New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-26
UNJUSTLY CONVICTED
Crimes Laid to the Sparrow for Which II Is
Not Responsible

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: have read with interest the dis
cussion which Mr.. Weeks has aroused since
he espoused the cause OF the English spar
row. have something 10 say in favor Of
the sparrow.
First, I'm going to quote Chapman. He
says in Bird Life: "A product Of the
times; remarkably keen-witted bird, who,
like a noxious weed, thrives and increases
where a less hardy species could not exist"
Doesn't that imply that this sparrow may
not always be crowding out some other bird
but fourishing where no others could exist
I'm especially fond Of the bluebird, and this
year had a pair nesting within 100 feet OF
two pairs of English spsrrows. Further
more, the bluebirds always drove away any
sparrows which alighted on their house
and raised two successful broodsi Just
when we're bluebirds common in cities and
even suburbs? In the winter OF 1895 and
again in 1911-12 large numbers of bluebirds
persisted during sleet storms. This is a mat
ter Of record and accounts for loss with
which no sparrow had anything to do.
Farmers Bulletin 1913, entitled "The Eng
lsh Sparrow as Pest" says: "lts nat
ural diet consists Of seeds, but it eats
a great quantity OF other foods. While
much of its fare consists OF waste material
from the street, in autumn and winter it
consumes quantities OF weed seed and in
summer numerous insects. The evil
dence against the English sparrow is. on
the whole overwhelming and the present
unfriendly attitude OF the public toward il
is reflected in our state laws. Nowhere is
II included among protected birds"
Farmers Bulletin 6l3: 90. On the
other hand, the bird feeds TO some extent
on a large number OF insects, and this fact
points to the need Of new investigation OF
the present economic status OF the species.
especially as 1t promises 10 be OF service in
holding IN check the newly introduced alfalfa
weevil, which threatens the alfalfa indus
try in Utah and neighboring states" Does
either Of these two bulletins published by
the Department of Agriculture condemn the
English sparrow absolutely, | do not pre-
tend to be a master Of English, but should
guess not
Just as sn example OF how ready that
"unfriendly public" is 70 condemn the Eng
lish sparrow on second hand testimony, I'm
going TO quote an article by Gilbert H.
Grosvenor, the illustrious editor of ma
tional Geographic Bird Lore" Volume XVIII,
No 2. He says, speaking Of the way he start
ed out to attract birds to his new country
place: AT the time no member Of the family
including myself could name more
than three brd.-the crow, the robin and
the turkey buzzard. The first thing
we did was TO drive away the English spar
row, which had possession of the place. We
got small shotguns and whenever a sparrow
appeared shot him" Mr. Grosvenor attract
i - Al
iority of which were purple martins. Proba-
bly, he would have had fewer martins with
the sparrows, but believe he could have
had as many other birds without destroying
the sparrows have numerous house wrens,
chipping sparrows, robins, Baltimore orr
oles. etc, as we'll as the sparrows and star
lngs This past summer catbirds, the
bluebirds mentioned house wrens, robins
and red-starts all nested within a radius of
twenty-five feet and within hundred feet
Of the English sparrows and starlings. 7
have mentioned the starlings because | be-
lieve them unjustly accused as we'll as the
sparrows
II the bluebirds mentioned by Patience
Bevier Cole really abandoned their young
Il is positively the first case I've ever heard
Of
7. is not my intention 10 expect my judg-
ment 10 be taken, which is why I've proba-
big bored you by quoting experts. But |
believe the cat, the red squirrel and the
cooper and sharp-shinned hawks together do
decidedly more mischief than the sparrows
could possibly be accused Of doing. More
over these pests actually kill old and young
birds, while the sparrow is rarely accused Of
doing more than dispossessing more attractive
tenants. Ny advice TO those wanting birds is
to put bluebrd houses not more than seven
feet high, have wren houses with openings
too small for the sparrow (7s inch). be sure
the surroundings furnish the proper setting
and keep away eats. BIRD LOVER.
Poughkeepsie. y. Y, Dec. is, 1915.