Lack of sparrows

[Ed Strong]

I live in SE London. Years ago the only wildlife we tended to see was sparrows/pidgeons/thrushes/blackbirds etc. Now 40 years on the sparrows seem to have disappeared but we are surrounded by crows, blackbirds, all sorts of tits, foxes, ducks (for the last two years they have turned up to share the bread that people have thrown out for the other birds) and now a flock of parakeets! I suppose what I'm asking is: Does anyone have any idea why the sparrows have disappeared from this area when all the other wildlife seems to be thriving here?

Just seen the post from Gooner_Badge, dated 04/08/05. I have also seen that stork, only last week, so we must live in the same vicinity (if you are still posting). Glad I'm not the only one whose noticed the lack of sparrows in this area.

[alfiebrady]

Is it anything to do with the increase of seagulls coming inland?

[Ed Strong]

i

[Ed Strong]

I don't know what happened there :-o

I don't think it's seagulls, I don't see many of them here. The only thing I could think of was if the crows or magpies are eating their eggs or chasing them off. In which case why are the other birds thriving?

[sddsddean]

They've all moved to the country! I live in Northants and we've got loads of sparrows (amongst other things!).

[alfiebrady]

That's all I can think of, apart from maybe foxes. Sparrows take advantage of the rubbish found in cities, and as seagulls and foxes have become more common in places like London perhaps the competition's become too much for the sparrow.

[whiffey]

There is a definite decrease in the number of sparrows (Croydon). Also a marked increase in the magpie population - horrible chattery things. The only time I see sparrows now is when I put out food for my robin.

Plenty of tits, as noted, and I get woodpeckers from the nearby cemetery on the nut feeders.

[Lonnie]

I live in Essex, and there's no shortage where I live, real characters, I love'em.

[hammerman]

Strangely enough i've actually noticed an increase in the number of sparrows....particularly field sparrows around rural areas.

I've got loads of the little lovelies chattering away in my garden....and we have a lot of herring gulls and crows around !!!!

[WendyS]

We seem to have lost our sparrows too (we live in South Bucks) although do see small groups of them around other parts of our village. It may be due to lack of suitable nesting sites (new houses being built with plastic gutterings, etc. where previously they used to be able to find crevices etc. in older buildings. I think it's sad though because they're delightful little birds. And in the past couple of years all our greenfinches seem to have disappeared too despite putting out mixed varieties of food on our bird table.. But yes, we're increasingly seeing those parakeets too. What an unusual noise they make!. Legend has it that a flock escaped accidentally from Shepperton Studios many years ago when a film was being made which necessitated these birds being involved.. Whether it's true or not I don't know but they certainly seem to be thriving around here and there are large flocks of them around Windsor Great Park.

[Ed Strong]

Although, as I said in my post, I live in London, where I am is next to a heath and a royal park. Also, lots of older houses with large gardens mixed in with the newer buildings, so I don't think it's that. Oh well, looks like it's a mystery deemed never to be solved.

[alfiebrady]

The answer is that no-one knows - yet. The Independent are offering a �5,000 prize for anyone putting forward the first scientifically accepted explanation - still up for grabs.

http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article358584.ece

[DillyGent]

Hello Ed, I agree with sddsddean, I think they have all relocated to the country! I live in Huntingdon and I have loads of sparrows visiting my garden - along with - magpies, blue tits, wrens, robins, chaffinches, jackdaws and thrushes. The biggest problem we now have are crows - I back onto a small common and there are literally hundreds sometimes. Can be quite scary to see them all congregating...

[Ed Strong]

DillyGent. Wot no work? :-p

Perhaps the sparrows have got it right and instead of moving to Spain have decided to relocate to the country! Do you think they have an ex-pats club?