Kitchen Garden Forum

Posted: **Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:47 am**

Has anyone else this year been inundated with sparrows? After a scarcity in 07 we in the beautiful south now have thousands of the pesky critturs. I found 4 in the greenhouse this morning (thro' the slightly open vent!) and 3 inside a plastic cloche I had used to try and protect lettuce seedlings. My bean flowers are being stripped.
Someone posted about failure of seeds? I have not done well - not one beetroot has come up, despite using two different types and planting in three location. If anyone near me is likely to have surplus beetroot I can use for bottling I'll be happy to come and buy them.
John N

Posted: **Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:24 pm**

I only remarked to someone the other day that I had not seen so many sparrows for years.

Posted: **Thu Jun 26, 2008 6:01 pm**

John

Don't complain. You are doing your bit to preserve a declining species.

Sparrows are now on the RSPB Red List

Red list criteria
Globally threatened
Historical population decline in UK during 1800–1995
Rapid (> or =50%) decline in UK breeding population over last 25 years
Rapid (> or =50%) contraction of UK breeding range over last 25 years

Posted: **Sun Jul 13, 2008 8:24 pm**

It's certainly nice to see so many of them again. I lived in Wiltshire a few years ago on a new estate, and didn't hardly see any sparrows or starlings. Where I am now though, I have lots of both. I was talking to my sister the other day who lives in a little village in Hampshire, and she hasn't seen any sparrows or starlings for ages.