PHEASANT REARING

Evening Star, Issue 26087, 29 April 1947, Page 8

PHEASANT REARING

LIBERATION AT GLENCAIRN SUCCESS QUESTIONED The policy of the Otago Acclimatisation Society in liberating pheasants at Glencaixn was discussed at last night’s meeting of the council of the society. The birds were being liberated in that area as there was an absence of vermin and there was a good supply of natural feed, the purpose being to discover if they oould maintain their condition and, perhaps, propagate themselves naturally. The discussion arose out of the report of a special meeting of the Game Committee, which stated that the curator (Mr W. N. Claringbold), had inspected the Glencairn property with a view to the selection of a place for •the rearing of pheasants. He had formed the opinion that although Glencairn was suitable for the liberation of adult birds, it was not favourable for the artificial propagation of pheasants. The committee had adopted the report, and recommended that pheasants be trapped on Glencairn during the spring months to check their condition. Elaborating on his report, Mr Claringbold said, although reasonable success had been obtained at Waitati, the area was not ideally suited as it was too wet and cold. No doubt more suitable areas could be obtained in the Palmerston district, or preferably in Central Otago. He suggested that the best area be secured and a start made m a small way, transferring day-old chicks and returning them to Waitati at eight weeks’ old, when they were more able to stand the colder climate. Mr Claringbold thought" that birds reared in Central Otago would probably grow much faster, and be available for liberation earlier. A property at Earnscleugh was suggested by the curator which, he said, could be worked iu conjunction with the fish salvage operations while the man was in the district. After some discussjon the committee agreed to recommend to the council that Mr Claringbold proceed to Central Otago to l’eport on the suitability of any area, and provide an estimate of the cost of an experiment along the lines suggested by him. “It is a very good report,” said Mr S. F. Abum, although the Glencairn project was apparently unsatisfactory, and the report practically said' it was going to be abandoned. The suggestion to try out Central Otago was an extremely good one. It was not intended to purchase a property there in th'e meantime, but to lease an area. He moved the adoption of the report. Mr J. A. Miller differed from the previous speaker concerning his criticism of the Glencairn property, pointing out that it would prevent the trouble at the opening of the shooting season which had occurred previously, and it would also serve to ascertain if pheasants would thrive there. ' The report was then adopted. . “ My impression of the meeting is that there was no doubt of the Glencairn property, the opinion being that we are doing pretty well,” commented Mr C. M. Greenslade. It should ho possible to liberate adult birds in that area with satisfactory results, because of the absence of vermin. It was pointed out that there was no open season for pheasants this year.