LITTLE GREY OWL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 10 February 1933, Page 8

LITTLE GREY OWL

SOUTH ISLAND MENACE Although the menace of the little grey owl to the small native birds of New Zealand is fully recognised by the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, that body is not in a position to grant royalties’ for their capture. At a meeting of the society a letter was received from the North Canterbury Acclimatisation suggesting that a royalty should be offered for the heads of" the birds and that the Wellington society should co-operate with the Native Bird Protection Society with a view to taking extreme measures. The Canterbury Society stated that a nest of a little grey owl taken from the north branch of the Waimakariri River contained feathers, legs and bills of a kingfisher, starling, two blackbirds three thrushes, two skylarks, a waxeye, fantail, sparrow, two chaffinches, a hedge-sparrow and field mouse. Since the increase of the little grey owl, smaller birds in the district were rapidly decreasing. The chairman of the Wellington Society (Dr Anson) said that they thanked the Canterbury Association for its warning, but until the acclimatisation societies got back their just revenue from the forests it would be impossible to take any steps in the way of offering royalties.