NATIVE BIRDS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 28, 2 August 1927, Page 11

NATIVE BIRDS

AWAKENING INTEREST

FINE PICTURES FOR SCHOOLS

PRESENTATION CHARTS

The New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society is endeavouring to cultivate in tho young people of the Dominion a love of Nature, and in particular a love of native birds. With this object in view the society proposes to present all the schools in New Zealand with coloured illustrations of native birds. In New Zealand there are about 7S species of native birds found nowhere else in the world. The society is endeavouring to acquaint school children with these species, and has decided to supply to each school a series of wne^charts, each containing "portraits ' of six species of native birds, in colour. The chart is accompanied wit* suitable letterpress, dealing with the habits of the birds, and general notes of interest. The illustrations, which are very fine indeed, are the work of Mr. Edward Parlett, who has taken great trouble to reproduce them in natural surroundings. To do this, he has had to make trips to Kapiti Island tc catch "atmosphere." The first chart is in the course of preparation, and is to bo issued to 2500 schools in the Dominion shortly. The Education Department is sympathetic with the movement, and has promised £100 towards; tho cost of the production of the charts. The first chart depicts the piereon, huia, kaka, bcllbird, tui, and kingfisher. The charts are to be supplied at six monthly intervals, thus giving t.ie school children adequate opportunity to study each selection of birds The charts are to be supplied to schools and colleges free of charge and to members of the society at the modest price of half a crown. The public may purchase them for five shillings a copy. ' & APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC. An appeal to all lovers of bird life to assist in the protection of New Zealand native birds is made by the society. The report presented at the annual meeting last evening stated that since the recent great increase in the use of motor vehieles/jhad come about, which gave easier access tc the countryside and to the forest, with no corresponding stiffening of the enforcement of conservation laws and with inadequate public education as to the necessity of Mature preservation, native birds and forests were having an increasingly difficult struggle for existence. . "Other factors, too, have been instrumental in destroying inueli urban beauty and bird shelter, as, for instance, extensive hydro-electric schemes," the report stated. "Thbso should be a good reason for forest conservationotherwise a lessening water flow will result. Let us hope that the inclination of the present-aay motorist to convert all roads into speedways, devoid of charm and beauty, will have a turning point, and that the demand will arise to combine an outing with congenial surroundings. The public mind has not yet been awakened to the value of forests for other than timber uses, and the rapid depletion of our bush is already undoubtedly causing deterioration of our pastoral lands and thereby of our flocks and wool, etc.; owing to the unfavourable climatic conditions brought about. Severe erosion is ■ also taking place, and is now very evident, resulting in the loss of the best of the top soil on much of our hill country, and the scouring of the river flats "in the lowlands. It, however, requires some little study and observation, to fully realise these* matters, and most people are too much occupied in other ways to give the necessary thought to such subjects. WORK ON EIGHT LINES. "The society, with the limited resources at its command, has endeavoured to help to stem the tide of destruction, and has experienced at least a modicum of success. It is felt certain we are operating on the right lines and the only lines that can be successful, that is, the public education out of thoughtlessness into- thoughfulness, or, in other words, conservation by education. It is, moreover, found that the New Zealander is a particularly responsive subject where the question of the preservation of our indigenous birds and forests is concerned. The society has thus been enabled to make considerable impression even with the present limited organisation, and it is felt that, if an organisation worthy of the great objects in view were set up, a totally different public outlook would result. Many species of our birds have markedly increased in several districts, including our pigeon, proving that it is only necessary to show good reasons why our birds and forests must be preserved, and the public will insist on its being done. Exception must be made in the case of the few; and it is in dealing with these that much stiffening of the law and more drastic penalties are necessary."