Sparrow!

And to think these humble little birds are now under threat.

Are they under threat in U.K., Waddy? I know I haven't seen many here for the last five years. I really miss them. Had a little rescue we called Jack, back at the other place.

I'm afraid they are Lorilyn, we had become so used to the cheeky sparrow, I don't think people had realised how few we see these days, compared to when we were children (yes, I know that was a long time ago) A lot of it is our own fault, modern houses with little access to the eaves and open plan gardens without natural hedges all contribute to the lack of habitat. Right, off my soapbox now.

no worries about a soapbox speil, Waddy. I've done a few myself. In my other garden I made a large bird apartment house hoping for some purple martins but the sparrows completely took it over. It went rotten and I had to take it down. Was sure that there were not families in it at the time but alas there were two small clutches...one had two newly fledged and the other had three little pink ones... the little pinks were too small and I couldn't feed them well enough...they died. But the two older birds grew up and left for the great outdoors...One stayed nearby and we called him Jack Sparrow...he came back a second summer...I was thrilled. But shortly after that, even with a new apartment block and feeders, the decline in sparrow population was noticeable. This little fellow and the two others are the first sparrows I've seen here in three years! There is even a decline in the number of starlings...and I thought that would never happen!

I did something similar years ago. I had a box on my allotment shed, which was populated by Blue Tits. One particular year, not noticing any birds in residence, and the box definitely past its best, I decided to take it down and replace it. What a bad move. It turned out to contain three little chicks, just starting to develope feathers. I quickly replaced the box, but it was too late, the damage was done. Parents deserted and the chicks died. I was told afterwards, by an old chap on the adjoining plot to mine, that I shouldn't have attempted to do anything until after the summer or even waited until late winter. We live and learn.
As for Starlings, I've also heard about their decline, but the 'gang' as I call them still, visit my table in a noisy rabble, early every morning, often before daylight!

I got a pair of snowshoes for my birthday, Waddy. (a little bit early) but I strapped them on and ventured out to take a look where the Shrike had struck and found that the victim of the attack was not the woodpecker I expected but a starling. In the terrible cold it's obvious that they are not native birds but imports. They thrive everywhere else but in the forest...they prefer urban centres because warm roosts are more available, usually. Sad about the little birds...I was madly digging up my garden looking for earthworms and insects to feed the little sparrows. Their favourite was milk with bread in it...Jackie came back a second summer and ate breadcrumbs at the patio door...even venturing into the diningroom. When he left I never saw him again. :-(.

That's a shame, nature can be cruel can't it?
As for Jackie...at least you gave him more of a life than he would have had, if you hadn't intervened.