NATIVE BIRDS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16826, 13 December 1928, Page 8

NATIVE BIRDS

PROTECTIVE MEASURES IS THE OPOSSUM AN ENEMY? Tbo attitude of the New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society in regard to the opossum Will he. of interest to those interested in (he work of the society, and also to those who reap a measure of benefit from their trapping operations during the season. A copy of a progress report of the society';-, work has been received by Mrl A. Black burn, and a. portion of considerable interest is as follows: "The opossum question has again come to the forefront owing to an application made to the Hon. Minister of Interna! Affairs by acclimatisation societies to further distribute ibis animal. Probably the most pressing need in New Zealand is the preservation of a sufficiency of our indigenous forests, as they are essential lor the conservation of rainfall, .for the prevention of erosion, and such matters which make for the prosperity of our primary industries. Our native birds inhabiting the forests are absolutely essential to maintain our indigenous forests in health and well-being. ''There are many who doubt that the opossum is a real asset, and suggest that we are probably jeopardising a far Greater wealth producer—the forests — for the smaller revenue derived from skins. Those who receive financial benefits from the opossum are the Department of Internal Affairs, the Forest Service, acclimatisation 'societies, trappers, skin buyers, etc., and from these tomes the most strenuous advocacy for the animals. "Some, extraordinary statements have boon made, as for instance that the fact of traopers catching rats and stoats has caused native birds to prosper in these localities where trapping goes on. Estimates of thousands of rats caught by trappers have been made when the fact is that no one can form the crudest, notion how many are killed. On the other hand, (hey assert- that only an occasional kiwi or w.cka is caught—in fact, any story to make a good case. ''Now', the facts, as nearly as can bo stated as judged from numbers of statements from reliable people who can have no possible interest in the opossum, are that desirable revenue is received yearly from skins. Thev on the other hand admit damage is done to the forest by ooossunts and traopers. while kiwi and other birds are killed wholesale by traps. The opossums themselves oat egas .and fledglings, and some observers stale, and nnnai'cntiy authentically, that theyeven kill full-grown pigeons and other birds. "Our societ-v has. therefore, asked for a comprehensive scientific savvey by some disinterested hodv. and it is understood that a start has been made in this direct ion. If is owW to 1>" hoped that it will be on a sufficiently large scale to put all doubts at rest, and not of a nature to allay public fee-U-hr. So maw mistakes b-''ve nvide in past acclimatisation efforts that it is surely wise to take every precaution before acting."