Eight House Sparrows

The House Sparrows come regularly to the feeding station in the garden. There are never more than eight there at any one time. This I presume to be the resident pair and their young from this year. It is interesting to note that when it comes to dominant behaviour on the feeders, it is always the females that win out. This may be a genetic modification to ensure that the birds that need most of the feed get what they need.
The House Sparrow is generally seen as a very humdrum bird and so familiar that it was often taken for granted. I well recall listening to the sound of young birds in the nest as a child, the parents each year adopting a cavity in the wall beside my bedroom.
Recently I walked through the streets of Walthamstow with not a sparrow to be seen. This tells a sorry tale of how the House Sparrow has largely disappeared from our towns and cities. The reason, almost certainly the lack of small insect life (greenfly, etc) that are needed in the feeding of young during the first few days of their life. The removal of the sort of plants that foster such insects, the spraying of plants and the concreting of front gardens has ensured that the House Sparrow cannot survive in the very environment in which they previously thrived.
It may be a drab bird at first sight, but the House Sparrow has real character and I am very pleased that this little group frequents my garden.