WILD BIRD LIFE

Evening Post, Issue 98, 27 April 1936, Page 5

WILD BIRD LIFE

PROTECTIVE WORK

SOCIETY'S MEETING

The growth of an appreciation of the value of bird life to a community was,outlined by Captain E. V. Sanderson, president of the Native Forest and Bird Protection Society, at the annual meeting of the society on Friday night. In his presidential address he dealt mainly with the work in other countries, especially the United States of America, where he said game bird hunters had reduced the number of birds to a great extent.

"Our society is in touch with many kindred organisations throughout the world," Captain Sanderson said, "and it may interest you to learn how bird protection is progressing . interrialion* ally. Generally speaking a. wave in our favour is spreading over the civilised world. In Britain we have the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds which, although of a not very enterprising nature, is doing steady and good work. In Scotland there is a good little society with limited means which aims at making Scotland the most bird-loving country in the world. Britain's main problem appears to be the checking of the capturing of wild birds for caging purposes and combating the activities of collectors. In Germany and the neighbouring European countries a strong bird sense is dominant. In Australia bird and forest protection is mainly conducted from New South Wales, on.a smaller scale than in- New Zealand yet with some success because Australia's vastness gives no small amount of protection to birds. Japan, the greatest of all forestry nations, now has a society which issues suitable bulletins in order to educate the public so far as. bird-feed-ing, nesting-boxes, etc., are concerned. In the United States of America a great bird-loving sentiment has sprung up, so much so that it is asserted that the new cult—the bird-lover—has superseded the old-fashioned museum ornithologist. In their efforts to study and recognise the various species of wild birds, Nature lovers use cameras, binoculars, and even telescopes mounted on motor-cars. "Game birds, however, have received a great set back in the United States, and probably exist even in a smaller proportion to area than in New Zealand., In America the problem of ammunition manufacturers and hunters versus the bird lovers is intense. The former have been well organised, and although in the minority have so far been able to dominate the situation owing to the fact that the opposition is not properly united. President Roosevelt recently called a great conference of all those interested in the conservation of America's natural resources with, the result that a strong federation presided over by Mr. Darling—the late chief of 'The Biological Survey'—has been formed. "Canada probably shows the greatest progress in bird protection of all countries. There, the Department of the Interior, under the able direction of Mr. Hoyes Lloyd, Director of National Parks, issues a large amount of suitable propaganda, on the same lines as that distributed by this society, with the result that.a very strong public sympathy for birds is in evidence: Vast numbers of water-fowl breed in Canada, and when winter comes migrate down to the United States and Mexico'where . they are slain in countless numbers.

"You will see from these few remarks how seriously and how internationally the "cause for bird protection has been taken up. -Many foreign letters reach this society congratulating us on pur work and discussing, the intricacies of the.many problems which arise and tho steps which are being taken towards their solution. For these reasons it will be obvious that a much wider knowledge is gained as a result of this international intercourse." . '

The following. officers were all reelected:—President, Captain E. V. Sanderson; executive. Mrs. Knox "Gilmer, Major J. R. Kirk, Mr, B. C. Aston; treasurer, Mr. Eric Lawson; auditor, Mr. Duncan Menzies.