THE SPARROW NUISANCE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 4077, 21 February 1894, Page 3

THE SPARROW NUISANCE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

In connection with the sparrow nuisance in South Australia, various means have been adopted to cope with the difficulty, but none seems so effectual as the formation of sparrow destruction clubs. The funds to carry on these clubs are usually raised by public subscription, sometimes augmented by a donation from the local district council or corporation as the case may be, and distributed amongst the juveniles of the locality, who colleot the eggs and heads, and are rewarded at the rate of 2s per 100 (or according as the funds will allow), one head equalling two eggs. Quite a business is made out of it by some. The trioks of the trade are many. Eggs are often allowed to hatch, so that the heads of the young birds may be secured, and the old hens are rarely killed. Still, withal, thousands of sparrows are annually destroyed. One of the foremost of these clubs is the Marion Destruction Club. Some of the subscribers, who are large gardeners, also employ men by the week (one firm paying 80s per week) to shoot sparrows, All killed in this way are not connected with the club returns, which are as follows :—In 1891, 10,922 eggs at a oost of £10 18s 3d ; 1892, 9,576 at £9 12s 3cl ; and up to 18th November, 1893, 13,347 at £13 6s 9d. The total number destroyed and paid for by this club is in round numbers about 43,000.