Decorah-posten., 1898-01-07
Lawn, Shrub, and Flower.
Edited BY Psos 6 A OLIVER
The English sparrow

However little attention may b,
given to the subject, one canno.
fail to recognize the economic
value OF our American birds. Il
will be clear also, to even the
most casual observer that change:
have taken place among the
teathered tribes in the last few
years. Perhaps the farmer won,
ders why it is, that he hears SO
few early morning songsters this
year, or why the bluebird never
nests in the hollow gatepost any
more, or maybe he wonders why
the chimney swallow does not
build her peculiar nest on the in
side boards ofthebarn as he has re-
membered her TO do ever since he
was a boy.
1t is a very evident and also la
mentable fact, that III insect
eating birds are becoming scarcer
every year. In answer to ques-
tons sent out by the Commission
ers of Agriculture regarding blue
birds, reports have come in from
many parts OF the land that few
have nested in any locality. In
reply as to the cause of this state
of affairs, authorities on the sub
Ject are unanimous in the opinion
that the bluebird has been driven
out by the English sparrow. This
spring | saw sParrows forcibly
driving out barn swallows and
pewees which had built their nests
under caves. Nor are any of our
small birds exempt from their at
tacks. Prof. A. J. Cook in his adj
mirable work on THE Birds of
Michigan" asserts that even The
kingbird. is one of the victims OF
the English sparrow"
The Engish or European spar
row was introduced into New
York in 1850 and since that time
they have increased so rapidly
that now probably not a single
village or town could be found in
the whole of North America that
has not its hundreds and even
thousands of them. The sparrow
does not raise one or two broods
a year as do our native species,
but breeds continuously through
out the season, and either eggs or
young birds may be found in the
nest any time from May till Sep
TENDER. Some American ornith-
ologlsts affirm that they have
known one pair to raise as many
as 80 young in season. The
food of the sparrow consists al
most entirely of grain which in
cities is picked from the drop
pings of horses. OF late years,
however, they have pushed into
the country where they have made
themselves notorious by nipping
the early fruit buds.
To ornithologists the sparrow is
peculiar enigma. In England
the Rev. F. 0. Morris, one of the
best authorities on birds in Eu-
classes him as a useful bird,
and English farmers protect him
for his insect-eating habits. Nor
is he pugnacious there, for the lit
tie English robin, an even smaller
bird, will put him to flight. 1t
was in consideration of these USE
qualities that the sparrow was
introduced into America. But
here his habits have proved to be
just the reverse of useful, and
American ornithologists are unan-
imous in condemning him for
driving out native, useful birds.
No one seems to be able to offer
any explanation of this change in
the habits of sparrows. 1t is a
historical fact, that an imported
species usually supplants the ma
tive. Perhaps the Arkansas man
it when he said, Everything
that gifts free from Ole England
swells out till it wants the earth,
the Sandwich Islands, Cuba, the
bright side of the moon and part
Of New Jersey" However the
TACT remains, that our native birds
are becoming scarce, and that the
English sparrow is the cause of
the scarcity. What are our far
ners and fruit growers going to
DO about itf In many states of
he Union a bonus, given for spar
,ows' heads, is doing much to thin
heir ranks; but every young man
md boy ought to know that tar
get practice at sparrows is loyalty
o the country at large. ! would
ike to suggest that this subject be
made a topic for discussion at our
meetings of Farmers In
'titutes and Horticultural Socie-
les.
An old farmer who lives in CEN
raj Iowa and who grows his own
.ruit said TO me not many weeks
lgo, I'm experimenting somewhat
his year in protecting insecteat-
ng birds, ! have kept a gun in
ny barn and have shot, or shot at,
very sparrow that showed his
head on the place; at the same
putting up nests and protect
ng useful birds in every way pos
'lble. As a result | have noticed
more swallows in the barn, and