birding-aus

Re: Decline of House Sparrows

To: <>
Subject: Re: Decline of House Sparrows
From: "Philip A. Veerman" <>
Date: Fri, 16 May 2003 21:44:16 +1000
Similar story in Canberra. Extract from the House Sparrow text from my "Canberra Birds: A Report on the first 21 years of the Garden Bird Survey". This covers the period July 1981 to June 2002.

"For the first 14 years it was the second most common species but it has since declined. ........  The abundance has declined smoothly and markedly, particularly from Years 6 to 21. This is clearly a valid result as this is a widespread species. However, it could be a long-term undulation as the population was increasing from Years 1 to 6. Breeding records were highest in the mid 1980s and have declined since."

Following other comments, yes the Collared Sparrowhawk's population has had a dramatic rise over the period that the House Sparrow has declined. I hadn't thought of any connection previously. If there is any connection, it can only be a predator impact on prey, not the other way around.

Philip

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Tarburton <>
To: <>
Date: Thursday, 15 May 2003 21:15
Subject: [BIRDING-AUS] Re: Decline of House Sparrows

Greetings all

House Sparrows are becoming more common in Port Moresby.  They have been
quite uncommon, probably because the climate works against them and there
are very few food scraps to be found in or near POM rubbish bins and rubbish
dumps.  But now a small proportion of society is becoming affluent and
probably therefore wasteful - and their throw-aways are possibly supporting
the expanding sparrow population.

Towards the end of last year House Sparrows reached the Campus of PAU (20km
from downtown POM) for the first time.  Students were feeding them until I
informed them that they did not belong in this country and I have not seen
any this year.

The Common Starling that I reported on campus last year has also not
returned this year  -so here is hoping that we are spared that pest for a
few more years.

It would be a shame to see any of this islands endemics pushed out by
imports from Europe.  It is presumed both these european species have
arrived here via Australia.

Here is to the native birds of every Pacific Island.

Cheers & happy & useful birdwatching

Mike
==========
Dr Mike Tarburton
Dean: School of Science & Technology
Pacific Adventist University
PMB Boroko
Papua New Guinea



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