BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



Ten observers report attacks upon domesticated doves or pigeons, and one each on 

 hens and chickens. 



It will thus be seen that the reports mention specifically seventy kinds of wild 

 birds which are known to be molested more or less by the sparrow. A majority of 

 these birds are species which nest about houses and gardens, and, with the exception 

 of the crow, jay, and possibly one or two others, all are decidedly beneficial to the 

 farmer and gardener. 



Naturally the birds most affected are those whose nesting habits are similar to those 

 of the sparrow ; that is, which nest mainly in boxes provided for them ; in cavities or 

 cornices of buildings ; under the eaves of barns or outhouses, or in the natural cavities 

 of trees. 



Thus, in a total of about 1,860 complaints, we find that more than half relate to 

 martins, swallows, wrens and bluebirds, whose nests or nesting places are coveted 

 by the sparrow. 



But in most places the sparrows since outgrew such accommodations and were 

 compelled to build nests among the branches of trees, like other birds ; and at once 

 such bulky nests as those of the robin, catbird, etc., were seized upon and utilized 

 either as building material or as foundation for new nests. Thus new quarrels have 

 been continually originating, and the sparrow has been steadily encroaching on the 

 territory of other birds. Although a large part of the trouble with native birds has 

 doubtless arisen from questions over nesting places, still there is abundance of 

 testimony that the sparrow molests birds under other circumstances. 



Nearly one-third of all the complaints of injury to other birds relate to species whose 

 nesting and food habits are very different from those of the sparrow, and whose 

 relations with this bird might reasonably be expected to be peaceful and pleasant. 

 Among such may be mentioned the mockingbird, chipping sparrow, song sparrow, 

 goldfinch, Baltimore oriole, yellow warbler and vireos. Of course many of these 

 birds, as well as those previously mentioned, offer more or less resistance to the 

 advances of the sparrow, but in most cases the resistance is useless and the native 

 birds are compelled to retire from the field sooner or later. 



