on the east coast, of US, any number of things.
Cats, for one, other predators. Humans and their use of Rat poisons, and weedkiller poisons, which end up in the wild and end up killing birds, ultimately. Pesticides, kill bugs. and bugs are food for some part of the food chain.
AND another biggie?
Global warming is causing die off of some of the foods that sparrows eat, as well as a northerly movement, slowly in their habitat, and then, they cannot survive the harsher northern climates, during winter.
I am told by my UK counterparts, that the issue is the same over there.
All of the above are the same reasons suggested for decline of the the UK sparrow population including the increase in Sparrow hawks in recent years in the the UK and of course they do have an impact but new research suggests that it is a failure of sparrows to brood sucessively through the year has led to the massive decline. Sparrows usually brood 3 or 4 times a year.
The new research indicates that the second and third broods have died of starvation in the nest. The chicks had virtually no insect protein in their diet. Aphids are a key food for second broods and they are also in decline during the second brooding season of June.
The two studies below make fascinating reading if you are interested in why this is happening.
sadly, true all over.
I am very happy I have ripped up most of my lawn and now have natural plantings and ground cover, with no pesticides.
I can see it in the types and numbers of birds, rabbits, and other animals living in and around here.
There is a movement here in the UK to ask farmers to set aside a couple of hectares for wildlife. It is early days but the areas that have been set aside already have seen a massive boom in birds, butterflies and other animals populating these new wildflower areas.
It is also proposed that unused local council land can be used in this way.
on the east coast, of US, any number of things.
Cats, for one, other predators. Humans and their use of Rat poisons, and weedkiller poisons, which end up in the wild and end up killing birds, ultimately. Pesticides, kill bugs. and bugs are food for some part of the food chain.
AND another biggie?
Global warming is causing die off of some of the foods that sparrows eat, as well as a northerly movement, slowly in their habitat, and then, they cannot survive the harsher northern climates, during winter.
I am told by my UK counterparts, that the issue is the same over there.
All of the above are the same reasons suggested for decline of the the UK sparrow population including the increase in Sparrow hawks in recent years in the the UK and of course they do have an impact but new research suggests that it is a failure of sparrows to brood sucessively through the year has led to the massive decline. Sparrows usually brood 3 or 4 times a year.
The new research indicates that the second and third broods have died of starvation in the nest. The chicks had virtually no insect protein in their diet. Aphids are a key food for second broods and they are also in decline during the second brooding season of June.
The two studies below make fascinating reading if you are interested in why this is happening.
Kate Vincent source
W.J. Peach et al source
sadly, true all over.
I am very happy I have ripped up most of my lawn and now have natural plantings and ground cover, with no pesticides.
I can see it in the types and numbers of birds, rabbits, and other animals living in and around here.
There is a movement here in the UK to ask farmers to set aside a couple of hectares for wildlife. It is early days but the areas that have been set aside already have seen a massive boom in birds, butterflies and other animals populating these new wildflower areas.
It is also proposed that unused local council land can be used in this way.
great plan!