STARLINGS & THE GRASS GRUB.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1231, 13 September 1911, Page 8

STARLINGS & THE GRASS GRUB.

A VALUABLE BIRD. After closely studying the habits of the starling, Mr.' Branigau, of the Agricultural Department, has come to the conclusion that 1 the bird is a most valuable one, as an eradicator of the grass grub and other insect pests. Speaking to an Ashburton reporter, Mr. Branigau remarked that to a largo extent.the introduction of double and three-furrow ploughs was responsible for the increase of the grass grubs. In the davs of the single-furrow plough, birds followed the implement when at work and devoured the insects that were turned up, but now when doublo and three-furrow plaughs were used the insects exposed in tho inner furrows -were quickly covered by tho outer furrow, and consequently they did not fall tho prey of birds. It would bo a wise policy on the part of farmers and local bodies, said Mr. Branigan, to encourage the breeding'of starlings. These birds, he. pointed out, invariably built their nests in open places, casv of access, where tho >eggs and young brds were cither devoured by stoats and weasels or destroyed by boys. Mr. Bjanigan says that starlings hatch an averago of ten young birds each season, in two nestings, and if tho breeding of these excellent birds, was encouraged and protected by moans of tho erection cf small boxes at a moderate elevation, they would multiply very quickly and tho grass grub problem would be as quickly solved.