Where have all the Sparrows gone? - UK (1 Viewer)

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ThomasW

Well-known member

• Aug 11, 2020

• #1

I'm used to having lots of sparrows (& others) at my feeders but over the last few days they seem to have disappeared. They would come in droves several times each day but now I'm lucky to see 1 or 2 each day.

Food is plentiful, as usual.

The strange thing is they just don't seem to be anywhere to be found.
The skies have Gull, Pigeons, Magpies, Crows in plenty, but just no Sparrows, anywhere!

Has anyone else noticed similar, and what about a reason??

Mystified ||

 

stuartvine

Well-known member

• Aug 11, 2020

• #2

Heh, I sometimes wish mine would disappear. I have a visiting flock of about 30. They're eating four fatballs a day plus a load of sunflower hearts!

 

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ThomasW

Well-known member

• Aug 11, 2020

• #3

stuartvine said:

Heh, I sometimes wish mine would disappear. I have a visiting flock of about 30. They're eating four fatballs a day plus a load of sunflower hearts!

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I was the same until a few days back. It's weird they aren't even in the sky though.

 

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aeshna5

Well-known member

• Aug 11, 2020

• #4

Plenty in my garden still!

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Aug 11, 2020

• #5

How far to the nearest arable crop fields? At this time of year they'll often fly out to these until the harvest is done, then they'll come back when all the grain has gone.

 

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ThomasW

Well-known member

• Aug 12, 2020

• #6

Nutcracker said:

How far to the nearest arable crop fields? At this time of year they'll often fly out to these until the harvest is done, then they'll come back when all the grain has gone.

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Quite some distance, I'm on the outskirts of town.

It's not that they just deserted me, it's so strange that I don't even see them flying around.

 

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ThomasW

Well-known member

• Aug 19, 2020

• #7

Seems they're returning, albeit slowly & not in the same numbers as previously (yet), but it's looking hopeful again

 

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StephenHampshire

Well-known member

• Aug 20, 2020

• #8

Nutcracker said:

How far to the nearest arable crop fields? At this time of year they'll often fly out to these until the harvest is done, then they'll come back when all the grain has gone.

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It has been noticeable that there have been a lot of sparrows in fields and hedgerows round here (Mid-Hampshire) over the past few weeks as the harvest has been got in. The recent wet weather seems to have put a stop to that. A nice day for a walk today but rained for 12 + hours yesterday, proper rain too!

We still have a number of sparrows visit our garden, but mostly restricted to three or four at a go rather than the 20+ flocks we get in spring