PROTECTION OF NATIVE BIRDS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 136, 5 December 1929, Page 8

PROTECTION OF NATIVE BIRDS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—A fortnight ago a holiday-maker irrote an article to "The Post" in appreciation of the native beauty and charm of a certain scenic bush reserve and holiday resort which he had recently visited Me enumerated the species of native birds inhabiting the reserve. May I express my earnest opinion that it is wholly inadvisable, in the interests and welfare of naave birds, to publish their occurrence in any scenic reserve or locality. One of the rarest species was mentioned in your contributor's article. Such information induces heartless and mercenary bird-col-lectors to visit the districts where they inhabit and procure them if possible, fckms of Aew Zealand's rarest and expiring birds now realise large sums to illicit dealers.

In May last it was reported in the newspapers that huias had been observed m a certain district, and that a pair were observed nesting in the same locality the previous year. It was also reported that suspicious prowlers had been detected in the district a few days later where thes* remarkable and unique birds were reported to occur. There are in the public and secondary sefcools of the Dominion many thousands of young nature-lovers studying native plants, insects, and birds Our duty, therefore, is to strive to preserve every vestigs of tile native fauna and flora for nature-lovera and students of the future. Native birds and insects are the natural perpetuators of the bush,, and require our protection by every means. They have many introduced deadly enemies to contend with which continue to reduce their, numbers annually in some districts. To assist the good work being done by tha New Zealand Native Birds Protection Society, writer* on the subject should avoid mentioning the whereabouts of the rarer and vanishing species of native birds.—l am, etc.,

„ „ W. W. SMITH. new Plymouth, 3rd December.