THE SMALL BIRD PEST

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 153, 23 June 1892, Page 2

THE SMALL BIRD PEST

TO TftE EDITOR OF THB 'sTAk.' l Sib,— How is it that in this district no systematic attempt is made to cope With this rapidly increasing eyiL In Sandon and Marton an active propaganda is inoperation whose usef ujbi&s Must to some ezient be impaired >>by is allowing our neighborhood to become the: nursery; and breeding ground of the sparrow and kindred abominations: The Manawatu and Oroua counties are principally, a grazing district, therefore the sparrows range of mischief is chiefly confined to the destruction of grass seeds sown on the new barns or patches, and upon these they do incalculable damage hating a partiality for the finest and most expensive sgeds, particularly revelling in-'ciover, and rye. It is not only the actual loss of so many pounds of clover, or so many bushels; of rye, that the farmer should consider in this regard. His pasture is permanently affected for the worse, either more .or less according to, the havoc played with his seed. Individual and isolated attempts altogether fail to grapple with the evil. Whit hi wanted is combined action on the part of the settlers. The sparrow is a public nuisa ance. 1 confidently assert that there is not one settler in twenty bnt suffers more or less from its depredations;.. If he has no grass seed to be destroyed the patch of oats be puts in for his cows as winter fodder often has to be sown thrice over on account of their ravages. ' Even our usually good tempered housewife waxes wroth while the insolent free* booters purloin the grain from her feathered favourites. If one tithe of the money wasted annualy by these voracious birds was invested in poison for their destruction a very short time would see them under control. Why is not a Small Birds Nuisance Club formed in this district P If every settler paid a pound yearly to promote the destruction of <hese pests he would find it one of the most profitable investments which be ever made. The winter is undoubtably the season most favourable to the destruction of small, birds. The sharp pinch of hunger removing any prejudices tbejr may otherwise entertain regarding poisoned gram which, in the 're^r Joljl weather, they devour regardless of consequences. I am etc., Ssttlbs.