NATURE—AND MAN.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18850, 21 January 1933, Page 8

NATURE—AND MAN.

STATE FOREST SERVICE. IS IT IN PERIL? (By Leo Fanning.) These are the days when one knows not how or when the axe of economy and retrenchment may swing in surprising directions. Some keen advocates of forest conservation and propagation have a fear that the State Forest Service may be smitten severely. The Government, with its Mother Hubbard feeling of bare-'cupboardness, has not yet shown a hostile hand, but there Is a dread that it may be urged by some short-sighted New Zealanders to act against the national interest. What a pity it would be to have a backward movement in forest policy 1 Wnat a long time it took to instil a forest sense into the heads of the State! What immeasurable loss there was in national assets before it was recognised that the saving of the forest meant the saving of the country. Well, It Is now a case for alertness, In accordance with the proverb: ‘‘Forewarned, forearmed.”

Far from desiring a lessening of activity in the 'care of native forests and the making of new woodlands, thoughtful folk would like to see a less-commercial tendency In the policy. There has been a disposition to hasten a Belf-supportlng scheme of afforestation, hut too much insistence on ‘‘making it pay” in the near future may prove to be against the national interest in the long run. Useful Work for Unemployed. It Is constantly , oomplained that some of the relief work allotted to unemployed men is worse than useless, because the money is spent on unnecessary works which will have to be maintained out of rates or taxes in the future.. Useful activity can be found for many men on the forest fringes, known as flrebeits. Edges of Certain native forests could be planted with ngaio, taupa'ta and other trees which bear food for native birds. It is well known that taupata and ngaio are flre-rcsisters. It would he easy to have this tree-planting organised under experts in sußable districts. Money spent in this way would be helping to safeguard very valuable national wealth. Picnickers, Take Care. Now that various districts are reporting hottest days and many farmers are hoping fervently for rain, picnickers are specially requested to bo very careful with fire on the outskirts of forests or within the woods. This is tho season when one sees too often the pall of smoko which indicates ano'iher sad loss of trees, after 'Centuries of growth—loss of another portion of the natural regulator of the flow of water after rain, loss of another piece of food-yielding shelter for native birds. New Zealand has paid some heavy penalties for the carelessness of billy-boilers and smokers. Bird Science. ‘‘Ornithology,” (lie dictionary says, “is that ‘branch of zoology which deals with birds.” 11, is a. fairly genera) statement, that matter of “dealing wilh birds.” Wo know how collectors deal with them —and some of the collectors claim to bo ornithologists.

There has been a tendency to restrict the term bird-science to a specialist in the study of the structure of birds, their beaks, their hones and feathers, but happily another and better birdscience is gaining ground, the science which tells mankind about birds that are helpful for human welfare and those that are harmful. The less useful side of ornithology .—the peering Into the interiors of birds and the painstaking study of their exteriors —is the one served hy collectors who are granted permits to kill useful birds, even when they are members of species that need the utmost protection. Is it not better for human welfare to have the live birds than the dry skins? How long ■ *»I the skins last? Whatever precautions are taken to preserve them, a sentence of decay is upon them. Tho Opossum Problem. Friends of New Zealand’s forests and birds are still worried about the possibility or probability or “JsoWef by opossums. The usual excuse for the toleration of these alien animals in the woods is that their fur is valuable. Reports of trustworthy observers indicate that in some districts the fur is losing much of Its former worth becauso of the inter-breeding of different species of opossums. The pelts of the mongrels, which are multiplying, are not of the quality that Dame Fashion desires. If this do Melioration continues, the trapping of opossums will not be profitable, and then these undesirable immigrants will he free to increase their numbers without check. There is a/threat of the repetition of the deer nuisance, which will cost this country millions of pounds. Kingfisher’s Lesson In Persistence.

Persons who are inclined to lose heart In these difficult times can find some encouragement in the stoutheartedness of New Zealand’s kingfisher, a very brave little chap, a firm believer in the advice; u lf at first you don’t succeed, try again.” In making a nest this bird bores a tunnel in a suitable bank, wall or decayed tree. Well, a good few years ago, a pair of kingfishers, intent on home-making, believed they could make a suitable nesting-place 'in the sod chimney of an empty'” cottage. In this enterprise they were observed by that wellknown nature-lover, Mr Potts, who has well described the birds’ persevering industry. On October 19 they began working at the chimney. They completed the tunnel, but, shortly after they had commenced on the egg chamber, they abandoned the nest, probably because they found that the wall of the chimney did not give what they deemed to be* sufficient depth for the safety of their offspring. On November 3 they were seen again, hard at work on a new nest, in front of the cottage, Hits lime between the door and the window. This was also deserted, probably for the same reason. On November 1-i they had chosen anothci site on the southern wall of Die ’cottage. There they were seen darting upwards from a convenient rail live or six times a minute, and digging out the material with their hills, which were used as picks. it was hard work; and it was all in vain, as Ibis site was also unsuitable, and had to be abandoned. Three, more attempts were made: three more failures were recorded. Finally, on November 2<>, thirty-eight days after the project had been started, success

crowned their efforts. It was the seventh attempt, and the spot proved In he the very wall of the chimney - that had been the scene of the tlrst j attack. im Docember 4 the nest was | lound lii contain two eggs. hater | u.’- there were live, and on December [2 i Mie family was increased by live young kingfishers