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Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 8 November 1933, Page 7

“The German owl is .undoubtedly the farmers’ friend and rids the ground of many pests,” said Mr I. Howes at a meeting of the Otago Acclimatisation Society. He had examined a number of these birds, he said, and the contents of their stomachs did not disclose that they were destructive to young birds. Instead, it would appear that they fed largely on mice, beetles, snails, and worms. No doubt they were responsible iu a few instances tor the death of small birds, and evidence pointed to introduced birds falling a prey to the owl more than native birds for. the reason, no doubt, that the native 'birds had been accustomed, over a Jong period, .to protect themselves against another enemy, the morepork. The introduced birds did not possess that instinct, though it would evolve in time. Mr Howes added that some of the birds sent to him had evidently shot in the evening, before they cbmrhencee' to feed, add it would; be preferable- ih Order to; .determine their feeding hAbitt tio examine birds shot afeOut daylight or in the moonlight.