NATIVE BIRDS

Southland Times, Issue 22013, 12 May 1933, Page 8

NATIVE BIRDS

INCREASED FOOD SUPPLY URGED. WAR ON INSECT PESTS. The opinion that native birds do valuable work for farmers and orchardists in keeping down insect pests was expressed by the president of the Wellington Acclimatization Society, Mr L. O. H. Tripp, who left on a holiday visit to Great Britain recently, in a letter to the executive of the society. “Since 1912 I have advocated the planting of flower and berry-bearing trees as a food supply for our native birds, my idea being that if we can increase the food supply for our birds more will survive, in spite of vermin, wrote Mr Tripp. “As you know, the acclimatization societies generally have taken the matter up, and we have been supported by men like Mr R. Stidolph, Mr W. W. 'Smith, Mr Guthrie-Smith, Mr Drummond, and many others. The consequence is that many people have planted trees with the object of supplying food for our birds. '“I think that our local bodies and others when planting should remember the birds. When planting, it is advisable, if possible where the land is suitable, to plant native trees, but there are also many exotic trees, which are of quick growth, and supply food for the birds. I was .in Canterbury recently, and in a mixed plantation consisting of eucalyptus, elm, laburnum, laurel trees, etc., I saw pigeons, fantails, bell birds, tom-tits, and the little warbler.

“I am mentioning the subject again now as we are approaching the season for planting of trees. Apart from the question of encouraging our native birds, I think everyone to-day should realize the necessity for increasing the bird life in the Dominion. Unfortunately, owing to the stoats, weasels, cats, hedgehogs, and other vermin, and owing to the poisoning of rabbits with pollard, the bird life in certain parts of the country has, I understand, materially decreased. “The consequence is that the insect life is increasing, and I think that every farmer should seriously consider the planting of trees suitable for our bird life, and in those districts where the rabbits are bad, whether it is not possible to destroy the rabbits without using the pollard poisoning. I am, of course, aware that in certain areas, particularly in the high country in the south, it would be almost impossible to-day to keep the rabbits in check without pollard poisoning, but it seems to me that on the smaller farms, the farmer should consider whether it is not possible to get rid of the rabbits without using pollard poisoning, and they should also consider whether or not it would pay them to trap . the stoats and weasels and other vermin so as to increase the bird life. “In mentioning tree-planting I should have warned anyone planting sycamore in or near plantations or native bush. Sycamore trees have no value so far as birds are concerned, and unfortunately increase so fast t)rat in certain districts they are taking charge of plantations, and are a menace to our native bush.”