NATIVE BIRD LIFE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 138, 13 June 1932, Page 5

NATIVE BIRD LIFE.

PROTECTION IN AUCKLAND

REPLY TO CRITICISM. ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY'S WORK. The opinion of Captain E. V. Sanderson, honorary secretary of the New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society, who has recently returned to Auckland from a holiday at the Little Barrier Island, that adequate provision is not being made in Auckland for the preservation of native bird life, has occasioned criticism from Mr. F. E. McKenzie, president of the Auckland Zoological Society. "I was somewhat surprised to see Captain Sanderson's opinion that Auckland is backward in its efforts to preserve native life," he said. "It is perhaps unwise to publish an opinion apparently gained in a hurried visit, nearly the whole period of which has been spent on the Little Barrier Island.

"Auckland has set aside in the Little Barrier the finest bird sanctuary in the Dominion, and it has at least another dozen sanctuaries. The Auckland Acclimatisation Society spends probably £100 on forest ranging, not to protect game birds, but native birds. For example, it has this year made grants for the destruction of goats and pig«, and to preserve native bush and birds. It has in the past six months paid a bonus on nearly 4000 stoats and weasels, which are the worst enemies of native bird life. Since April 1, 20,000 hawks have been paid for by the society. It has been proved beyond doubt that the young of the grey duck, teal, pigeon, and small bush birds generally are preyed on by this bird. Use of Cinematograph. "The Auckland Zoological Society has beaten the Native Bird Protection Society to the post in using the movie camera as an educational factor. The banded rail, the bellbird, and New Zealand parakeet and stitch bird, the gulls, penguin, and other birds have all been filmed, and the films are available for any scientific and educational purpose. Bellbirds have been taken to tho VVaitakeres, and food-bearing trees an-.l shrubs are in the course of being planted. Any bird lover going to the ranges to-day will see very many more pigeons and tuis than he would have a. decade ago.

'"This movement is in its infancy, but I think it would have been wiser if Captain Sanderson, who has, by art union, ample funds to draw on, would co-operate with and advise other bodies in the promotion and protection of wild life instead of belittling their work and annoying their personnel."

New Zealand must inevitably become cominereialieed for productive purposes, ho added, and nothing would stop wild life being driven back and back into the unproductive country. The people could only provide scenic reserves 5n isolated places, and try to keep those reserves. Best Use of Funds. If Auckland was backward, as Captain Sanderson suggested, then the Bird Protection Society would have to extend its operations to Auckland, and use the funde that it had to the best advantage.

"It is problematical," said Mr. McKcnzic, "whether the spending of £1000 in the taking of 24 pictures of native life was spent to the best advantage. If the same amount had been spent in the planting of berry-bearing trees, the destruction of vermin in the forests, and tho canvassing of the owners of forest property with a view to having their land proclaimed a sanctuary foT native birds, there might have been a greater good done."

"Why is the fund of £13,000 tied u[) in trust so that only the income may be used?" concluded Mr. McKenzic. "By the time any appreciable good can be done with the income, the native birds will be gone."