sparrows

["Terry Bishop" <>]

Around Orange there has been a definite decrease in sparrows. There has been 
no shortage of insects and bugs during Spring and Summer.  I usually have a 
few white-plumed honeyeaters nesting in the Strawberry tree out the front 
but the population has been zero this year. There has also been a large 
decrease in sightings of red wattlebirds and striped honeyeaters even though 
there are are large number of flowering bottlebrushes, wattles ect. There 
has been a large increase in blackbirds & starlings. Many flocks of pink 
cockatoos (talk about noise)!!!) have been in the area since the drought. 
There has also been an increase of silver gulls on a few of the large 
orchard/vineyard/farm dams.
I personally think the drought has been the main offender in 
disturbing/redistributing bird populations.