RARE BIRDS.

Thames Star, Volume LXII, Issue 17389, 29 March 1928, Page 5

RARE BIRDS.

PROTECTED IN LAW. BUT NOT IN FACT. WILD LIFE CONTROL. Are those native birds that do happen to be garnet birds entitled to a share of revenue from licenses and forests? Licenses to shoot game produce a revenue which, according to the New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society, is devoted by the acclimatisation societies to the conservation of game birds and of fish, not to the conservation of other native birds. The same remark applies to the opossum trapping royalties, or to the half . of such royalties allocated to the acclimatisation societies. As to the other half, it is allotted to the Forest Service, and is understood to be dedicated to the destroying of goats, deer and forest enemies. But instead of being utilised it is allowed to accumulate, so that the native birds do not even gain the benefit that should properly accrue to them through the protec ion of their forest home from the attacks- of browsing animals. Pigeon Shooting: The Callous Coast. The native birds include the pigeon, which is not now a game bird, but which was deemed game for many years. It was shot until the sportlessness and devastation of the shooting caused the Government to cease to authorise an open season for pigeons. But the unlicensed shooting of pigeons continues. By accident some acclimatisation societies may occasionally secure a conviction-for pigeon shooting, but as a rule the societies have forgotten what they owe by way,of reparation to the bird, and they generally lack any adequate sense of the need of preserving the rare indigenous fauna (whether a means of moneys getting or not). ' By no stretch of imagination can it be said that the "absolutely protected" native birds, including the pigeon, are adequately protected in fact, or that there is any i ranger service adequate to their needs.

"The list of these absolutely protected birds, as set forth in the Animals Protection Act, 1921-22, includes all our rarest and some of Our economically most valuable birds," reports the New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society. "The Act does not, however, state definitely whose business it is to enforce the conditions, and we have been, unable so far to fix the responsibility The Department on which responsibility falls primarily has no apparent means of checking poaching and other breaches of the Act with reference to these absolutely protected birds. Further, all the income from wild life 'sources appears to be set aside in the interests of game-bird a,nd fish conservation, excepting a halfshare of opossum skin royalties allocated to the State Forest Service for the purpose of destroying goats, deer, etc. This latter, now amounting to a large sum, awaits utilisation. Our most valuable birds are thus left tout in the cold. The State Forest Service so far as their special reservations are concerned, some acclimatisation societies, and occasionally the police, interest themselves, but the whole matter of enforcing the, conditions of the Act, so far as these specially listed birds are concerned, appears extremely vague and certainly requires elucidation, as the present state of affairs is not "conducive, to the conservation of native birds, other than native game birds, and to the enforcement of the Act so far as they are concerned. Moreover, conservation can never be effective unless administered by those possessing a forest and nature sense in addition to a practical knowledge gained by personal contact. Although the work of preserving our, birds efficiently is as yet practically in its infancy, still we have to report a fastrising public conscience to which there are'prominent exceptions, such as on the West Coast of the South Island, where it looks as if the only protection pigeons .have is their feathers." Efficient Ranger Service. It is by no means the first time that attention has been called to the lack on the West Coast of a sense of respect for the law protecting pigeons. If certain districts, and certain individuals in other districts, are unwilling to step into line with the sanctuary spirit of modern times, the only remedy seems to be an efficient ranger service. "Ranging," reports the society, "could be conducted by a special force of\ at least six game wardens, moving from locality to locality, and equipped with fast transport. They .should operate from a common centre." It is argued that such a service would make the various bird sanctuaries, which include nearly all the islands round the coast, more effective. Little Barrier and Kapiti both already have caretakers, and are a reasonably efficient manner.

The question arises whether a greater measure. of single control and common policy has not become essential. Wild life is at present under several departments and. many societies. There is a sectional development, and a sectional use of revenue. A common policy cannot be attained under multiple control, nor can an efficient ranging service.