A PLACE FOR BIRD LOVERS

Evening Star, Issue 22709, 24 July 1937, Page 8

A PLACE FOR BIRD LOVERS

The pledge:—“ 1 promise to cane for all wild birds, especially New Zealand native birds, to feed them in winter and to protect them at all times. I promise also to protect our native trees and bush, and at no time to assist in their damage or destruction, since they are the natural home of our native birds.'’ Name Pull postal address If you wish to join tho Bird Club it is necessary to send Is in stamps or a postal-note, and a bird book and badge will be sent to you. Address your letters to Big Brother Bill, care of ’ Evening Star,’ Stuart street, Dunedin, C.l. Bo sure to mark your envelope “ Bird Club. 1 ' WILD LIFE ENEMIES (Continued.) (E. V. Sauderson.) When, however, the term “vermin” is applied to unnatural or exotic enemies to wild life, the argument is quite different and we need not go beyond New Zealand for many notable examples of inevitable results, as witness the deer, goats, etc., as unnatural enemies of our plant life. Stoats, weasels, rats, cats, etc., are also unnatural to our native bird life, which had prospered for ages upon ages in association with its natural enemies. They were then suddenly attacked by these strange enemies which had new _ and different methods of securing their prey. Add to this the effect of imported disease, with the destruction of the natural habitat; then it can be seen that the calamaties wore indeed overwhelming. Take for instance the introduction of the little or German owl. The fautail had long been accustomed to prey upon flying insects right up to dusk, and the attack was then taken up by bats until total darkness. Then the rats came out to prey upon eggs, nestlings, etc., and to bo preyed upon themselves by the

morepork. The little owl, however, takes the fantail in daylight, a form of attack which the fantail or its ancestors had .never previously experionced. The purposely introduced little owl thus played sad havoc with, one of man’s most useful allies. Bub then we must not forget that man is his own natural enemy. - (The end.)