Why are sparrows disappearing from the UK?

Question

Other urban scavengers like squirrels, pigeons, foxes and rats are still plentiful. What do they have that the plucky sparrow doesn't?

Answer 1

There are several theories as to why the bird is disappearing: lack of insects; lack of seeds in the summer; lack of suitable nest sites; increase in chemical pollution and even disease - but no-one yet knows the answer.

Answer 2

They are declining, more so in some parts of the country then others. It is very unlikely to be due to magpies as although they do take birds studies have shown that in areas where the numbers of magpies have increased over time when compared to where magpie numbers haven't, there has been no difference between the songbird population. The same goes with sparrowhawks. Predators exist when there is food available (the food web works bottom up, not top down) and a sparrowhawk is a sign that there is a healthy bird population in the area. It is a relationship that has gone on forever and prey species produce more young each year then will survive. This is known as "The doomed surplus" and if they were not taken by predators they would starve to death.

Current reasearch seems to indicate that the main reasons for house sparrow decline is lack of food, with people filling in the eves of houses so sparrows can't nest also being a contributing factor. The lack of food is caused by increased development and people paving over gardens, and by the various changes in farming practices, not only in the fields, but also after harvest with less spilt grain etc.

And as for what do all the other animals you mentioned have that sparrows don't, the answer is a couple of things. Most of them have extremely rapid reproductive cycles and so can produce lots of offspring. They're also a LOT less fussy about what they eat. (They might also be a bit stronger and so can break into places that are meant to be animal proof?)

Answer 3

Sparrows are a typical English bird, but the parakeet is now more common I see so many of them now (apparently they escaped while the BBC were filming a documentary and needed these foreign birds a few escaped and now the population of these birds grew quicker than rabbits) and they are taking the sparrows food..sparrows were really common but now the starling and robins are more common, also the hedgerows which is were sparrows nest, in the country are being chopped down to make ways for new houses

Answer 4

I have noticed a drop in the number of sparrows around Lisburn in Northern Ireland, But I was on Holidays in Romania and Hungry and the sparrows are there in their Thousands. They are also very tame and will come up and take crumbs from your hand. Perhaps it is the nice climate over there that attracts them. Robert.

Answer 5

In my opinion, the rapid changes in our urban & suburban environment has caused house sparrows to disappear from many of our towns and cities. The removal of hedges and front gardens for car parking has eradicated the cover used by most of our sparrows as an important part of their habitat requirements.

Answer 6

There natural habitats are being eroded and the population does not take the time to feed them. In the south east of England we have the largest population according to recent surveys ie Springwatch. Put out more bird feeders and the sparrows will return hopefully

Answer 7

I don't think they are. There is a flock of about 50 that visit my garden regularly. Up to last year, I lived in central London and there seemed to be masses of sparrows in my local park. Populations may have crashed locally, but this sort of fluctuation could just be in the normal course of things

Answer 8

Possibly because of the re-introduction of the sparrow hawk...eats 2 to 5 a day, day in...day out.

ps. I still see lots of them...but a LOT less starlings than I used to...and a LOT more crows...

Answer 9

I feel it might be down to the lack of food and hedgerows...everyday I put out wild bird seed and have a constant flow of sparrows all day long..once you start feeding them, you have to continue as they rely on a regular supply,and it uses up their energy looking for food.

Answer 10

I think its the magpies too,ive seen several sparrows being attacked by them in my garden.