The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-06-05
SWALLOWS AS INSECT DESTROY.
Frs
Industrious Little Birds Are Eager 10
Destroy Insect Pests II Given Chance

Agriculture issues bulletin on the
value of Swallows as Insect De
stroyers;" first to make known the
great value of that bird as an insect
destroyer and to emphasize the i'm
portance of protecting them wher-
ever found; secondly, to widely pub
lish the peculiar value of these birds
in the war now being waged in the
| South against the cotton boil weevil
and to ask for the cooperation of
citizens of Northern States, where
these birds breed, in an effort to in
crease their numbers.
| Tree Swallow-The tree swallow
has been prosecuted by the English
| sparrow until 1t has entirely aban-
doned many districts where formerly
it abounded. Unless a systematic eff
fort be made to reduce the number
of sparrows and to protect from In
vasion the boxes put up for the occu-
pancy of swallows, 1t Is difficult to see
how the tree swallow can reoceupy
the old territory from which 1t has
been driven. or even long hold Its
present area. An energetic war on
the English sparrow and the careful
protection of the swallow domiciles
in few years would result In a com
plete change of the situation, so far
as this, one of the most beneficial OF
the swallow tribe, is concerned.
Barn Swallow-The Barn Swallow
formerly was abundant throughout
the Northern States, especially in
New England. The tightly-bui
modern barn, however, no longer in
vites the presence of the barn swal-
low by affording it friendly shelter
and the birds are becoming scarcer
and scarcer. To provide openings in
modern barns and to encourage the
presence In them OF colonies by pro
viding convenient nesting sites are
easy and effective methods by which
this beautiful species may be greatly
increased In 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 large colony.
Bank Swallow-The well-known
bank swallow, as It's name implies,
nests In sand banks in holes OF its
own digging. Some farmers In the
Northern States take special pains to
protect their colonies Of bank swal-
lows from the maranding boy and
the prowling cat. Some even take
pains to excayate suitable banks on
their farms and devote them to the
exclusive use OF the swallows Gravel
and sand banks are 80 numerous
throughout the North especially in
New England that at trihing expense
the number of colonies OF bank swal-
lows may be vastly increased, 70 the
advantage of every farmer North and
South, and to that Of every nature
lover az we'll
Purple Martn-Thls. the largest
and In many respects the most beau
tiful OF all our swallow tribe. is the
most local and the least numerous
In New England, and perhaps in
most of the Northern States gener-
ally, this fine bird is steadily dimin-
Ishlng In numbers The English spar
row often takes possession of its
boxes, ruthlessly kills the young mar
tins or throws out the eggs, and nsu-
ally succeeds in routing the colony
and appropriating the boxes. When
measures are not taken to abate the
sparrow nuisance in the immediate
vicinity of martin colonies, the usual
result Is thai the hdrt 5 arc forced
to abandon their houses Tho habit
OF putting up houses FOR the accom-
mediation of martin colonies is not as
common in the North as it formerly
was. and to this Indifference to the
martins presence to persecution by
the sparrow, and 10 losses due to the
prevalence of cold storms during the
nesting season. no doubt. Is due the
present scarcity OF the bird.
What may be termed the inter
state relations OF birds are not al
ways as simple as In the case of the
swallows. Some birds are most desir-
able Summer residents OF Northern
States, but when migrating greatly
damage certain crops in the South
ern States Not so with the swal-
lows. Their beauty. their graceful
flight, and their sociability insure
them a welcome every where aud en-
CtAt them to c,ery love" OF nature
Their estbetic value. however, great
as II is. Ii not so important as their
economic worth. 80 constant and eff
fective Is the warfare they wage
against the insect hosts which but for
them and other avian benefaltors
would render successful agriculture
impossible. To the Southern States
may safely be intrusted the duty of
protecting and augmenting in every
possible way the numbers OF resident
birds that prey upon the bool weevil.
But 1t Is for the Northern States to
ia ,bn mood ,unrL an for lice in,