Saving the world's birdlife

Press, 13 June 1977, Page 16

Saving the world's birdlife

The World Wildlife Fund of New Zealand launched its 1977 anpeal for funds in Christchurch on Fridayevening. The theme of the organisation’s international campaign this vear—a combined World Wildlife Fund and Internationa! Union for the Conservation of Nature project—is “The seas must live if man is to survive.”

Within New Zealand, the Wildlife Fund’s projects are concentrated on New Zealand’s endangered birdlife and its habitat. The fund is particularly -concerned about the Kakapo, the Chatham Islands Robin, the Takahe and the Black Stilt. The birdlife of many other countries besides NewZealand is also threatened.

Nearly half the bird species that breed in the Federal Republic of Germany fata the threat of extinction. Breeding grounds are “developed” and pollution poisons their staple diet. Of 242 species only 92 are in no danger; nineteen are already extinct. Radolfzell observatory on Lake Constance is working

in conjunction with twelve European countries to protect species that are agriculturally useful. Nearly 100.000 birds of passage are ringed annually, mostly by amateur ornithologists, at Radolfzell. The illustrations show, left, a camouflaged hut where birdwatchers live and work and, right, a thrush having its stomach pumped to ascertain its diet.