The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-05-22

in them of colonies by providing con-
veniAnt nesting sites are easy and ei-
fectiAe methods by which this beauti-
full sAecies may be greatly increased
in numbers. This bird also requires
protection from the English sparrow,
which In one foray has been known to
kill tho young and destroy the eggs
of a LARGE colony.
Bank SVaIlow.-The well known
bank swallow, as it's name implies,
nests in said banks in holes of its
own digginA Some farmers in the
Northern states take special pains
to protect their colonies of bank swal-
lows from the~kmarauding boy and the
prowliag cat. tSome even a k pains
to excavate suitable hanks on their
farms and deykte them to the exclu-
siye use of the swallows. Gravel and
sand banks are(so numerous through
out the North. Especially in New Eng
land. that at t-iding expense h num-
Der of colonies Of bank swallows may
be vastly increased, to the advantage
of every farmerf North and South,
and to that of e4ery nature lover as
well.
Cliff SwaIlow-Fhe curious pouch
shaped mud structures, of the cliff
swallow, attached under caves Or TO
the face of cliffs, afe a sight 1am1llaf
enough in the Northern and Western
States, but in the dtton States, save
Texas alone, they Rre wanting, the
bird that makes them being exclus-
lively a migrant. The English spar
row persecutes also 1he cliff swallow;
hence, in the North, fhe bird is much
less common than fbrmerly. Under
the mistaken idea that cliff swallows
are not desirable neighbors, the nests
when near Houses are often
destroyed and h birds driven away.
All birds are or Hess subject to
parasites, especially when nesting.
but the parasites are nbt bedbugs nor
the kinds obnoxious tf man, and no
o1e need Danish the swallows for fear
of trouble from this source. In Ger
nan the presence of swallows around
is so much desired that artifi-
cial nests made of clay pr other mater
ial are put up in orderE to attract the
birds by saving themb he labor of
constructing their own domiciles. No
doubt our own cliff Swallows would
be quick to respond to b similar offer
ready-made dwellings, rent free and
in this way the range Of this extreme
ly useful species might be materially
increased. The cliff SHALLOW is one
Of the most indefatigable insect de-
stroyers extant, and every motive of
and humanity should
prompt communities among which
live to protect and foster them
in every possible way.
Purple Martin.-This,. b largest
md in many respects the most beau
of all our swallow tribe, is stead
ly diminishing in NUMBERS. The En-
glish sparrow often takes possession |
Of it's boxes, ruthlessly kills h young
or throws out the egg and
succeeds in routing the colony
and appropriating the boxes. When
are not taken to abate the
sparrow nuisance in the immediate wi
cinity of martin colonies, the usual
'esult is that the martins are forced
% abandon heir houses The nabit |
putting up houses for the accommo-
of martin colonies is not as
in the North as it formerly
and to this Indifference to the
presence, to persecution by !
sparrow, and to losses due to the
of cold storms during the
resting season, nodoubt, is due the
scarcity of the bird.
Sfhply put up martin boxes in 10
where the birds do not now
nay or may not ultimately result
n the ormation of new colonies, for
martin is conservative by nature
loves, it's birthplace too well to
stSanse. localities until forced
rway by lack of accommodations in
he old home. More active measures,
therefore,, have beer suggested to in
luce colonization, particularly the
transfer at night of one or more NOR
in houses, with 9th parent birds and
lestlings, from their old homes to
ones.
Having their nestlings to care for.
old birds probably will not always
lesert them, but are likely to resume
PARENTAL duties in the strange neign-
,orhood, especially if ithe old home
S far distant. The theory is that
he following spring oh their return
rom the South the young martins,
md possibly their parents, will go