[NatureNS] sparrows

Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2015 12:15:44 -0400 (AST)
From: "rita.paul@ns.sympatico.ca" <rita.paul@ns.sympatico.ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
References: <990B3EE94E8A61448C998FEBAEAFC0241F0987A7@HCXDSPM2.ca.lmco.com>
Importance: Medium
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <naturens-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

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  <div>
   <span style=3D"font-size: 12pt;">One thing not mentioned in the discussi=
on Lance was the use of</span>
  </div>=20
  <div>
   <span style=3D"font-size: 12pt;">road salt. It very effectively wiped ou=
t the Hungarian Partridge on PEI.<br/></span>
  </div>=20
  <div>
   <span style=3D"font-size: 12pt;">They went from plentiful to rare in a f=
ew years after salt came into use.<br/></span>
  </div>=20
  <div>
   <span style=3D"font-size: 12pt;">They would get gravel for grit along th=
e road and pick up salt.<br/></span>
  </div>=20
  <div>
   <span style=3D"font-size: 12pt;">The same may have happened to House Spa=
rrows also - come to think of<br/></span>
  </div>=20
  <div>
   <span style=3D"font-size: 12pt;">it rats - the Norway kind - have had an=
 unlamented decline also.</span>
  </div>=20
  <div>
   <span style=3D"font-size: 12pt;">All 3 species are of the invasive kind.=
 The history of most invasive species is</span>
  </div>=20
  <div>
   <span style=3D"font-size: 12pt;">that they thrive for </span>
   <span style=3D"font-size: 12pt;">a time and then &#160;die down.<br/></s=
pan>
  </div>=20
  <div>
   <span style=3D"font-size: 12pt;">Enjoy the November rain<br/></span>
  </div>=20
  <div>
   <span style=3D"font-size: 12pt;">Paul&#160;<br/></span>
  </div>=20
  <blockquote style=3D"padding-left: 10px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-co=
lor: blue; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid; position: rela=
tive;" type=3D"cite">
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   <!-- [if gte mso 9]> -->
   <!-- <![endif] --> On November 20, 2015 at 11:26 AM &#34;Laviolette, Lan=
ce&#34; &#60;lance.laviolette@lmco.com&#62; wrote:
   <br/>
   <br/>=20
   <div class=3D"WordSection1">=20
    <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d; font-family: &#39=
;Calibri&#39;,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Hi Peter,</span></p>=20
    <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d; font-family: &#39=
;Calibri&#39;,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">&#160;</span></p>=20
    <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d; font-family: &#39=
;Calibri&#39;,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">There are undoubtedly a number =
of factors contributing to the decline of House Sparrows. However one facto=
r which has been pointed out by studies in the UK is a reduction in the abu=
ndance of insects for nestlings. Whatever the cause in the decline in insec=
t numbers (pesticides, predators, climate change, etc.), the hypothesis goe=
s that less insects mean less protein for the young which results in less h=
ealthy young fledging from the nest. These less fit birds don=E2=80=99t sur=
vive very well in harsher, winter conditions. </span></p>=20
    <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d; font-family: &#39=
;Calibri&#39;,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">&#160;</span></p>=20
    <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d; font-family: &#39=
;Calibri&#39;,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The reason European Starlings a=
re not declining may be attributed to their diet also. From the Birds of No=
rth America accounts:</span></p>=20
    <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d; font-family: &#39=
;Calibri&#39;,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">&#160;</span></p>=20
    <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d; font-family: &#39=
;Calibri&#39;,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">House Sparrow - Insects and oth=
er arthropods during breeding season.</span></p>=20
    <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d; font-family: &#39=
;Calibri&#39;,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">European Starling - Extremely d=
iverse diet that varies geographically, with the age of individuals, and wi=
th season. Unusual abundances of food items=E2=80=A6 garbage, livestock fee=
d, etc. are also exploited.</span></p>=20
    <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d; font-family: &#39=
;Calibri&#39;,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">&#160;</span></p>=20
    <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d; font-family: &#39=
;Calibri&#39;,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The diverse diet of starlings g=
ives them a big edge when trying to survive and fledge healthy young in are=
as where no one food type is sufficient by itself.</span></p>=20
    <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d; font-family: &#39=
;Calibri&#39;,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">&#160;</span></p>=20
    <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d; font-family: &#39=
;Calibri&#39;,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">As Paul mentioned, House Sparro=
ws used to be seen closely associated with cows and horses and they still a=
re. 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 m=
y area in summer they are now focused almost exclusively ar