Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Flight of the sparrows?
Have had lots of sparrows in our garden over the past few years after a long gap when only saw them at Paris railway stations - we put seed out in hopper all year round and have enjoyed their cheery presence.
However for the past week or so there have been none. Has anyone else had this. The starlings still come and cat and fox numbers havent changed.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kate
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I'm off Philip Lane so glad youve got sparrows. There has been a more persistent cat sitting in garden with expression of flying dinners - but has been chased and sprayed with water (waits for howl from cat lovers) Sorry youve had remains to clear
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Permalink Reply by Sarah
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I spray with water too. It's my garden, trespassers will be sprayed! I did have an automatic sprayer for a while which was good fun but I couldn't get the connection to the tap to stop leaking so I gave up on that one.
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I had one and it was very effective. Biggest problems now foxes and evil grey squirrels. I should get another of those scarecrow things.
One of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Onsinic-Sprinkler-Scarecrow-Activated-Dete...
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Permalink Reply by Paul K
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The general decline in sparrow numbers in London has been debated for years. The commonest theories are a decline in insect numbers and nesting places [they like cavities in old buildings]. Because finches [such as sparrows] are primarily seed eaters it's often overlooked that they also eat insects, especially during the breeding season and nestlings need to be fed insects. I have been feeding live mealworms, initially during the breeding season and now all year round and my garden is full of sparrows which spread to neighbouring gardens, for example to roost, but like all birds their numbers can fluctuate year by year depending upon local conditions. Cats are, of course, predators but not bad enough to deplete song bird numbers although one cat can deter all birds from a specific location, so if your neighbour has a cat which hunts - bad luck. However, in my garden on Seymour Road sparrow hawks take more sparrows than cats do.
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Agree about Sparrow Hawks. We are on ladder and have loads of Sparrows. We also have Blackbirds, wrens,
Robins, long tailed tits, blue tits, magpies, Crows, Jays, Jackdaws, Parakeets, Wood Pigeons, Starlings and other visitors in winter. In the summer we have Swifts which is a delight. There are also plenty of cats and squirrels. The houses and gardens around us are not over modernised which l think makes the biggest difference. Sparrows nest in the eaves as well as hedges (we have both). I suggest if you look into Sparrow and Swift boxes you may get more visitors. Oh and l forgot the Seagulls which constantly hunt over the New River and steal many young chicks in spring. At this time of year the sparrows keep a lower profile but just a bit of sun brings them out looking for food.
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