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This talk of house sparrows in rural areas sounds well and good.
But I will repeat my downtown Dartmouth story:
house sparrows were abundant here year round 20 years ago and =
practically non-existent today in any season.
And I can=E2=80=99t detect that the environment has changed very much.
Dave S...
From: rita.paul@ns.sympatico.ca=20
Sent: Friday, November 20, 2015 1:00 PM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
Subject: RE: [NatureNS] sparrows
Well Lance, around horses and cows in the old=20
days there was no shortage of Insects and other Anthropods during=20
the sparrows breeding season!
At times people complain to me about Black Flies, Mosquitos
and so on - I hardly notice them. Well conditioned to them am I!
Enjoy November - insect free!
Paul
On November 20, 2015 at 11:26 AM "Laviolette, Lance" =
<lance.laviolette@lmco.com> wrote:=20
Hi Peter,
There are undoubtedly a number of factors contributing to the decline =
of House Sparrows. However one factor which has been pointed out by =
studies in the UK is a reduction in the abundance of insects for =
nestlings. Whatever the cause in the decline in insect numbers =
(pesticides, predators, climate change, etc.), the hypothesis goes that =
less insects mean less protein for the young which results in less =
healthy young fledging from the nest. These less fit birds don=E2=80=99t =
survive very well in harsher, winter conditions.=20
The reason European Starlings are not declining may be attributed to =
their diet also. From the Birds of North America accounts:
House Sparrow - Insects and other arthropods during breeding season.
European Starling - Extremely diverse diet that varies geographically, =
with the age of individuals, and with season. Unusual abundances of food =
items=E2=80=A6 garbage, livestock feed, etc. are also exploited.
The diverse diet of starlings gives them a big edge when trying to =
survive and fledge healthy young in areas where no one food type is =
sufficient by itself.
As Paul mentioned, House Sparrows used to be seen closely associated =
with cows and horses and they still are. However most of the large =
animal operations have now been replaced with intensive agricultural =
crop raising farms. I=E2=80=99d call the resulting corn and soya fields =
deserts compared to the diversity rich pastures and =
=E2=80=98wild=E2=80=99 hay fields that used to be common even 20 years =
ago except deserts are much richer in diversity. House Sparrows have =
gone from being abundant and wide-spread to being locally common over =
that time. In my area in summer they are now focused almost exclusively =
around the few horse stabling operations that we have. In winter they =
show up at my feeders.
All the best,
Lance
Lance Laviolette
Glen Robertson, Ontario
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca =
[mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of Hubcove@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2015 5:57 PM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: EXTERNAL: [NatureNS] sparrows
In Halifax today and a friend was wondering why sparrows have =
virtually disappeared in the city. While starlings are obviously =
flourishing. Wondered whether anyone had the answer.
Peter Stow=20
Hubbards
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<DIV style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">
<DIV>This talk of house sparrows in rural areas sounds well and =
good.</DIV>
<DIV>But I will repeat my downtown Dartmouth story:</DIV>
<DIV>house sparrows were abundant here <U>year round</U> 20 years ago =
and=20
practically non-existent today in any season.</DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D'FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: =
"Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; =
DISPLAY: inline'>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt tahoma">
<DIV><FONT size=3D3 face=3DCalibri>And I can=E2=80=99t detect that the =
environment has=20
changed very much.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3 face=3DCalibri>Dave S...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3 face=3DCalibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5">
<DIV style=3D"font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A =
title=3Drita.paul@ns.sympatico.ca=20
href=3D"mailto:rita.paul@ns.sympatico.ca">rita.paul@ns.sympatico.ca</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Friday, November 20, 2015 1:00 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=3Dnaturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> RE: [NatureNS] sparrows</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D'FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: =
"Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; =
DISPLAY: inline'>
<DIV><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Well Lance, around horses and cows =
in the=20
old</SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">days there was no shortage of =
Insects and=20
other Anthropods during</SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">the sparrows breeding=20
season!<BR></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">At times people complain to me =
about Black=20
Flies, Mosquitos<BR></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12