Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-11-09
BRATTLEBORO LOCAL.
ENGLISH SPARROW NUISANCE.


Plans for ExterminNIIon Discussed at
the Meeting OF the Bird Club Monday
Evening.
The subject before the Brattleboro Bird
club at its meeting last Monday even
ing was the English Sparrow. The presl-
dent said the program would include three
parts, selected readings, personal experience
and general discussion.
The readings we're from Bulletin No. l.
issued by the United States department Of
agriculture, treating of the English spar
row, and the topics selected were, In part,
introduction of the sparrow, destruction of
buds and blossoms, relation of the spar
row to insects and recommendations for
legislation.
One person present told how the English
sparrow one summer took possession of a
tree near his window, drove out native
birds already nesting there, and kept all
birds out of the tree during the whole sum
mer.
Another told of a row of evergreens, for
merly the homes of countless robins, now
occupied wholly by English sparrows, the
robins having been driven out by them.
Still another testified to the incessant war
fare by the English sparrow against the
purple martin.
In the discussion the point was made
by some that any killing practiced by shoot
ing, etc., should be by adults, rather than
by younger persons, and some questioned
whether better way might be to make
thorough destruction of nests and eggs,
thus merely checking the increase.
Allusion was made to the serious dam
age done by these focks of untidy birds
to goods exposed for sale on our own Main
street.
The question was asked how these birds
could be poisoned, without poisoning our
own birds. The answer was under two
heads, the different grains employed and
the difference in the feeding places. The
grains most used in poisoning are cracked
corn and wheat. By actual experiments
in town last winter, 1t was found that our
native winter birds would go hungry rath-
er than eat these grains, even when put in
their usual feeding places. Again the
English sparrow is essentially a ground
feeding bird; our birds prefer to feed above
the ground. The native winter birds which
come TO our houses at all, are wonted to
special places, as a box Ia tree or on
window sill; and are not likely to go else
where, as on the ground out in the street
IVA ohJ AOOd1 AiuSh 1905 AOA bldln budb blCl
do not like; while the street is the English
sparrow's favorite feeding place. Once
more, poisoned grain, If used at all, would
be strictly guarded, not scattered promis-
cuously and left indefinitely, but put only
where it could and would be carefully
watched and thoroughly cleaned up.
The point was emphasized that the in
terest in the whole question with regard to
the English sparrow was not confined to
the Bird club, nor was 1t the special prov
ince of the club to settle it. 1t was said
that the bird has become as much of a
nuisance to people outside the club, as to
any of its members, and should any means
be undertaken to suppress this nuisance,
the speaker had no doubt but more would
be done by parties outside the club men,
bership than by those within.
An expression Of opinion being called
for, a count showed four-fifths Of the per-
sons present, many of whom were not club
members, to be opposed to the English
sparrow, and DESTROYS of seeing its num-
bers, in our town, diminished so far as pos
sible.