BIRD LIFE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2762, 20 February 1907, Page 80

BIRD LIFE.

Thie has sadly changed since my former rambles. We neither saw nor heard the kiwi or kakapo, whereas 10 or 11 years ago we could hardly sleep with their calls. The saddle back. Jack bird, blue crow, native thrush, golden- headed canary and blue mountain duck have all gone — or at least we did not see a einglo specimen, although I saw two flecks of the other variety of canaries. Lake Ada, when I was there last, was covered with waterfowl—now, not over a dozen were to be seen. At one place, and one place only, did the bush seem full of !ifo. and that was at Glade Houeo. There the stalely paradise duck would settle on the lawn near the river ; the wood pigeon would feed on the low shrubs. The kakas disported and gambolled on the rata troos wekas came around stealthily. Paraquete, tuis. and mokis were well represented. But why all this delightful assembly of our native charmers? The reply simply W that there wa« a gentleman protecting them there— Mr Garvey. lie will allow neither (r Un nor dog 1 on any pretence whatever to be taken there, and our bird-life is in consequence preserved. The birds m the Clinton Valley were thot out by the roadmen when the track was formed. In the Eglinton two robins took possession of our camp. It was like- meeting dear old friends to see thorn, and watch all thoir pretty and confiding wa\6. In the early morning, too, we had a grand song from the cock bird— a song full of gleo. Such a song I have not heard for year?, and to hear which I would go many a long mile. Now, just a word about our native bircie. We need not here enter into the economic reaeons for introducing the natuial enemy. It hae, however, been fairly well demonstrated that the weasel and ferret alone, and unaided will not exterminate all our species. On the other hand, it 16 equally certain that the natural enemy, aided by our Cockney unsportsmanlike pothunters', will seal the doom of nearly every bird in the forest. That being so the clear duty of every lover of our land is to insist on passing an act that will absolutely protect our native birrls. Do not all of us know men who glory in shooting down everything they can see, and in many instances killing more than they can carry away? It is not the backwoods settlor who, when food runs short and he requires to take a bird or two, is exterminating the game. It i-> these city men who delight in going where birds aie protected, and who shoot the poor things almost sitting on. the guns, that are doing the work of destruction.