NATIVE BIRDS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17690, 16 February 1923, Page 5

NATIVE BIRDS.

USEFUL FOREST ALLIES. EFFICIENT PROTECTION. DESIRED. A movement is being undertaken to have the protection of native birds and the control of bird and animal life administered in a more efficient mariner. The organisers of the movement set out their aim's in a circular, letter which is signed by Mr-E. V. Sander- j son. , "It is considered," states.the writer, I "that neither laws nor regulations can prove wholly effective without the backing of public, opinion) and the first thing appears to be to get the public interested. No effective organisation exists for the protection of our native birds, whose welfary at pre-, sent really rests with the Internal Affairs Department, with the exception, of what is being done in our forests by rangers of the State Forest Service. Even in the latter case, the work is quite beyond the means at. the disposal of the service. v As regards the acclimatisation societies, the work is claimed to be iof a purely honorary nature, and not their job, thus it will be seen, that our fast-decreasing bird life is quite inadequately protected. Enemies of Pests. "As you are doubtless, aware, the bird life of a forest is inter-allied with the protection of the forest itself, as the birds attend to the pollination and distribution of seeds, and the control of insects and grubs. Nature, after thousands of years, evolved our birds as the best adapted for the work to be done'. A few instances may help to demonstrate their utility in this The kaka bores for and "destroys grubs. The huia, now practically extinct, is a great loss in this connexion, as it kept the large huhu grub under control. The blue-wattled crow-searches the floor of the forest as well as tree branches and stumps for grubs and beetles. The fantail is a very valuable bird for destroying insects of all descriptions and preys on that deadly enemy of the orchardist, the codlin moth. Bush wrens are most indefatigable insect hunters, and work over every inch of the holes of big trees, searching every crevice. and cranny in the bark. The mopoke destroys weta.B, etc., which are green timber borers. Pigeons are great tree seed distributors, while the tui carries seed, and, in common with the makomako and other honey feeders, assists in pollination work. The white-eye or blight bird is a wonderful little destroyer of all kinds of blight insects. From the foregoing brief summary, it will bo seen that every bird plays a valuable part in the control and suppression of pests, which, if left un*> checked, would soon ruin our native forests. ' Danger of Divided Control. "At present the control of our animals, birds, and kindred inhabitants of the forest is administered in a very haphazard manner by- various bodies, most of them unregistered, and therefore not fully responsible. Hence the balance of control is upset, and we have the rabbit, deer, goat, pig, and other troubles affecting the welfare of our forests, farm lands, and efforts at arboriculture. Some of the bodies mentioned are working in direct opposition to other institutions. For instance, the Forest Service is trying to conserve forests, while the acclimatisation societies, continue to distribute deer. In the' meantime it is nobody's particular business to protect our native birds. In fact, in many localities it is not even known that pigeons are absolutely protected by Act of Parliament for all

timej and it Is a fact that they are shot literally by the sackful, on occasion. "Much harm has been done in New Zealand through acclimatisation: affairs being placed in inconsequent though often well-meaning hands. The question is surrounded with so many perplexities, that it should be looked upon ;as a matter of vital concern, otherwise the balance provided. by Nature will be destroyed, and the results in such a case would prove ruinously expensive to the community. Unfortunately, many people consider only the minor I losses caused by the birds, forgetting that it is a very small'price to pay for i the protection afforded, as without these feathered dwellers production of almost any crop would prove • well-nigh impossible owing to insect ravages. "I have been asked to obtain the assistance of all those who value and, love our unique bird life and look forward to your valuable assistance in a vigorous campaign, appealing to people's good sense and patriotism to guard everything belonging to our country by every means m their power. It is suggested that the whole matter, of introduction and control of animals, birds, plants, etc., should be placed in the hands of a Department whose interests are most closely allied with the objects to be attained. The Department selected should appoint a game warden to act under a Board of Control of scientific experts, •■ the whole organisation, with the assistance of rangers appointed where none already exists, to have primary control of all matters in connexion with game, birds, fish, plants, and animals, also their sanctuaries, of which there are far too few. "Acclimatisation affairs must of necessity be under one head, as no local organisation can prevent the spread of any introduced living" creature to other parts of the Dominion. The whole question is of vital importance to the welfare of New Zealand, and the sooner the present mixed control is brought under one head the better."