“GREAT DUCK CRISIS"

Evening Star, Issue 21078, 15 April 1932, Page 12

“GREAT DUCK CRISIS"

CONCERN IN AMERICA LESSON FOR DOMINION. Attention is drawn in the current bulletin of the New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society to the great concern being shown both by sportsmen and bird protectionists in Canada and the United States with regard to “ the great duck crisis ” in those countries. The bulletin states that the contributing factors to a similar crisis are present also in New Zealand, and will lead to a similar result unless checked. “The controversy in America has placed the contentionists under two headings: Legitimate sportsmen v. ‘ duck bends,’ ” the bulletin says. “ These latter consist of those who think how big their bag can be on the opening day, regardless of future seasons. These people like to see their photographs taken with a large number of dead ducks appearing in the newspaper. If the ducks were armed as efficiently as their persecutors these duck fiends would probably be found on the roll of conscientious objectors. “The cowardly action of feeding the birds to attract them to the gun, called 1 baiting,’ is one of the main causes of the great duck depletion. This baiting is very prevalent m New Zealand, and the results will bo similar to those in the countries mentioned if the practice continues. Photographs of concentrations of ducks on specially baited grounds have been used by these duck fiends for propaganda purposes in preventing close seasons and the further limiting of bags. People of this kind, after killing and maiming large numbers of ducks, blame anything but over-shooting—hawks, pukeko, or anything—but never themselves. Some day, when we get better civilised, it will b 6 recognised that ducks are our most valuable night bird; but there will probably bo no ducks then. “ Sportsmen suggest the following remedies;—Close seasons, rigid limiting of bags to check over-shooting, coordination in conservation, large-scale acquisition and conservation of breeding areas, refuge grounds, sanctuaries, reconstruction of marshes am] lakes now drained, better enforcement on conservation laws, research into diseases attacking the birds, and the cooperation of bird protection societies and sportsmen’s organisations with a view to preventing the extermination of water-fowl.”-