CONCERNING BIRDS

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 25, 29 July 1932, Page 6

CONCERNING BIRDS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Replying to your Khandallah correspondents in Saturday'a/'Evening Post" concerning the identity of some yellowcoloured. _ birds ' which' frequent their grounds, it is quite possible they are yellowhammers. As the description is somewhat vague, one can hardly presume to make a definite statement; but amongst my bird visitors are nine yellowhammers. This is a European bird originally called yellowammer, "aminer" being a German word referring to bunting. ' The yellowhammers are very pretty, though timid, and they call daily at my feeding ground for any small crumbs which the starlings (the "larrikins" of the bird family) condescend to leave them! I have counted fifty-six birds of the following kinds feeding at the one time—dilvereyes, chaffinches (the male being particularly handsome), dunnocks, yellowhammers, sparrows, -starlings,. bullfinches. The blackbird, kingfisher, magpie, and the black and* broiyn thrushes have also called to pay their reAt the moment, and until the end'of August there is a, shortage of food for the birds, and they greatly appreciate suet, cooked potatoes, baked pumpkin^-sweet-ened porridge, bread, and apples; of. any description. The bullfinch and the sparrow like a little hemp seed at this period ot the year. , ■'.•■■■ ;;■.:■>■''..!'■.'■•■''.-■' There is one point which cannot; be stressed too strongly when-feeding our little feathered friends, and that is the cat menace. The birds-are weak due to the cold weather and lack of nourishment and, therefore, those who. possess cats should shut them in while the -birds are feeding. This is only honourable and fair to the birds. If only peirole-would recognise the' national importance,-of preserving our bird life! Fortunately the Governor-General has-entered 'the ranks of those who have been fighting for years to protect these most necessary toilers of the forest, field, and garden., Lordßledißloe, with his practical knowledge of -farming, has publicly advocated: (and lightly so) the protection of starlings, and the prohibition of the collecting of starlings eggs, that the grass-grub menace at le Aroha may be eradicated.—l am, etc., BIRD LOVER.