Sparrows

Once again that great organization, the British Trust for Ornithology is highlighting trends in bird populations which could otherwise pass us by – this time they are pointing to our once-so-common sparrow family – or ‘Spadgers’ as my old grandfather would have it.

Below is an extract from their latest newsletter……..

“With significant declines in both House Sparrow and Tree Sparrow populations, things could not have looked worse for UK sparrows. However, British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Garden Bird Feeding Survey data from the last two winters shows that more of them are turning to our garden feeding stations.

The House Sparrow population has declined by over two-thirds since the late 1970s, and the Tree Sparrow population suffered from a dramatic population crash in the early 1980s, and as a result both species are red-listed birds of conservation concern. There are many theories behind the decline of House Sparrow, but lack of food in winter due to agricultural intensification and an associated reduction in first-year survival rates have been important drivers behind both declines. The huge losses of these once-familiar sparrows are an example of how land use changes can affect common birds, but garden bird surveys can help us to understand these effects.”

So there you have it – look after these chirpy little birds – they are great fun and will enjoy a wide variety of foods.