THE PROTECTION OF NATIVE BIRDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24783, 6 December 1941, Page 13

THE PROTECTION OF NATIVE BIRDS

TO THE EDITOB Sii —Bird lovers will have noticed articles by professors and others in the press, appealing to the public to do all in their power to protect our native birds and conserve our forests. I can claim with some degree of satisfaction that the work done in, this direction by a little band of patriots in Otago in'destroying. German owls has been very helpful to the cause; ' • .. : ' Not having had the opportunity of visiting the bush areas, I cannot say whether native birds are to be seen in greater numbers than in past years, but the total disappearance of German owls from the city precincts indicates that the natural haunts of the native birds are free from vermin, and that they are. able to rear their families without molestation. If this assumption is correct, it is a great achievement, and will be hailed with satisfaction. The autumn will.tell us the true story when the birds come back to the city to- seek for food and visit the many welcome honey-cups which people so gladly keep replenished. The school holidays will soon be here, and I appeal to all boys and girls to use their best endeavours to destroy German owls and protect our native birds whenever the opportunity offers. The number of owls collected by our little society now totals 6500. and I hope this figure will steadily increase until such time as not one of these pests is to be found in the whole ot Otago. A royalty of Is per-head is still being paid. I acknowledge With thanks £1 from R. R. and £1 from G. W.—l am, etc., A.H.Fisher. Dunedin, December 3.