SMALL BIRDS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXX, Issue 20165, 20 July 1935, Page 18

SMALL BIRDS

To the Editor of “ The Timaru Herald ” Sir,—ln answer to your correspondent who discussed the subject of small birds in your issue to-day, may I sugguest it is quite obvious that he has never had anything to do with farming, as practical experience would have convinced him otherwise. He suggests that the farmers should spend a few pounds on growing extra crop to feed the birds. This is contradictory to the main theme of his letter as he tries to point out that birds do not damage crop, therefore why grow grain to feed them? Moreover, how are we going to keep the birds on the one crop giown for them? In my opinion there are three breeds of birds which damage crops, the sparrow, green linnet and laik. The lark only causes damage when the uop is just through the ground, by pulling up the young shoots and eating tire tender leaf, which means that larks could not be poisoned with grain. The other two birds also attack the crop at this stage—the three birds together doing considerable damage. The next stage when the crop is attacked, is in the milk stage, when considerable damage is done. The r'arrow and ib.net are the cause of this loss, rim final loss is when the crop is ripe, the same two birds being the offenders. It would be quite impossible to exterminate these birds with poisoned grain but poisoning would keep down the numbers and consequently reduce the damage. Aofcher excuse offered by your correspondent for the protection of small birds, was that they eat insect pests, which are detrimental to the farmers’ interest. Why is it then that a large proportion of rape and turnip crops are damaged by the diamond backed moth and the white butterfly? For the simple reason, I think, that the birds are so busy on the crops oi oats and wheat, etc., at that time of year that the insect pests are given a “missing baulk” and allowed to increase. I hope other county councils will follow the Mackenzie County Council’s example and issue poisoned grain at a small cost, which would be much cheaper than growing a crop for bird feed. The birds have been increasing rapidly for the past few years, and it is time something was done to check them, otherwise there will be a heavy loss to croppers.—l am etc.. PRACTICAL.