poliphilo: (Default)
poliphilo ([personal profile] poliphilo) wrote2012-01-28 10:57 am

Birdwatch

I just participated in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch.

My score (much better than last year's) is

8 starlings
3 collared doves
2 house sparrows
1 robin
1 great tit

[identity profile] michaleen.livejournal.com 2012-01-28 11:43 am (UTC)(link)
I should love to crate up a dozen or so sparrows and send them your way. The little feathery freeloaders can devour six pounds of seed in a day, when the weather's cold.

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2012-01-28 11:58 am (UTC)(link)
A few years back there was talk of the sparrow becoming an endangered species in Britain. Numbers now seem to be climbing.

[identity profile] michaleen.livejournal.com 2012-01-29 12:02 pm (UTC)(link)
They are essentially an invasive species, here, brought from England for reasons passing mere mortal understanding.

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2012-01-29 12:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Did they stow away aboard The Mayflower? I can't see anyone wanting to introduce them on purpose.

[identity profile] michaleen.livejournal.com 2012-01-30 01:20 pm (UTC)(link)
My field guide says that all here today descend from a handful of house sparrows released in New York's Central Park, in 1850. No indication as to why.

[identity profile] endlessrarities.livejournal.com 2012-02-05 03:08 pm (UTC)(link)
You're probably single-handedly restoring the starling population!