The Harrier Hawk under Investigation

Forest and Bird, Issue 105, 1 August 1952, Page 7

The Harrier Hawk under Investigation

HTHE Animal Ecology Section of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in conjunction with the Ornithological Society of N.Z. is carrying out an investigation of the harrier hawk by marking the birds with metal bands on their legs. Harrier hawks have been ringed by research workers, and the public is asked to co-operate in the investigations now taking place. The bird is of considerable interest as a predator of both game birds and rabbits, yet very little is known about its behaviour and habits. Marking these birds should provide much information not only about their movements but also give some indication of how effective is the bounty system that is worked in some districts to control their numbers.

Already some results have been achieved from this study, and a hawk which was marked in Hawkes Bay in April this year was found near Lake Waitaki, North Otago, over 500 miles away, a month later. The Department is asking that anyone finding a marked bird will send the ring to the Dominion Museum. The Society has always been doubtful as to whether. these birds’ service as predators of vermin is outweighed by their destructive tendencies which has caused them in many districts to have a bounty placed on their heads. This doubt the Society has expressed from time to time in print. This investigation should be valuable if it can in any way settle this point, and members are asked to co-operate in any way they can.