FOOD FADS IN BIRDS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30348, 25 January 1964, Page 4

FOOD FADS IN BIRDS

Study Aided By Confiscations (N.Z. Preu Association) 1 WELLINGTON, January 24 The feeding habit* of New Zealand waterfowl are being •tudied by the wild life division of the Internal Affairs Department—with the help of birds confiscated from shooters who exceed the limit bag. Examination* of the confiscated binds have rfiown that pheasant, quail wild duck and other waterfowl a>ll like different menus Begun six yeans ago, the study is expected to provide a comprehensive picture which will make for sound management. Ultimately, farmers will be advised what to plant for optimum food for wild duck, said Mr T. A. Caithness, a branch technician. Quail have a strong preference for clover or any member of the legume family such as peas, gorse, and broom, and eat either leaves or seeds. Pheasant are equally broad in their diet, but again they have strong preference*. One of the most highly-favoured foods in the Bay of Plenty, for example, is inkweed, a succulent berry with hard seeds. Willow weed is a common type of food preferred by wild duck. This is a relative of the dock family and is found round swamp marIgin*.