Policeman Takes Over Bird- Watching Task

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30603, 20 November 1964, Page 6

Policeman Takes Over Bird- Watching Task

“The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, November. 18. Constable W. G. Douglas, of the Papakura police station, is known to his friends as “the birdman of Alcatraz.” For the last week he has been responsible for the care of about 90 homeless budgerigars. The birds, along with seven goldfish and two Alsatian dogs, are believed to have been stolen from the Otahuhu, Papatoetoe and Papakura areas during October and early November. When the birds were recovered they were taken to the Papakura police station

for safe keeping until the owners could identify them. Their stay in the police station was extremely brief. It soon became apparent that 90 budgerigars were 90 too many and that they would have to go somewhere else. The task of finding temporary accommodation for the birds fell to Constable Douglas. He decided to ask Perry Cunningham, a 15-year-old Papakura High School student, who had had about 30 of his own budgerigars stolen, to care for the birds. That was Wednesday, last week, by which time about 40 of the birds had been claimed. Six days later, there were still 30 budgerigars without owners, as well as the two Alsatians. Perry, who had already bought more than 121 b of seed to feed the budgerigars, told Constable Douglas that he could not study for his examinations and mind the birds at the same time. So the birds had to be moved and, as before, it was Constable Douglas who had to do it. They were taken to the house of the district S.P.C.A. inspector, Mr I. L. Williams, at Ardmore, where they will remain until claimed.