ChrisKten
It's true, I quite like Pigeons
I know they don't do well in some areas, but they've always done well here in my part of London. Actually, I can't back that up with any data, so I'll limit it to my garden over the last 10 years. I usually see parents with 2 - 4 fledglings in my garden at this time of year, and I count between 30 and 60+ Sparrows in my trees and being fed in the garden each day. This year I've seen one female with a fledgling and one male with a fledgling - not even together, so could well be the same fledgling.
Starlings, OTOH, are doing as well as they usually do... I've at least 50 juveniles screeching for food in my trees (yep, my neighbours love me
), and there's more still on the roofs and in other trees within earshot. Also, they usually have more than one brood, so there's time for even more Starlings to show up in the not-too-distant future. That suggests to me that there's been plenty of Insects to feed to the young.
One row of three houses did have new roofs and loft extensions, but the work was completed before breeding started, and I'm not even sure the Sparrows nested under the eaves there. I can see no other obvious changes locally - none of the bushes that the Sparrows hide in have been cut down, and there's less Sparrowhawk activity than usual (For those that are interested, Fred, the regular male has been missing for longer than usual, and was in his 7th year, so might be dead. Although I'd expect another male to take over his territory soon).
The only upside is I have Goldfinches at the Sunflower Hearts due to the reduced number of Sparrows scaring them away... but I'd rather see the Sparrows doing well.
So, just a local phenomenon, or are some of you seeing less House Sparrows fledged?
Starlings, OTOH, are doing as well as they usually do... I've at least 50 juveniles screeching for food in my trees (yep, my neighbours love me
), and there's more still on the roofs and in other trees within earshot. Also, they usually have more than one brood, so there's time for even more Starlings to show up in the not-too-distant future. That suggests to me that there's been plenty of Insects to feed to the young.One row of three houses did have new roofs and loft extensions, but the work was completed before breeding started, and I'm not even sure the Sparrows nested under the eaves there. I can see no other obvious changes locally - none of the bushes that the Sparrows hide in have been cut down, and there's less Sparrowhawk activity than usual (For those that are interested, Fred, the regular male has been missing for longer than usual, and was in his 7th year, so might be dead. Although I'd expect another male to take over his territory soon).
The only upside is I have Goldfinches at the Sunflower Hearts due to the reduced number of Sparrows scaring them away... but I'd rather see the Sparrows doing well.
So, just a local phenomenon, or are some of you seeing less House Sparrows fledged?
