18 



Protecting Grain, Fruit and Vegetables. 

 Where sparrows are numerous and become destructive to 

 growing grain, shooting in spring, summer and autumn, and 

 poisoning in winter are the only remedies known. ^Yhen the 

 grain is ripening the crop may be protected by boys armed 

 with guns and kept constantly in the field from dawn to dark. 

 Powder may be used mainly to frighten the birds, and a charge 

 of shot may be sent after them occasionally when they cease 

 to fear blank cartridges. Large clappers made of boards to 

 imitate the sound of a gun are used in England and might be 

 utilized here a part of the time to drive away the birds and 

 save powder. Similar means may be used to save fruit. If 

 the fruit plot is small it may be covered during the ripening 

 season with a fine-meshed fish net. A few cherry trees are 

 sometimes protected in this manner. Young plants, such as 

 peas, cabbages, etc., have been saved from the sparrow by 

 covering the rows with small branches. 



To prevent Sparrows taking Food designed for Native 



Birds. 

 Many people have complained that where seed, suet and 

 other food have been put out for winter birds on feeding tables 

 or shelves sparrows have taken all or nearly all the food. 

 Sparrows do not like swinging shelves which may be hung by 

 wire, or better yet by spiral springs, which make them still 

 more unstable. Native birds use such shelves. Where 

 sparrows eat suet it may be crowded into auger holes bored in 

 sticks, and the sticks may be fastened to the under side of a 

 limb where woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees will easily 

 get at the suet. Sparrows seldom will take the trouble to cling 

 to the underside of a limb. 



