THE GERMAN OWL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 73, 8 March 1933, Page 8

THE GERMAN OWL

MENACE TO NATIVE BIRDS INVADING NORTH ISLAND STEPS TO BE TAKEN The menace to native birds in the South Island caused by the German owl, which is popularly known as “the little grey owl,” has been the subject of some concern on the part of acclimatisation societies of the North Island, because it is understood that the owls arc invading the North Island, where it is feared that they will be a source of as much danger in the North as they are at present in * the South Island. The Canterbury Acclimatisation Society wrote to the Hawke's Bay Acclimatisation Society recently on the matter, as a result of which the latter society wrote to the New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society asking for information as to the habits of the owls. The Native Bird Protection Society have replied to the effect that there was conclusive evidence that the German owl was exterminating all the ■mailer species of native birds in the southern districts. The owl did not confine itself to native birds, and an instance was reported of a full-grown chukor being killed. In appearance the German owl did not differ very much from the morepork, but the former was smaller, and it* legs were covered with white feathers, which was probably the most dominant pointed difference. Its face

was also lighter, but not sufficiently so to bo a guiding mark.

The bird had been reported definitely as being present in the Rotorua district, and in several other localities indefinitely. It was also to be found on Stewart Island, in Otago, Southland and Canterbury. The Native Bird Protection Society’s letter went on to say that the society had agreed to co-operate with acclimatisation societies anl the Department of Internal Affairs in the paying of a bounty. It now awaited the acquiescence of those organisations, as its funds were wholly inadequate to do more than shoulder a small portion of the burden. Its annual gross income approximated £9OO, while that of acclimatisation societies was £48,000. The German owl was introduced by tho Otago Acclimatisation Society with the permission of the Department of Internal Affairs. Southland also having had a hand in the matter. Neither of those societies, however, appeared to be inclined to share in the cost of lessening the evil. When the matter was discussed at last evening’s meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Society, it was decided to write to the curator at Rotorua for confirmation of the fact that the owls arc to be found there. ■