Eurasian Tree Sparrow (1 Viewer)

Hi

I'm interested to learn more about the status of Eurasian Tree Sparrow in Australia ( and New Zealand if it's got that far ) but I'm not having much success.

I understand it's regarded as a pest species in W Australia and I'd be interested to know why, what size the population is and how it's distributed, is it migratory and lots more.

I'd be grateful if anyone can direct me to any learned papers or publications which will give a deeper insight in this species in this area.

Regards

David

http://www.treesparrows.com

G'day David

The tree sparrow is restricted to the south-east corner of Australia. The Atlas of Australian Birds shows records in Victoria and south-east New South Wales. Pizzey & Knight's field guide says the following under Range & Status: "Introduced to se. Aust. from 1860s: established in Melbourne and towns from c. Dimboola (w. Vic.) and Hay (NSW) n. to Narromine-Gilgandra; e. to Cowra-ACT-Albury. Status in Sydney-Newcastle uncertain. Locally common. Sedentary". More detailed info would be available in the Handbook of Australian & New Zealand Birds if you've got access to it somehow - I don't have a copy on hand

Tree Sparrows are not established in Western Australia, but turn up from time to time (presumably ship-assisted). They are actively eradicated by the Agriculture Protection Board - for example in Port Hedland & Kwinana in 02/03 (ref http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/publications/tabledpapers.nsf/displaypaper/3621844c9aef0d3244b6d43048256dfa00337a12/$file/agriculture+protection+board+ar+2003+-+2.pdf). House Sparrows are similarly removed if discovered in WA. Further information can be found at http://159.207.224.130/objtwr/imported_assets/content/pw/vp/bulletin_4658.pdf and http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/PC_93937.html. Quoting from the second reference - “Sparrows have the potential to damage cultivated grain and horticulture crops, spread disease and compete with native birds for food. They can also damage buildings through nesting, roosting and feeding.”

Hope this info is useful

and they are not found in New Zealand

Some books suggest that Tree Sparrows occur in Sydney. Maybe they did in the past but I am not aware of any records in the last 15 years. Closest place I am aware of is Cowra in central NSW.

So unlike many other introduced birds in Australia their spread has been limited. They can be found in suburban Melbourne.