Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-06-13

Mr.. Editor We would appreciate the
favor very much if you will publish the
following article for the benefit of the
readers of your valuable paper.
Yours respectfully.
E. LEE LECOMPTE.
State Game Warden.
Very often we receive complaints from
residents of this State relative to the de-
struction of birdlife by the startling. The
latest information on this subject comes
from resident of Baltimore county who
states that the starlines are destroying
birds nests on his property by throwing
the eggs out and also throwing the young
birds from the nest at every opportunity.
This gentleman has suggested as a remedy
to try to interest the boy scouts for the
purpose of destroying the startling There
is no law on the statute books of Maryland
protecting the startling and we solicit the
cooperation of everyone in killing the
startling in any manner possible and at
any time. However, we are well aware
that we have other species of birds which
are much more destructive than the star
ling, namely: The crow and number of
species of hawks. We consider the crow
one of the worst marauders that we have
to contend with. They not only destroy
birds nests. kill young birds. catch and kill
young rabbits, have been known to kill
young chickens but are one of the worst
enemies to our black duck and blue winged
teal which propagate in onr marsh areas
by the thousand. The crow destroys every
wild duck nest it can find and thousands
upon thousands of wild duck eggs are
broken and eaten annually by the black
devil. Therefore, we would solicit the CO.
operation of the public in destroying the
crow and the sharp-shinned and cooper
hawks. in any manner at any time.
In further reference to the startling, the
National Association of Audubon Societies
reports that they have been known to drive
pair of sparrow hawks from their nest
| ing place in hollow tree and have been
seen to kill pigeons. The startling has be-
come a resident bird of Maryland. How
ever. great many of them migrate south
ward in winter. During this migration. such
large numbers of the starlings migrating
from the States north OF Maryland spend
their winters with US and congregate in
large numbers as to become a public
| nuisance. Titsy o-o of some benefit as
scientific Investigations have proven that
they feed ravenously on many destructive
insects. among them. weevils. also beetles,
white grubs, grasshoppers. locusts. crickets,
caterpillars. gypsy moths. cutworms and
army worms, ants and bugs. On the other
hand. they are destructive to small fruits,
particularly cherries. grapes and straw
berries.
We have received tales of the startling
destroying the English sparrow and am
sure great many of our residents would
feel relieved of the sparrow which they
claim to be nuisance. There is no ques-
ton but that the startling will attack
practically all species of hole-nestng birds
that it can master and evict them from
their homes which it appropriates for its
own use.
Therefore. the beneficial habits of the
startling in destroying obnoxious insects is
overcome by their destruction of birdlifr.
We would appreciate the cooperation of
the boy scouts or any other organized or
individual efforts on the part of the public
of this State in destroying the Startling.
crow. cooper and sharp-shinned hawks in
any manner and at any time and the rid
dance of these destructive birds will be
very beneficial for the increase of birdife
in our covers.