THE GERMAN OWL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 221, 19 September 1938, Page 8

THE GERMAN OWL.

T am carrying out an investigation into the food of the little or German owl, and wish to appeal to your readers for assistance. I hope to obtain the bodies of owls from all districts and at all times of the year,., and will pay the postage and a reward of one shilling for each bird sent to me at the Museum, King Street, Dunedin. Other valuable material for studying the diet of the owl is afforded by the castings or pellets, in which the bird ejects the indigestible portions of its food. I am anxious to obtain as many of these as possible. This owl was introduced into New Zealand about 30 years ago, with the object of controlling the small introduced birds. To-day a considerable difference of opinion exists as to whether it is to be condemned for destroying native song birds, or whether it is beneficial in destroying injurious insects. Its food has been investigated in Europe, where its diet has been found to consist principally of insects, though some birds are taken, anc. it is regarded as beneficial, being protected as such in some countries. In addition to studying the diet, I also wish to find out as much as possible about the distribution and habits of this bird, and I shall be grateful for information as to its occurrence in any district, the length of time it has been there, and if its numbers appear to be changing. I shall be pleased to send further details to anyone interested, but a postcard containing the above information would be most useful. In an investigation of this kind the help of a large number of people is essential, and many small observations when combined may yield xery valuable results. I am collecting similar observations on the native owls, in order to compare them with the introduced one, and should be most grateful for these also. The morepork appears to be widespread, particularly where the native bush remains, but the larger laughing owl, which lives in the open, is said to be extremely rare, so that any information concerning it would be especially interesting. The native owls are protected birds, and must not be in any way molested, but specimens of their castings would be valuable, as they would enable some comparison to be made between their food and that of the German owl. B. J. MARPLES, Professor of Zoology, Dunedin.