HOW TO DESTROY ENGLISH SPARROWS. 
7 
our most useful native species, such as bluehirds, liouse wrens, purple 
martins, tree swallows, clih swallows, and barn swallows, by destroy¬ 
ing the eggs and young and by usur})ing the nesting j)hices. Jt 
attacks other familiar native birds, as the robin, wren, j-ed-eyed vireo, 
catbird, and mockingbird, causing them to desert ])arks and shady 
streets of towns. Unlike our native birds whose j)laces it usur])s, it 
has no song, but is noisy and vituperative. It detiles buildings and 
ornamental trees, slirubs, and vines with its excrement and with its 
hulk y nests. 
The evidence against the English sparrow is overwhelming, and 
the present unfriendly attitude of the public toward it is retlected in 
our State laws. Nowhere is it included among the birds that are 
protected. In res])onse to freciuent iinpnries for means of abating the 
sparrow nuisance received by the Biological Surve}", a few approved 
methods applicable to ditferent conditions are here described. 
S[)arrows frequently give annoyance by roosting in ornamental 
vines and in crevices about buildings. If driven out late at night, 
several nights in succession, they will usually desert the roost. A 
jet of water from a garden hose is a potent disturlier, ])articularh" on 
frost}" nights. Where water is not available, small Boman candles 
may I)e employed. 
Though sparrows may be driven from a given neighborhood, the 
relief thus obtained is only temporary, and has the further olijection 
that the nuisance is simply transferred elsewhere. More drastic 
action is therefore ])referable. 
PEEVENTION OF IIJCREASE. 
The most effective method of preventing the increase of sparrows 
in a locality is to destroy their nests at intervals of ten or twelve 
days throughout the breeding season. Occasionally they build large 
covered nests in trees, but as a rule they build open nests in bird 
houses, electric-light hoods, cornices, waterspouts, and similar places. 
While it is often diflicult to reach nests with the hand, tliey can 
usually be torn down l)y means of a long pole having an iron hook at 
the tip. By a concerted and continued movement to destroy eveiy 
nest after the eggs are laid, English s])arrows in any locality may be. 
gradually reduced without resorting to shot or poison. 
METHODS OF DESTRUCTION. 
AT NESTS. 
The sparrow’s habit of nesting in cavities can be turned to account 
against it. By providing one-room bird houses, or even })acking 
boxes or tin cans, and putting tliein in trees or on poles or buihlings 
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