House Sparrows in a Hedge!

A songful hedge full of House Sparrows on an autumnal dawn and I don't know who was happier, the House Sparrows, or I, as I listened to their gregarious, cheerful chorus! There were at least 15 of them, but there were some hidden in the depths of the hedge, so over 20! Their conservation status in the UK is Red. There was a steep decline of 71% between 1977 and 2008 with substantial declines in both rural and urban populations. While the decline in England continues, Breeding Bird Survey data indicate recent population increases in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. They are exploiters of man's rubbish and wastefulness and maybe this is part of the reason for their decline, as our food can contain residue pesticides; also herbicides which can contain endocrine disruptors that affect both humans and wildlife. It is clear to me, as I wander on my suburban estate and local villages, that House Sparrows seek mature hedgerows with width and height where they can hide from predators and shelter from cold weather, rain and snowfall during autumn, winter and early spring.. www.ncbi.nlm.n...