DEAD BIRDS

Grey River Argus, 22 February 1947, Page 4

DEAD BIRDS

request for information Mr J. M. .Cunningham, ho'n secretary, Ornithological Society of New Zealand, 39, Renal Street, Masterton, writes:—

The recent heavy gales l , with their consequent trail of destruction, have not been without effect on the bird life of the country. Countless numbers of birds have perished, but the toll en land is nothing like the disaster which has overtaken many species of seabirds, albatrosses and petrels l . • A great many are being washed ashore and others are being blown inland where they die in battling against the winds. It is of considerable interest to ornithologists _to know the species which are suffering thus, and their distribution round the coast. For example, birds which in New Zealand nest only in the Auckland province are being washed up on the Wellington coast by the southerlies, showing that their postbreeding feeding range must be considerable. Even the majestic Royal Albatross, with a wing-span of eight or nine feet, has suffered the same fate.

Any one who has the opportunity, is invited to count the number of corpses found along a stretch of the coastline: if fresh, some may be sent to a museum, giving full details of where and when found. In any case it would be appreciated if the heads and beaks of different species could be sent to the nearest museum or- to the above address for identification.