FORESTS AND BIRDS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 284, 28 October 1933, Page 9

FORESTS AND BIRDS

FULL PROTECTION URGED. Every possible step to protect New Zealand’s native forests and. birds was urged by Mr A. E. Wilson, actinghonorary secretary of the New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society, and by Captain E. V. Sanderson, at the half-yearly council meeting of the Northern Wellington Federation of Women’s Institutes in Pahiatua on Thursday. By planting trees and shrubs, said Mr Wilson, we would have beautiful surroundings to our homes and have the most beautiful of God’s creatures —birds. Through all the countless centuries of years our forest was evolved by Nature by relentless competition — Nature’s law, the survival of the fittest, as the most suitable —climatic influence, the building up of the good, rich soil and for the prevention of the soil being washed away. Nature knew and never failed. The magnificent mountain forests, the resulting clear crystal rivers and lakes, the green, healthy pastures, were far greater than any man-made monument. The forest was the backbone of the preservation of our native birds. It was also the foundation of our agricultural and pastoral lands, and thus of our own prosperity, because it prevented floods, checked the loss of soil, and operated in many ways essential to man’s well-being. It was recognised the world over that man could not live in prosperity without a sufficiency of forests. The speaker went on to show that Nature had put forests on the ranges to receive the rainfalls. Part was retained by the trees and part by the forest floor-covering, which had a marked effect on the humidity of the climate. The greatest part.filtered through the floor of the forests to the underground reservoirs and. springs. There it was stored to feed streams, rivers and lakes. It was estimated that these underground springs held in reserve about 10 years’ supply. In the short period of 80 or 90 years New Zealand had destroyed almost 90 per cent, of its protective forests, and at all costs the remainder should be retained. The birds, Mr Wilson continued, were evolved for certain conditions, and the conditions for which our native birds were evolved were those which were present when the white man first landed in New Zealand. It

was obvious, therefore, that the way to preserve our birds was by returning the remaining forest back to its native condition. To bring back the birds, the speaker recommended planting suitable nectar and berry-bearing trees round our homes, thus making homes more charming and more in keeping with Nature, the master workman. Birds were the farmers’ best friends in the fight against insects. Winter was a hard time for birds, and at this time all should help. Peculiarly enough, the imported tree lucerne was a very great aid in helping to restore the balance of Nature. Native trees that helped in the winter were the poroporo and ngutukaka. Artificial feeding in the months of August a.nd September would help a great deal. Sweetened porridge was splendid, also scraps, and honey and water. With regard to the cats, Mr Wilson commended Dr. Munthe’s example of tying bells to their necks to warn the birds. Captain Sanderson spoke on similar lines. , . _. , . , Scholars from the Pahiatua District High School were present by Invitation to hear the addresses and thanks were conveyed to the speakers by Mrs W. G. Short.