QUAIL AND PHEASANT

Southland Times, Issue 24484, 11 July 1941, Page 3

QUAIL AND PHEASANT

SOUTHLAND CONDITIONS UNSUITABLE “The Southland climate is unsuitable for quail and pheasants, because they roost on the ground and fall an easy prey to vermin,” was the conclusion reached by Mr G. F. Strang in a report on the efforts that have been made to establish these birds in Southland. The report was read at the meeting of the council of the Southland Acclimatization Society last night. The report stated that in 1929 determined efforts were made to establish quail in Southland. Through the courtesy of the Otago and Lakes accimatization societies quail were trapped from 1929 onwards as follows: 1929, 180 birds; 1930, 131; 1931, 91; 1932, 149; 1933, 237; 1934, 412; 1935, 571. The birds were liberated at various places throughout Southland, but in 1934 the committee, being dissatisfied with the results, decided to concentrate its efforts on a selected area. This area was in the vicinity of Birchwood, and ih two years 830 birds were liberated in this locality. „ , “From the numbers liberated, the report continued, “we should have had these fine sporting birds firmly established. We came to the conclusion, however, that most of our hilly country carries too much growth and is too damp to make good quail country. We lack the nice dry rocky hills similar to those in Otago Central.” Pheasants had also been experimented with and as far back as 1895, 18 were liberated at Stewart Island, and at various dates after that year up to 1910. Later, more pheasants were sent to Te Anau, where quite a few chicks were reared. Some of those were liberated near the hatchery, but on the first night out four of them were killed by vermin. Pheasants were fairly numerous in Southland at one period, but poisoned grain wiped them out; hence the heavy liberations at Stewart Island.” Mr D. Wishart, chairman of the Game Committee, said he thought the report showed that it was useless to persist with quail and pheasants in Southland. From the number liberated there should be thousands in the Birchwood district. In his opinion the quail made back to the drier areas. It was decided to thank Mr Strang for his report and to send a copy to the Duck Shooters’ Association.