THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1902. THE SMALL BIRD NUISANCE.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 155, 21 January 1902, Page 2

THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1902. THE SMALL BIRD NUISANCE.

Although for many years a cry against the sparrow has been heard in the land, never before this year has such an outcry been heard throughout the length and breadth of the colony. Everywhere it is the same tale, of unavoidable loss, for the sparrow seems to grow accustomed to all contrivances whose object is to scare him off the crops, the only thing that is at all effective being a gun at close range. This, of course, is out of the question, and the only thing left is to kill Jack Sparrow, root and branch, by some less troublesome and lesa expensive means. Poisoned grain has been tried for years in the Waimate district, but it seems of little use, and in any case it is ridiculous to poison at this season. . The birds could not be expected to touch dry hard grain, while there is soft milky corn availabia in every direction. The only time they will eat poisoned grain is in the winter, when there is but little food lying around, and then only if it is hidden away round horse feeders, or other haunts of the feathered tribe. Sparrows are humiu insomuch that stolen meat is sweet to them, so that if they can be persuaded they are stealing something they will be more likely to take the poisoned grain than if it were shovelled on the road or in the paddocks, as is the usual method of distributing it. All this brings us to the question of what grain to poison and how to poison it. We are informed on good authority that the poison soaks but a short distance inside the husk, aud that as the sparrow goes straight for the centre of the grain he rarely suffers any ill effects. If so it is evident that there is an exceeding great waste and that sowing poisoned grain is merely a speculation. What is wanted is a grain that will be poisoned from husk to core, so that if a shower of rain falls on it the poison is not at once washed off and the grain rendered perfectly harmless. This should be dis* tributed by farmers on their own ground and each should do bis level best to cope with the pest, for it is only by united action that it may ha checked. The sparrow is one of the most prolific of birds, and given two dry, mild years like the past the farmer might count on. losing 50 per cent of his labour. The plan we favour is that o paying liberally for results. If a number of boys bring in each so many heads and eggs there is a guarantee that something definite has been accomplished. Every facility, therefore, should be extended to boys to lawfully pursue the nimble shilling as represented by sparrows' eggs, and a spirit of emulation might be raised by a substantial prize for the largest number collected during the season. It is only by payment that work is obtained, and usually the work bears a ratio" to the pay offered. We would go further and suggest payment for the heads of poisoned birds, for this would not only show whether the poison was doing any good or not, but it would have the effect of inducing farmers to poison more diligently.

All this has, of course, engaged the close attention of the County Council, but the co-operation of farmers, who are the chief losers, must be obtained before auj good results will be obtained. It will be no use waking up in a few years and regretting that it would be almost useless to plant a crop in the hope of getting a fair return, while at present they content themselves with a few minutes' talk on the subject during a Saturday afternoon. The time is not far distant when by-laws willhave to be passed in both borough and county directing thatall roof spouting must be covered with wire netting and that no household or shall allow any lodgment for a sparrow about his house; also, that fences must be closely trimmed and trees, particularly macrocarpa, must have their slender tops cut off, so as to render them less seen re for building. This may soun*d peculiar, bub it is only common sense. If everyone oloses his dwelling against the sparrow it will be forced to build in the plantations (for it does, not seem to care about the native bush) and these

I might be systematically cleared. Then, although the sparrow will never be cleared out, it might be brought into due subjection. Wo shall be pleaeed to ventilate any ideaa oar readers may have on this important subject, feeling aura that in this question, as well as others, strength lies in union, and in union alone. I