h or house sparrow was introduced into this country about a
half-century ago. It has spread over practically all of the United
States and Southern Canada. Possibly no bird has exhibited such powers
of adapting itself to new conditions. The sparrow is no respecter of
places for locating its nest. It lives on a variety of foods changing
from one to another as the necessity arises. In spite of opposition,
this bird is constantly on the increase, so much so that in many cases
more desirable native birds have been obliged to leave. The sparrow is
filthy and quarrelsome, and lives mainly upon valuable small grains in
every case where this is possible. There are two methods possible
which afford partial relief: (1) traps and (2) driving them away with
an air-rifle. Traps are usually successful for a comparatively brief
time, since the sparrows soon associate the trap with danger and so
avoid it. A very successful type of woven wire trap is advocated by
the Department of Agriculture but is probably beyond the ability of
the average boy to make well. It sells by commercial manufacturers of
bird supplies for about $4.00. This trap works all the year around as
it depends upon the attraction of food. Fig. 65 gives a simple, yet
effective trap. However, it requires the presence of some hidden
observer to spring it at the right moment. Another type of trap is
based upon the nest-house idea. Its effectiveness is limited largely
to the nesting season, though it may be used by the birds for shelter.
One of the most efficient traps was invented by Charles Tesch, of
Milwaukee, Wis. Its principle is that of a tipping chamber leading
into a sack thru a chute. Fig. 64 gives the dimensions to be followed
in making such a trap. The inventor says that the bag should be far
enough away from the box to make certain that the victim has no chance
to tell the others what happened to him by chirping, otherwise they
will no longer enter the trap. The box must be perfectly tight in
order to prevent drafts from issuing thru the entrance which will
cause sparrows to keep away. If a few feathers are glued or shellacked
to the tipping chamber floor, the sparrow is often attracted more
strongly. The bag should be examined frequently to liberate bluebirds
and wrens, who may have been caught.

[Illustration: FIG. 64. (SPARROW TRAP)]

[Illustration: FIG. 65. (SPARROW TRAP)]

However, fighting bird enemies without the cooperation of neighbors is
not an easy