Poisoning Of Birds Criticised

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30916, 24 November 1965, Page 1

Poisoning Of Birds Criticised

(NZ. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Nov. 22. The chairman of the Wellington S.P.C.A. (Mr E. L. Sincock) tonight described the poisoning of more than 1000 birds at Napier as “a hasty action qpd the easiest wav out.”

str Sincock was commentlne on the extermination tonav b y the WOdlife Branch f the Internal Affairs De-

partment as a safety measure to protect aircraft landing and taking off at Napier airport. The birds were poisoned with a narcotic which had an effect similar to an overdose of sleeping pills. This morning carcases littered the land near the gull colonies north of the airport “The S.P.C.A. most certainly does not approve of poisoning the birds at this stage.” said Mr Sincock. “Efforts should have been made to scare the birds away until there was no other avenue open to the authorities to protect the aircraft." The officer in charge of the operation in Napier, Mr T. A.

Caithness, said today he esti- s mated at least three or four i years would pass before the ‘ colony could be entirelyeliminated. 1

The birds were killed in a painless, humane manner, he said. Last week topdressing aircraft made two runs over the

area, first dropping ordinary bread, and later dropping bread spread with lard. This was to accustom the birds to poisoned bread.

“The bait was prepared by a Wanganui firm and was in the form of a paste,” said

Mr Caithness. Five hundred loaves of bread had been cut and

spread with the poisoned paste, making about 100,000 “sandwiches.” Within a short time the birds could be seen drowsing

on the wing and later dropping on the ground. Another bait drop will be made tomorrow. The big seagull colonies at

Napier Airport have been described by pilots as dangerous.

Mr Sincock said efforts had been made to find some other

form of remedying the problem of the gulls at Mangere Airport.

“The authorities are providing another roosting place for the birds,” he said.