NATURE NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 24, 29 January 1927, Page 15

NATURE NOTES

deselection m mam

A REVIEW

[By E. H. D. Sfcidolph", 8.A.0.U;)

Although the" theories which ka.v« been elaborated to. explain,- tier disßs-

pearUnee of native birds aje numerous,

certain facts • yet remain unsolved.

There can be little doubt that .the

draining of the swamps, and the. pass-

ing of the forests' are responsible for

the dimimition of the native species

in the areas affected, for no bird can

live without food or coyer; yet, w.hat

explanation: is there to account for-the

;otal disappearance; of' some 'species

from extensive areas of virgin couitryj

Why did the kakapo disappear from the

North Island at almost the same time

as the earliest settlers set foot on the

island, from areas ..which even ■ to-day, are still in their primaeval state? Why did the stitch bird'and piopio 'likewise vanish,, even' before the introduction

of the ; bloodthirsty weasels, ferrets, and stjats? In all probability these questi' is will remain unanswered. But

even/ ji later year, when ■ nlore facts wert-^'athered,-the oscillations; in the

numbers, of native birds ha^e not been satisfactorily explained. • Only a few

years ago naturalists all ove'r'sNew Zealand 1 were deploring,the' fact^ttiat the bellbird had almost disappeared from the. North Island. The rait, "and the weasel tribe/were .blamed- > Yet to-day, :to out great .joy, tlie;liellbira;;.Tias-. re-

appeared in- many' districts,-in spite of the abundance of rats, weasels,'-etc., and now even frequents townV gardens. Likewise, the whitehead also gave naturalists much concern,..but it,, too, .has again increased and is now widely distributed. A ' matter that is often

overlooked is that the lowland forests, rich in bird food, have given.-,place to fields and pastures, and; tte. more inhospitable highland 'forests, chiefly beech, yielding much less food, remain. The bountiful'hunting, grounds have almost vanished, and an existence must now, bo eked out in:; the. mountain 'fastnesses. It.jniust 'be remembered, too, that although there niaylbe an abundance of food at certain tinies of the year in the mountain forests, at .other' periods' sustenance there 'is' aeeide&ljr v" scarce. Species inhabiting those:*'areas 1- cannot now enjoy 7 a bounteous repast iby a visit to'the delicacies, of' the lowlands.

It is useless now to decry: the] folly pf the introduction of such;a'::p?st as the rabbit, followed by the •weasel, ferret, and stoat K in the hope ;that these animals'would reduee-the rabbit/plague. In. any icasey'tlie'-weasel ;and:;;;iis' allies may not be such an unmitigated 1 evil as many think—as there is no" doubt whatever that these animals prey'largely on rats, which are the most-destruc- ■ tive of all animals to our bird life. la this connection it is interesting to note the following extract from a standard book of reference on natural'history: "From the war incessantly .waged by ' the weasel against.rats, mice,:and-field mice' of all kinds, it ought t6: tected by the farmer,- if not alSS";by the ganiekeeper, rather tha'n;bo:,'de3fefpy^d." Some observers, however, consider that the stoat is the birds' worst enemy. Major R. A, "Wilson (1922) wrote: "My observations down. South made me feel sure that the chief actors in.'the disappearance of the kiwi, kakapo, arid suchlike are the stoat and weasel. . . At first I thought that'the vast forests in Westlandt would-prove a sanctuary ' for the birds, as it d^d not seera likely that; ; weasels would find birds scattered over so vast an area." Major Wilson* observations, however, showed him' that the weasels had .penetrated, to^the most remote and unlikely places, and the only; ground birds, of which he had any in- • .dication were a few wekas, which can. probably withstand this', enemy. Cats, both wild and domestic, area great menacej but' as Miv 3V.G. Myers recorded, Mr. H. .Guthrfe-Smith,V,f'arguing from; the fact that near Chouses where cats are kept; the nests \ t t>£ various rails are least molested by/raitsj^ijeiieyes that the influence of cats may,at.times be actually protective. Dogs Ytake their tally of the weka, the kiwi, and the kakapo, and are probably the worst .enemy of these species. The,illegal destruction by shooting, and by and losses; by fire arid miscellaneous causes, have all. added to ./the ravages of the birds' raijks.'\ js[ow..fthe opossum adds) a further'.'menacfrr^the seriousness of which cannot be :too" greatly itfryphasised. The kiwi, weka, and kakapo, it not threatened ..with extinction) before, now have that fate hanging over their heads. Numerous. cases have" ■ been reported where these .ground birds have, been caught in opossum traps?—although the regulations provide that these traps must not be set on' the ground /where these birds occur. The tremendous increase of trapping, the remote districts into;which trappers penetrate;.aid. the non-compliance with the;regulations-,as to the setting of traps, leave. little doubt, that, unless- strict .supervision.. is.- ; a. once inaugurated, ■ these imique fprnis, : willdisappear. ■'.•;. — ,: : . the N;ew: Zealand Natw*' Bird Protection Society-is alive to tie. needs of the.moment in. bird,proteeidoiv and their efforts in. this; direction.; ara commendable. .Itis recognised that the most efficient- iway tp;..preserve our native spefeies is by :the provision of adequately, protected bird sanctuaries, the transference of as many ..species ail possible to island'sanctuaries-under custodians, the creation of a ■wild-life and game conservation" depdrttuent' tb\ contaol all these areas a'ndinyestigate problems of wild life'conservation, such as the destruction of pests inimical to the welfare of. the, birds. All bird-lovera should use. every, endeavqut;to;deßtroj; weasels and.their allies,;'vats.a^d cats, and should, wherever" possible, plant trees that will provide the birds with food. . Eminent authorities, are . more than ever convincedv of the enormous economic importance of bird life, to a country, and its preservation is a matter of vital concern^