The Sparrow: The Story of the Most Common Bird in the World

Guest · Fri Mar 02, 2012 4:56 pm

New from Smithsonian magazine:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-n ... World.html

Louise Chambers · Fri Mar 02, 2012 5:03 pm

Interesting article, Darren - thanks! I also enjoyed the link to the article about Cooper's Hawks.

ron20m · Fri Mar 02, 2012 9:16 pm

Really enjoyed it. Especially "The Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), a hawk that feeds almost exclusively on sparrows, has become common in cities across Europe and is eating the sparrows."
How do I import a mated pair?

MidTNJerry · Fri Mar 02, 2012 11:28 pm

I may be eaten alive for saying this in this forum, but I could probably tolerate the sparrows if their numbers were DRASTICALLY reduced. There's just TOO MANY of them. Wipe out 95% of them in North America, and keep their population at that rate, and I'm happy--if only that were possible.

I do think the article is dead wrong when it says that there's no definitive proof that HOSPs have negatively impacted native species numbers. I'd argue that there's far more research which proves they have.

Again, their numbers have reached insane levels. Anything we can do to control and if ever possible, reduce their numbers, that would be a very good thing.

Dolphins Fan · Sat Mar 03, 2012 2:48 am

For the love of god bring the Eurasian sparrowhawk here to America so they can wipe them all out! I'll tell you one thing I wouldn't miss them I can promise you that. Whats to like they are very aggressive and ugly looking birds!

Jeremy Shuler · Sat Mar 03, 2012 4:24 am

but if you brought one of those hawks over here when the sparrow numbers declined (which some would be native sparrows) would they turn to blue birds and martins?

James Rieman · Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:34 am

The Eurasian Sparrowhawk is a close cousin to our Sharp-shinned hawk and our Cooper's Hawk. It would very happily eat Martins too.

John Miller · Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:59 am

I'd like to know how much the bird seed industry is responsible for keeping sparrow populations up. I wish business would not sell the bags of small round seeds, I think it's millet? that house sparrows love, although sparrows will eat most all seed...they just like some better.

An old lady neighbor, age 99, two doors down has kept her feeders stoked year round for many years, and so I always have sparrows around my yard too. The poor old lady finally got moved into a nursing home last week -- so will be a small scale test for me to evaluate if I see fewer sparrows. dozens of doves too, too many. will see what happens now.

John M

LarryMelcher/KY · Sat Mar 03, 2012 10:17 am

John,
My neighbor behind me also feeds the "cheap seed" and has many House Sparrows. I also feed the Cheap Stuff... but when I do, I'm hiding with my pellet gun picking out the thug birds in my yard. A good trap and a little shooting here and there... All times of the year, you eventually thin things down. (I know you know, John... just for new birders that may be reading)