Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-27
Can tho Nuisance Be Abated7
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From Forest and Stream.
In a report on the English sparrow recently
issued by the Agricultural department are
number Of recommendations looking toward
the destruction Of these birds and the checking
their increase and spread These recommends
tions naturally come under two heads; first,
recommendations for legislation, and second,
recommendations to the people. Under the
head of legislation is advised the repeal of all
laws protecting this species, the enactment Of 0
law legalizing the killing of the bird and the
destruction of its nest, eggs and young at all
seasons OF the year, the enactment of Q law
making il misdemeanor to feed or shelter the
sparrow OF to interfere with those engaged In
destroying it, the passage Of q law projecting
certain small predaceous birds which feed
largely upon it, and of other laws providing for
tho appointment Of duly authorized sparrow
killers. The Recommendation that to feed or
shelter the sparrow be made misdemeaner is
one which will not appeal to public sympathy
and cannot be enforced, and, therefore, is not
TO be commended; but the other suggestions
are valuable. II is well said that in towns and
cities, where the use OF firearms and poison
must be restricted to the hands Of few per
sons the destruction Of the sparrows should be
Entrusted to some public officer. In many
towns this work would naturally fall within the
field Of work Of those officers who have the
charge Of the public parks.
At the same time with the destruction of the
sp6rroWS every euOtt 1uOulQ DC made 70 foster
and encourage our native birds, of which many
species would return to live in our cities could
the birds which have usurped their rightful
place be driven out The subject Of bounties
is intelhgently discussed, and it is very salts
factorily shown that this method of getting rid
OF the sparrows Is exceedingly expensive and
quite inefficient. The recommendations to the
people are more important than those which
concern legislation, though the two naturally
60 together. II the plague Of sparrows is TO be
abated it must be by concerted action by the
people. The suggestions cover the use of fire.
arms, traps and poisons, and the destruction of
nests and disturbance at roosting places. The
sparrow il a very sagacious bird and speedily
learns to avoid danger. Thus, while it may be
impracticable to XIII all the birds in a given
locality It is possible, by constantly harassing
them to drive away those which have not been
destroyed. Their wariness makes them hard
bird to trap, and experiments in poisoning them
do not appear to have met with much success.
The plan Of disturbing them at night while
roosting and the destruction of their nests and
eggs promise to do much to drive them away
and to reduce their numbers 1t is very evil
dent that war can be most efficiently waged
against the birds during the breeding season.
While many people appreciate that the pres
ence OF the house sparrow in such numbers in
North America is a serious evil, but few we
fancy, understand that this bird has become an
actual curse and that it destroys millions of
dollars worth of property each year. The
chief sufferer by this destruction is the farmer,
the grain grower, the cultivator Of small fruits
and the truck gardener. 1t is to the agricul-
turist that this report especially appeals. He
will be benefited by careful study Of its con-
tents, and II he looks into the subject will APP
preciate the necessity OF taking active steps to
protect himself against the ravages of this
bird.
The sparrow has obtained so Arm foothoid
in this country that it is a very grave question
If it can be externinated, bat concerted action
all over the United States and Canada would
undoubtedly result in a considerable reduction
in its numbers. The farmers can NO more af-
ford to suffer the sparrows to increase unmo-
Tested than a grain dealer could to permit his
bins to be overrun with rats. They must pro-
tect themselves, if not now, then later when
the numbers Of the birds which plumber them
shall have increased an hundred fold, and
If me & iI hase IN tne esaac
minished