WILD LIFE IN SOUTHLAND

Southland Times, Issue 24423, 1 May 1941, Page 4

WILD LIFE IN SOUTHLAND

DUCK SHOOTERS MAKE SURVEY Some interesting information about the number of grey duck and paradise duck in the province was contained in the annual report of the Southland branch of the New Zealand Duck Shooters’ Association read at the annual meeting last night. Mr P. Hennessey was chairman and there was a fair attendance. To obtain some idea of the wild life available in Southland it was decided to operate a survey over several seasons and in this way to gain a knowledge of the increase or decrease of game generally, stated the report. In this effort the association had the full co-operation of Mr C. J. Evans, conservator of game for the Southland Acclimatization Society. To foster interest in this matter a duck shooters’ dinner was held and resulted in 100 license holders being present. To ensure the efficiency of the survey, shooters were detailed to visit at a stated time all sanctuaries and private lagoons, also river-beds and any places likely to hold ducks. The result of this effort was as follows:—26 private lagoons, a total of 8110 grey ducks; 11 sanctuaries, a total of 8992 grey ducks; giving a grand total of 17,102 grey ducks. A census of paradise ducks taken by run-holders gave a return of 11,880 on nine stations. “It is the opinion of Mr Evans, who has an extensive knowledge of the back country of Southland, that at least 15,000 grey ducks would not be included in this tally, being in the National Park, Fiordland and headwaters of the Waiau river and elsewhere,” says the report. “Granting a total of 32,000 grey ducks, giving 16,000 pairs and allowing for 2000 non-breed-ing pairs, and an average of two ducklings reared by each pair, we would have a total of 28,000 new ducks to add to our 32,000 at present here, giving a grand total of 60,000 ducks to start a new season. PARADISE DUCKS INCREASING

“With the object of gaining some idea of the game shot during the 1940 season the association sent out 1000 forms to be filled in by duck shooters. The result would indicate that approximately 15 ducks a gun were shot last season. On the form also was provision for pukeko shot and vermin destroyed. In most returns the guns showed a bag of approximately four pukeko. Tire back country run-holders assure us that the paradise ducks are definitely increasing to an alarming degree and do much damage to crops and pastures.” The association had also advocated an extensive hawk destruction campaign for which the local society offered a substantial cash prize. One member of the executive and his party accounted for- 1250 hawks, while others had various big tallies. The annual report was adopted. The following office-bearers were elected:—Patron, Mr W. Smith; president, Mr P. Hennessey; vice-presi-dents, Dr G. B. Orbell and Mr G. Macauley; secretary, Mr J. R. O’Brien; committee, Messrs H. R. Andrews, H. Broad, A. G. Fraser, J. B. Pasco, T. Metcalfe, C. J. Blomfield, N. Varcoe, J. Broad, S. Lindsay, J. Blampied, D. Wishart, J. Archer (Invercargill), C. Hamill (Bush Siding), J. McKenzie (Seaward Downs), A. C. Robinson (Kapuka), M. A. Reidy (Lumsden), E. A. Nichol (Bluff), and W. Archer (Gore). It was decided to present the secretary with a shooting license in recognition of his services to the association.

The name of the organization was changed to the Southland Duck Shooters’ Association.