The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1910-06-17
Destroy the Sparrow Nest.


nests"
owing to local argument over the |
benefits OF the English sparrow, ana |
the point as TO whether or not the |
bird should be systematically killed, |
The News wrote to Prof. Lawrence
Bruncr, the famous University of Ne
braska scientist, recognized all over
the world ms an Authority on bugs, for
an opinion. Mr. Bruner turned the
matter over to his assistant, Myron
II. Swenk who Is even better bird
student than Professor Bruner, &C.
cording to the latter. Mr.. Swenk says
the English sparrow destroys song
birds eggs and steals their nests, and
that he does not eat destructive in
sects to great extent. The only dan
ger in wholesale killing Is the dan
ger OF killing the native sparrow, as
there are thirty or thirty.five species
OF sparrows in Nebraska. But con.
slant destruction Of English sparrows
nests is advised. Following is Mr.
Swenk's interesting opinion:
Lincoln, Neb., June 10.-Editor The
News: The question as to whether or
not the English sparrow is bird de-
serving of our protection is one which
is frequently asked and one of which
each side is apt to have it's support
ers. In framing an intelligent an.
swer II is well to put sentiment aside
and consider the question from a
strictly economic standpoint.
Steal other Birds Nests.
The charge most frequently brought
against the English sparrow is that
IL drives away much more valuable
native birds which otherwise would
abide commonly near the habitations
of man. Such Enthusiastically useful
and beautiful birds as the house wren
bluebird, purple martin, barn swallow
robin red-eyed and warbling Vireos
catbird, rose.breasted grosbeak, etc.
are attacked and prosecuted by the
foreign intruder to such an extent
that they commonly desert their for
mer nesting places about our homes
to seek more secluded spots where
the sparrow does not follow.
The English sparrows habitually
use boxes put up for wrens, bluebirds
or martins and do not hesitate to des
troy the eggs and young Of these
birds in order to secure the desirable
nesting places in their possession
Where it builds nests these are ex
Ceedingly bulky and composed o
straws, feathers and all sorts of sim
liar refuse, which often becomes {
considerable nuisance. The presence
OF these unsightly nests and the con
tinual defling of buildings, ornamental
plants and other articles about on
homes by the large numbers of thes,
birds which soon accumulate in a 10
cality where they are undisturbed
makes them still further obnoxious
The birds have no song but an ex
ceedingly noisy chirp which often be
comes monotonously disagreeable, es
pecially when contrasted with tn,
are supplanting.
Destroy the Fruit.
English sparrows are known to b,
distinctly destructive to cherries ant
grapes by injuring considerable nun
bers of the berries without actual.
entirely devouring them. TO Jesse
extent they attack other fruits, ant
the buds and flowers of a number o
cultivated fruits and flowers. In thu
garden they pick up newly planted
seeds, nip off tender young vege
tables as they appear and devour tn,
seeds as they ripen. The bulk of thu
food of this bird consists of seed
of one sort or another and in addition
to the seeds secured while fOraging il
the garden it picks up much vast,
material from the streets, grain IL
the fields when newly sown and whel
ripening and during the fall and win
ter large amount of weed seed.
Eats Weed Seed.
This habit of eating weed seed is
point very much in favor of the Eng
lsh sparrow.
1t does not eat injurious insects t.
any very helpful extent though Their,
are instances here and there of thi
bird proving of minor help in the con
troll of insect outbreaks. On tn,
whole if one judges the evidence fair
ly the conclusion usually reached il
that the English sparrow does no
do enough good to justify any proteC
ton from us.
Must Protect Native Sparrows.
But l do not mean to advocate
wholesale campaign against sparrows
The chief danger from such a pro
cedure lies in the fact that our ma
tive sparrows are likely to suffer sc
verely. We have in Nebraska thirt!
or thirty-tive different species of ma
tive sparrows in general closely re
sembling the English sparrow and by
the uninitated person easily confused
with that species, which are without
exception all exceedingly valuable
birds destroying tons of weed seed il
each year as well as great numbers
of injurious insects. Anything which
would in the slightest endanger these
native sparrows should not be coun
tenanced. Experience has shown that
in CamDaipnS against English Snar