Native Bird Protection

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23263, 4 February 1939, Page 11 (Supplement)

Native Bird Protection

IN their eagerness to wage war on the "little owl," commonly known as the German owl, an .enemy of native birds, some persons have made a sad mistake, states the Forest and Bird Protection Society in a recent bulletin. They have shot moreporks, which are on the protected list. One of those enthusiasts brought into Wellington the body of a bird which he had shot in tho Upper Hutt Valley. It was identified by an expert as a morepork. Tho native and the alien are about the same size, but the imported pest has rather lighter plumage and whitish legs. The morepork has yellowish logs. Several attempts have been made by the Forest and Bird Protection Society to record tho marvellous bell-bird chorus, but luck has been against it. Members of the executive believe that this task should be undertaken by tho Government, which has better facilities to assure success. It is felt that records of that chorus and the tui's song should be in tho programme l'or National Centennial celebrations. Australia's success with the lyre-bird, which claimed to be the world's best mimic, "Should stimulate the New Zealand Government to persevere in tho effort to and hold tho music of bell-birds and tuis.

|| Gardens of some residents of Wellsuburbs—Karori, Wadestown, Khandallah, Day's Bay anrj .■F-astbonrne—are raided by opossums, 'Kiiich do 111 nrh mischief, and are also i.. n ?' s y nuisance when they happen to * 'pt on an-iron roof. i."lt was mentioned at a recent meet's■2 of tlie executive of the society that i®" 6 resident of Wadestown, on tho road leading to Wilton's bush, had ra Pped nine opossums on his quartersection. Jo some ardent anglers all shags are .tts shag, to be shot at sight, as au neniy of trout. Thus they have bluninto the killing of absolutely proj**ted species such as the spotted, |™Ngh-facetl, nnd other ishags, including nS e Pied sliag, which lives on sea-fish. Wi s^ia B is tho one that may * for a meal in a river, although

it is believed by many unbiassed observers that this bird may do more good than harm, because it gives keen attention to real enemies of trout, especially eels. The Hon. W. fi. Parry, Minister of Internal Affiiirs, agrees with the view of the Foresit and Bird Protection Society, that it is not right to use the generic term "shag" when "black shag" is meant, and that i>icd shags should not be persecuted.