BIRD PROTECTION

Evening Star, Issue 14527, 1 December 1910, Page 7

BIRD PROTECTION

♦ [SI'KCIAL TO THE STAB.] CHRr-.TCHUKCII, December 1. Mr E. Y. Stead, who has returned to Christ-church from a. visit to Australia, states that in the, Commonwealth active steps are being taken to bring under the notice of children the desirableness of protecting native birds. In the schools the children a.io asked to sign a deciavation that they will not interfere with native biids or 1 their nests or their young. Bird day in the schools is also helping to preserve bird life. As to the ladies' weakness for decorating their bonnets with plumage, it- _is proposed lo introduce a measure prohibit--1 ing anv person from wearing the feathers or anv native bird. In Sydney and Melbourne- Mr Stead discussed with kl'\tml Australian naturalists the importation <f owls into New Zealand to deal with }];<• 1 small birds. Speaking from Australia'., experience of introduced birds, they s.i:d that they were very doubtful if a;.y punianent good would lie gained by the piesenro of the owlfi imiiorted here in recent j years. Mr Stead remarked to a- reporter j : - ycstercUv that on his way up hum Dunedin I ho went" through <li?tricln where the owls were supposed'to exist, but as far as lie could see the spairows and oilier small t birds wero just as plentiful and destructive- ■* as ever. In Melbourne Mr Stead was shown several huia feathers, ami wa« able to tell the possessor of them that they were more valuable than had been pupposed. Ho intends to nuiko another at- j tempt to capture smne living specimens, to ; lie placed in one of the bird sanctuaries I and will probably go in March into the Rangitikei district, near the Mairngaterau ; Hiver a-nd Mount Aorangi, where ho spent j some ten days on the Rime quest this year. I