Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-23

ABOUT OU years ago, ana is uO
4%MN distributed generally over Il
WI H eastern half of the United Stat
tGNTS&. and southern Canada and local
< westward to the Pacific coas
This rapid increase is a result
the birds hardness, extraordinary fecundlty,
versity of food, aggressive disposition, and
most complete immunity from natural enemi
through its sagacity and its preference for thic
sy settled communities.
Its natural diet consists of seeds, but it ca
a great variety of other foods. While much
Its annual fare consists of waste material fro
the streets, in autumn and winter it consum,
quantities of weed seed, and in summer hume
ous insects. Aside from the destruction of wee
seed, there Is very little to be said in the spa
rows favor.
1t destroys small fruits, as cherries, grape
pears and peaches. 1t also destroys buds al
flowers of cultivated trees, shrubs, and vines.
the garden it eats seeds as they ripen, and nj
IN tender young vegetables as they appear abo'
ground, peas and lettuce being especially subje
to attack. 1t damages wheat and other grail
when newly sowed, ripening. and in shocks.
reduces the numbers of some of our most usef
native species, such as bluebirds, house wren
purple martins, tree swallows, cliff swallows. al
barn swallows, by destroying the eggs and your
and by ~usurping the nesting places. 1t attacl
other familiar native birds, as the robin, wre
reyeyed vireo. catbfrd and mocking bird, eau
sng them to desert parks and shady streets
towns, Unlike our native birds whose places
usurps, it has no song, but is noisy and vitupe
alive. 1t defles buildings and m tree
shrubs, and vines with its excrement and wi
Its bulky nests.
The evidence against the English sparrow
Is overwhelming, and the present unfriendly
attitude of the public toward it is reflected in
r,T,- ~4o+o In-p1 NIourhoro L. ~ ooI,,da oon
the birds that are protected. In response to
frequent inquiries for means of abating the
sparrow nuisance received by the United
States Biological Survey, a few approved
methods applicable to different conditions are
here described. .
Sparrows frequently give annoyance by
roosting in ornamental vines and in crevices
about buildings. If driven out late at night,
several nights in succession, they will usual
Iy desert the roost. A jet of water from a
garden hose Is a potent disturber, particularly
On frosty nights. Where water Is not avail
able, small Roman candles may be employed.
Though sparrows may be driven from a
given neighborhood, the relief thus obtained
is only temporary, and has the further objec-
tion that the nuisance is simply transferred
elsewhere. More drastic action Is therefore
preferable.
The most effective method of preventing the
increase Of sparrows in a locality is to destroy
their nests at intervals of ten or twelve days
throughout the breeding season. Occasionally
they build large covered nests in trees, but
as a rule they build open nests in bird
houses, electric-light hoods, cornices, water
1spouts, and similar places. While it Is often
difficult to reach nests with the hand, they
can usually be torn down by means Of a long
pole having an iron hook at the tip. BY a
concerted and continued movement to destroy
every nest after the eggs are laid, English
sparrows in any locality may be gradually
reduced without r~esorting to shot or poison.
The sparrow's habit OF nesting in cavities
can be turned to account against 1t. By pro-
viding one-room bird-houses, or even packing
boxes or tin cans. and putting them In trees
or on poles or buildings at a height of about
ten feet, the birds may be captured after dark
with the aid Of a long-handled net. This net
should have a deep bag and a small hoop
made to fit the front Of the boxes closely.
After the net has been quietly placed over the
entrance, a few raps on the box will send the
aenant into it. Dilapldated buildings may
sometimes be fitted up for catching sparrows
IN this way, as we'll as for destroying their
nests and eggs. The illustration herewith shows
how this can be done. An ordinary wooden
box may be nailed to the inside of the build
ing over a hole made to admit the sparrows.
Inc DOX SlOulQ De arranged SO LndI Inc up
or upper part of the back can be lifted to
gain access to the inside.
The box, also illustrated on this page, Is de-
signed to be hung on a building or a tree.
Its floor should be about six inches square
and its height at the caves about eight inches.
The roof should be hinged at the top for re-.
moving the eggs or young. Such boxes may
be built of rough boards at slight cost. BY
distributing a number of them about orchards,
shade trees. and out-buildings, and catching
the sparrows that occupy them or by destroy
ing eggs, the work OF determination may be
carried on at a season when other methods
are least effective.
Preliminary to the following destructive
measures, sparrows should be, baited until
they are attached to the spot selected for
their execution. Seeds, grain, or waste from
the table, IL supplied regularly. will soon es
tabiish a feeding place. IL a general campaign
I Is to be undertaken, enough such feeding
4 places should be maintained to attract to
them practically all the English sparrows In
the neighborhood. This can easily be done
I'm winter when food is scarce. After thus
batting the sparows they may be trapped. shot
or poisoned.
Traps alone are inadequate to exterminate
sparrows, but a reduction Of numbers car
be effected by using o shallow box not less
than four feet square. open on one side ant
covered with woven wire on the other. One
side of this trap rests on the ground. whilt
the opposite side Is supported by a stick II
inches long. Near the upper end of this sticl
is attached q long cord, and between the t0l