Posted by Chris O'Reilly on November 21, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Hi All
It was sad to read yesterday about the continued decline of the house sparrow. It saddens me that a once ubiquitous species is having a hard time hanging on - just shows, at a grass-roots level, the impact of man's activities. Even something as innocent as gardening appears to takes its toll.
This was one of those shots I'd seen but never quite managed to get round to. Glad I eventually did. This cheeky chap was photographed from a bedroom window at my home - almost a carbon-neutral shot!
Cheers, Chris
1Ds3
500 mm
1/400 @ f7.1
ISO 500
Tripod
10% crop left and bottom
C&c welcomed
Posted by John Robinson on November 21, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Great setting for a Spadger !
Nice one.
JR
Posted by Cliff Young on November 21, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Chris,
yes, this is a well-captured pose and perfect timing given the news about the house sparrow. Trouble is that those in the know seem to be blaming bricks and concrete for the decline in numbers ...... Cliff
Posted by Paul Thomas on November 21, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Cheeky chap - hope you're feeding them up for winter.
Spugs & Starlings have simply moved to the country if you ask me... watched a hug flock of 'lings feeding in the field this afternoon and we've a load of spugs that inhabit the garden & local hedges. Quite simply, they need the basics - food, somewhere to hang out during the day, holes & bushes to roost in at night and somewhere to nest in spring/summer. Remove shrubs, hedges & bushes from the gardens & they've nowhere to hide from spug-hawks or roost. Block up all the nooks & crannies in your house & outbuildings & they've nowhere to nest or roost... As they say in the article, City & Town society is simply too neat & tidy for them.
I guess as we've still got hedgerows, have dilapidated farm buildings nearby and have nest boxes & feeders... we're a spuggie heaven. Got to say a spuggie riot in the hedge is a wonderful sound .
Posted by Ian Mason on November 21, 2008 at 5:30 PM
We still have quite a few - a pair nested in the eaves last year. What a noise! Tended to ignore them before but they look good on camera.
Posted by David Kjaer on November 21, 2008 at 6:28 PM
Hi Chris
This one really works for me - very nice!
David
Posted by Paul Inglis on November 21, 2008 at 6:50 PM
Hi Chris,
Great shot! I know why they seem to be in decline...
...there all over here in my garden!!!
I have five more than last year making a grand total of 36 Male House Sparrows alone! They are getting through two sacks of No Mess Seeds (yet they make a mess anyhow) a week and one sack of Premium Seeds. Fortunately they don't like the Black Sunflower and Niger Seeds so the other birds have a chance!!!
Posted by Mark Fellowes on November 22, 2008 at 4:30 AM
Hi Chris
Fantastic shot - detail and enviro in one!
Mark
Posted by Rene de Heer on November 22, 2008 at 11:11 AM
I read it as well, not great news and the image is very nice. I like it!
Rene de Heer
Posted by jack chapman on November 22, 2008 at 12:54 PM
great setting and detail, the pose tops it off very nicely
Posted by Magnus Hird on November 23, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Discussion
14 repliesIt was sad to read yesterday about the continued decline of the house sparrow. It saddens me that a once ubiquitous species is having a hard time hanging on - just shows, at a grass-roots level, the impact of man's activities. Even something as innocent as gardening appears to takes its toll.
This was one of those shots I'd seen but never quite managed to get round to. Glad I eventually did. This cheeky chap was photographed from a bedroom window at my home - almost a carbon-neutral shot!
Cheers, Chris
1Ds3
500 mm
1/400 @ f7.1
ISO 500
Tripod
10% crop left and bottom
C&c welcomed
Nice one.
JR
yes, this is a well-captured pose and perfect timing given the news about the house sparrow. Trouble is that those in the know seem to be blaming bricks and concrete for the decline in numbers ...... Cliff
Paul
Great shot !
Drew
...and great shot!
Mark
Spugs & Starlings have simply moved to the country if you ask me... watched a hug flock of 'lings feeding in the field this afternoon and we've a load of spugs that inhabit the garden & local hedges. Quite simply, they need the basics - food, somewhere to hang out during the day, holes & bushes to roost in at night and somewhere to nest in spring/summer. Remove shrubs, hedges & bushes from the gardens & they've nowhere to hide from spug-hawks or roost. Block up all the nooks & crannies in your house & outbuildings & they've nowhere to nest or roost... As they say in the article, City & Town society is simply too neat & tidy for them.
I guess as we've still got hedgerows, have dilapidated farm buildings nearby and have nest boxes & feeders... we're a spuggie heaven. Got to say a spuggie riot in the hedge is a wonderful sound
This one really works for me - very nice!
David
Great shot! I know why they seem to be in decline...
...there all over here in my garden!!!
I have five more than last year making a grand total of 36 Male House Sparrows alone! They are getting through two sacks of No Mess Seeds (yet they make a mess anyhow) a week and one sack of Premium Seeds. Fortunately they don't like the Black Sunflower and Niger Seeds so the other birds have a chance!!!
Fantastic shot - detail and enviro in one!
Mark
Rene de Heer