BIRDS AND FORESTS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 17, 21 January 1927, Page 6

BIRDS AND FORESTS

THE WORST ENEMIES

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Nature notes dealing with this subject in your issue o£ 15th January were read with interest, and although agreeing with some of the causes set down in the article appearing in the "Journal o£ Science and Technology" referred to, exception must be taken to some as likely to give a false sense of security in the public mind, and it were wise, therefore, to analyse the matter to date. The New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society is in close touch with many field naturalists and ornithologists who are known to be accurate field observers.

Now, first of all the initial main hurt to our native birds was undoubtedly given before rats, etc., were present by imported bird diseases, from which our birds were not immune. Some were exterminated or nearly bo before establishing immuuity. Many species are now rapidly recuperating in numbers.

BELLBIRDS, WHITE HEADS, ETC.

Ground vermin, as is stated, have now increased to such an alarming extent that all game birds, ground nesting native birds, and those nesting in places easily accessible to ground vermin (kaka, kakariki,_etc.) are decreasing, while owing to the increasing interest shown by the public in bird preservation and other causes many species have quite recently markedly and undoubtedly increased in numbers. With reference to this ground vermin question, it is often amusing to note the attempts to blame the sparrow hawk' for decrease of game birds, when in all probability this bird is a helper to conservation in that, although he does kill weak, maimed, and young birds he is death on rats, weasels, etc., and the vermin he kills would, no doubt, if not destroyed, • kill a. much larger proportion of bird life than the hawk. The trouble is ground vermin work mostly at night, and their work is only evident to the trapper and track reader, while the presence of the high soaring hawk is very evident to the office man out for a day's shooting, who •promptly writes to the papers should he see a hawk eating a dead bird, though he does not even know if it was killed by the hawk.

So far aa opossums are concerned no field observer haa ever written tp this •society, .but. in terms condemnatory of these animals. Moreover, the'damage is not confined to the actual opossum but includes the destruction done to the forest floor by the trappers cutting innumerable tracks and the unwarrantable use of the slasher. Kiwia and wekas are caught in numbers where present and in odd cases other birds. To the credit, and the only credit to the presence of these animals.it must in fairness be stated that trappers oatch rats as-well as birds in their traps.''

So far as extinction of birds is concerned owing to the decrease in area of our forests this must of course be a factor affecting the total numbers o£ birds, but, provided the supply of a rotation of food is maintained a forest is capable of maintaining its quota of. bird life no matter what reasonable area is remaining. But when it is stated, "The commercial collector has been eliminated by the passing of the Animals Protection Act," "the sportsman's (presumably meaning shootists) activities are sufficiently controlled by the same Act of Parliament," then it is time to gasp in amazement at such a lack of knowledge of the true state of affairs. These laws are broken every day in the week" in'many districts. It is nobody's particular business to administer the Act, and. it has been stated by .the sameiauthr ority. as quoted in the articlfi' (Mr. H. Guthrie Smith) in reference to the working of the Act "at the back o' beyond it ia not worth the paper it is written on, and might the writer add, one need,not go aa far a 8 the back o' beyond to se the Act broken. Lambton quay, Wellington, is at times far enough. Here kiwi skins, were exhibited some two years back for sale by a well-known commercial collector. The matter was reported by the society for which the writer acts as secretary, but finally no action was taken. Then the collector again offered the skins for sale through another channel. Later it was reported to. the Native Bird Protection Society that a tourist collector was making a collection at one of our most fashionable hotels oh Lambton quay through collecting agents. So far as the sportsman's activities are- concerned they do not require controlling if they are sportsmen, but it is the activities of' the mere killer and pot hunter which require controlling. He, in most districts, has a free hand. Reports reach the society as to the shooting of 40 kaka in one day on Stewart Island and dozens of like reports come to hand. In fact, our correspondence is one long wail about illegal killing.. When specific instances have been brought before the authorities the results have not been, satisfactory. '.■■-.

The greatest menace of all to the birds, to our indigenous forests, and thereby to the prosperity o£ New Zealand (as upon these forests our climate depends and foreßts are necessary to check the increasingly devastating effects of erosion) is the presence of animals in oux forests. When anirnalß are removed the forest floor again rapidly builds up, the trees again and bear berries freely, with .the result that a plentiful food supply is present, and: the. birds increase despite the presence of their terrible night enemies. To the younger generation this will not be at once evident, as they have mostly never seen our native forest in its natural condition, as such is now a rarity owing to the depredations of animals. The writer has carefully observed the progressive prosperity engendered by the removal of animals from parts of Kapiti sanctuary. Four years ago there was a paucity . of bird life on this island and a plenitude of stock;. As the goats and sheep "have been removed so in proportion has the forest improved, and the bird life followed suit. Thel only noteworthy circumstance as differing from the mainland is that there are no weasels present, but there are plenty of rats, also some wild cats, now being lessened as opportunity occurs. The astounding: fact is that, despite no real practical attempts at conservation, our native birds have not decreased to the extent many of our imported game birds have. Our conservation attempts, such as they are, are controlled by office men mostly, who have had no or little field experience, and who have had no ■ opportunity to study modern methods of conservation: •

Something really of a forward nature could be done if a Commission of say five was set up to control matters relating to ojir native birds and their resorts. This organisation would, of course, need a small staff of one or two inspectors, and a few caretakers for the more important reserves. This committee to be successful would have to consist of the best we have of those with a knowledge of conservation. We have them too —one at least with a world-wide reputation for his knowledge of our flora. We have bird men too who know what they are talking about, and they, although more lucratively engaged, would almost certainly act on such a board.—l am, etc..

■B. V. SANDERSON, Hon. Sec, N^g. Native. Bird Protection Society. 20th January.