Feb. 3, 1908.1 Jariculfural Gazette cf N.S.W. 133 



Summer Campaign. 



To jn'event increase in numhevx. 



All Imus' holders in the State are requested, in tlie interests of the State, to 

 prevent Sparrows from rearint;' their young- vijion or near th^r premises. 



As the Sparrow never nests far from human liabitations, this should not l^e 

 ix, difficult matter to accom|)lish. The bird usually builds under house roofs, 

 in spoutinu, in dense hedges and tr<-es, in ivy, and other protected places. 

 The nests are large and easily found. 



The best plan is to let the parent birds hatch the eggs and feed the young 

 for a week, then destroy the young beFore they can fly. The birds will rear 

 ■other broods, often as many as four or tive ; these should be stopped in a 

 -similar way. Breeding is cont'nuous from July to the end of summer. 



If this were properly cirried out. or even the nests destroyed before they 

 lould I'e made full use of, the bird would cease to increase in numbers. 



Boys might be encouraged to undertake much of the necessary work. 

 Special inducements might be given by extending the system of giving ] riz' s 

 fur " heads " at the local shows. Better prizes should be offered for heads 

 than eggs. 



This summer work should be followed up for two or even three years until 

 the bird is completely under subjection, when the amount of work to prevent 

 jii'oduetion of young woukl be reduced to a minimum. 



Winter Campaign. 



To reduce the nuihher of those already in existence lointer puisoniyif/ must he 



res: r ted to. 



August is probably the best month, as there is le-s food about for them then. 



The poii-on should be laid in such places as the Sparrows are likely 'o vi>it, 

 where poultry are not likely to get at it, and far enough from any water 

 supply to prevent dead birds from contaminating it. 



The special method adopted should be suited to the locality. 



If the area is baited with a little untreated grain for a few days l)efore 

 spreading the poisoned grain, the birds are likely to be less suspicious. 



There should be three poisonings, each one to be carried out on three 

 «accessive days at intervals of a fortnight. Convenient dates would be the 

 last week in July, second and third weeks in August. 



A bushel of grain for each poisoning should be enough ; a third of it 

 should be spread on the first three days of the week mentioned, in each ca>e 

 laying the grain in ditl'erent places. 



For the three poisonings it would, perhaps, conduce to success if the 

 character of the food is varied. Cracked corn, millet, or sorghum might 1 e 

 tried, say, one of them for the second poisoning. 



The most useful grain for the purpose is, undoubteelly, that which is 

 mainly grown in the district where poison is laid. 



Speaking generally, wheat is the most convenient to operate with, most 

 easily obtainable, and most readily used. 



Local circumstances may call for slight variations in the method. The 

 important point is that all should poison at the same time. 



