation the insects would perish, anfl but for the insects the birds would perish, and but for the birds the vegetation would ibe utterly destroyed by the unchecked increase of insect destroyers." Scientists seem to be agreed that ibird life is one of the most indispensable balancing forces of Nature. And, when there is any doubt on the subject, I say, give the birds the •benefit of the doubt and use every effort to preserve them, for the sake of their cheering and uplifting influence.