The On-Going Plight of the House Sparrow

The On-Going Plight of the House Sparrow

by Francesca Sharpe

Gathering accurate information on the avian population is far from an easy process. A dedicated network of volunteers are required to watch and document migratory patterns and local population, where experts tag communities and collate data to try and build a coherent image of change over time.

Professionals recently released data demonstrating they've managed to complete this image, and it isn't an optimistic one. UK avian population levels have fallen from 210-166 million from 1966-2012, a stunning loss of 21%. Different species have suffered or thrived in a variety of ways. Farmland bird numbers have decreased dramatically, where winter Waterbirds have experienced a startling increase in population, as has the greater spotted Woodpecker. One of the most affecting statistics, however, is the on-going threat posed to the amiable House Sparrow.

Since 1966 their numbers have fallen by 20 million, and since 1977 the population has fallen by a whopping 71 per cent. There are now between 2.1-3.7 breeding pairs left in the country, placing them at severe risk. The species has now been red listed, identifying it to require immediate conservation efforts in order to preserve them for the future.

There are a number of factors at play that may explain these developments. The House Sparrow has built up a reputation, expressing a notorious preference for nesting near human settlements. They are opportunistic feeders, and thanks to the British obsession with private gardens this has resulted in their population often migrating to towns and cities, taking advantage of the bird baths and feeders we supply.

This preference for human company may be playing into their downfall. A relatively recent theory has been raised into the effect of high noise levels on the sparrow population. Initial evidence demonstrated reduced reproduction rates, inspiring the theory that overpowering noise affected mate selection and breeding. Instead, current evidence points to noise pollution cutting off communication between parents and their young. The birds are breeding correctly, but failing to hear their hungry children in the three-week period they cannot feed themselves. As a result children are leaving the nest malnourished, if not starving altogether. In cities with 24-hour car use and an active nightlife it's no wonder sparrows are suffering from noise pollution. Despite these difficulties, the birds refuse to relocate away from handy food sources.

Some worries have been raised over the effect of cat predation on Sparrow populations, also. Their habit of hunting garden birds is rarely seen as problematic, mainly feeding on injured or elderly birds. In the case of Sparrows, creatures that nest near human settlement as often as possible, the added pressure of predation may be placing the already endangered species under unnecessary risk, and charities recently asked homeowners to restrict their cats from hunting in areas possibly containing Sparrows.

Standing as an iconic creature of the British countryside, the threat of losing the Sparrow is both real and worrying. Hopefully measures will be taken to effectively preserve the species, leaving them to be regular sights around human habitation for many years to come.