Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-05-18

llFt SN1llbN can ltOtruDN me til YER
ritory from which II has been driven
on even long hold its present area. An
energetic war on the English sparrow
and the careful protection OF the swal-
low domiciles in n few years would re-
suit in a complete change of the situa-
ton, so far as this. one of the most
beneficial of the swallow tribe, Is con-
cerned.
BARN SWALLOW.
The barn swallow formerly was
abundant throughout the northern
states, especially IN New England
The tightly built modern barn, how
ever. no longer Invites the presence of
the barn swallow by affording it friend
ly shelter, and the birds are becoming
scarcer and scarcer. TO provide OPEN
ings in modern barns and to encourage
the presence in them OF colonies by
providing convenient nesting sites are
easy and effective methods by which
this beautiful species may he greatly
increased I'm numbers. This bird also
requires protection from the English
sparrow, which In one foray has been
known To kill the young and destroy
the eggs OF a large colony.
BANK SWALLOWS.
The well-known bank swallow, as its
name implies. nests in sand banks In
holes of its own digging. Some farm
ers in the northern states take special
pains to protect their colonies of bank
swallows from the maraudlng boy and
the prowling cat. Some even take
pains to eXcavate suitable banks on
their farms and devote them To the
exclusive use of the swallows. Gravel
and sand banks are so numerous
throughout the north, especially In New
England, that at triflmg expense the
number of colonies of bank swallows
may be vastly increased, to the advan-
tage of every farmer north and south,
and to that of every nature lover as
well.
CLIFF SWALLOWS.
The curious pouch-shaped mud struc-
lures of the cliff swallow attached I'M
der caves or to the face Of cliffs, are
sight familiar enough in the northern
and western states but in the cotton
states, save Texas alone, they are
wanting, the bird that makes them be-
ing exclusively a migrant The Eng
fish sparrow persecutes also the cliff
swallow; hence, in the north, the bird
Is much less common than formerly
Under the mistaken idea that cliff
swallows are not desirable noighbors
the nests. especially when near houses
are often destroyed and the birds driv-
en- away. All birds are more or less
subject 10 parasites, especially when
nesting but the parasites are not bed
bugs nor the kinds obnoxious to man,
and no one need Danish the swallows
for fear of trouble from this source.
In Germany the presence Of swallows
around houses Is SO much desired that
artificial nests made Of clay or other
material are put mp Ia order to attract
birds by saving Them the labor of con-
structing their own domlciles,
PURPLE MARTIN.
This Is the largest most beautiful.
most local. and least numerous of an
our swallow tribe This fine bird Is
steadily diminishing in numbers, The
English sparrow often takes possession
OF its boxes, ruthcssy kills the Young
martins or throws out the eggs. and
usually succeeds In routing the colony
ana appTopriating the nests. When
measures are not taken I'm the unmc-
diate vicinity of martin colonies 20
Abate the sparrow nuisance the mar.
tins are forced TO abandon their homes
The putting up OF bird bo.-ss Is recon-
mended, and as the Young can be raised
by hand without serious difficulty, II
may prove easier 10 start the ueW coli
Cny with nesilings alone, feeding them
on meal. worms, grussh0ppers and the
like six or eight pairg can Wall boz
spared from "a strong colony without
unduly weakening IT, This method prom
ises well, ana N the experiment can be-
tried from year 10 year. even Oh small
scale, a gradual Increase m the mum,
Der OF martin colonies is likely to re-
suit and new crnrors of distribution TO
be formed,
From the standpoint of the farmer
and the orchnrdlst perhaps no birds
more useful than the swallow exist. |
They have been described as the Hight