Seagulls Become Curd-Eaters

Northern Advocate, 26 May 1938, Page 12

Seagulls Become Curd-Eaters

Even seagulls have become followei’s of the modei’n craze of trying new foodstuffs.

On the property of Mr Max Dempster, at Puhipuhi, twelve miles as the birds fly from the coast, • they have created a problem by raiding the curd supply. Now that the last of the pigs have been killed for bacon, the supply of milk, used only for poultry and ducks, is accumulating, and the large oil tin containers have become full to overflowing, the whey having been drained off. About a week ago, the first seagull fell from grace, tasting the fermented liquor, and finding it to be good. Every day since, the curd barrels have been packed with screaming, squalling gulls, gorging themselves to their fill. The curd has set solid, so that no mortality among the raiders has occurred. During the day they consume at least a quarter part of the contents of the barrels, migrating sea* wards at night and returning each morning.

With 60 years’ farming experience, Mr Dempster says that he has never previously known seabirds to eat curds