The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is probably not the most popular bird in Australia. This largish finch is not native to these shores and in much of the country is technically a pest species.
Well, I can understand all that — and if they had never been brought here from Europe it would have been a good thing, but here they are, and I still like them for their robust familiarity and the memory inducing sound of their calls.
They were all around me as a kid, and I still like to catch up with them. This is a male of the species that I found at (believe it or not) Werribee Sewage Works.
Hope everyone is well - and I really will try to visit your blogs this week.
As ever, to join in with WBW click on the link below. SM
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteThe sparrows are definitely one of the better survivor species, being quite opportunistic in food choices and not afraid to defend territory! (At least, based on the observations of the wee bully in the back yard here...) YAM xx
D=Daisy
We here in the States feel the same way about house sparrows and a few others. But then, I'm sure there are species in those places that came from here.
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of House Sparrows everyday in my garden and this week they have stripped the Pampas grass for their nests and it has been so much fun to watch. Good shots of the Sparrows Stewart. Thanks for hoisting and have a good week ahead
ReplyDeleteYes, a friend of childhood for sure!
ReplyDeleteI must have a listen now. I’ve never seen one.
ReplyDeleteI love them and we have so many here in France. There are often 40 to 50 in our garden and they are such fun to watch when they all try to bath at the same time. I hope all is well, Diane
ReplyDeleteSparrows are a dime a dozen here..cute little birds..Did not know that they were in the finch family..
ReplyDeleteI grew up calling them English Sparrows or (as my grandmother named them) "Chippies." Unbelievably, I never saw one in our Florida wetlands patch or our adjacent back yard over the 18 years we lived there. They were present at a shopping center less than a mile away, but have adapted to the disturbed human habitat. Likewise, in our new home here in Connecticut, they have not yet appeared in our feeders as we are surrounded by hardwood forest.
ReplyDeleteWe have them here in Virginia. I enjoy watching them carrying twigs and later taking food to the nest.
ReplyDeleteHouse sparrows are regular visitors at my bird feeders in New Jersey.
ReplyDeleteGood show, Stewart, on highlighting a more common species! We tend to overlook them as we go forth seeking rarities. The House Sparrow is definitely a case study in survivalism!
ReplyDeleteHope all is well with you and your family. Florida is experiencing wonderfully cool mornings at present and spring migration is in full swing. Good times!