RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32430, 17 October 1970, Page 23

RANDOM REMINDER

STRICTLY FOR THE BIRDS

Rumour has the swiftest of wings, and it is hardly possible for one to change one’s mind before the news of the decision has reached Orari. Or Culverden. The recent “Secretary Bird” competition conducted by “The Press” aroused considerable interest and evgn those who knew none of the entrants undoubtedly extracted considerable pleasure from seeing all the photographs of all those nice young people as they were published. Refreshing, wasn’t it, to observe so many lovely girls. But one Christchurch

office ,is still feeling the repercussions of the competition. One of the staff there was a competitor, and this pretty young lady walks to work from her home, following a route which takes her, most of the way, through lines of trees. Ever since her photograph appeared in “The Press’’ she has had trouble. Not from secre-tary-bird watchers, or any of that ilk. But from a couple of magpies, which have swooped on her, looking very angry indeed, and made distinctly ugly noises as they buzzed “her at almost point-blank range.

The attacks made her so uncomfortable that now she is taking a longer way to work, and it seems clear to the rest of the staff that the bird world knows what it is about. The bird has a special place in man’s affections, and the office staff firmly believes that the magpies are the storm troopers sent out to signify the displeasure of our feathered friends at the secretary-birds’ invasion of their own private world.

The girl herself has no grounds for fear. She has not been short of offers from those very willing to perform escort duties.