Food Riot

[Maczero]

Another one from the same session as the famous hovering Chaffinch:



Everyone just stands around and watches a fight. Nothing ever seems to change!

Andrew

[Wee man]

Re: Food Riot

Great shot as you say.................fight ,fight etc.

[brian1208]

Re: Food Riot

A good capture Andrew, showing the true, thuggish character of Sparrows, ours not only beat each other up but take on just about any other bird that comes into the garden, even Starlings.

Its a bit of a bore as we can have over 20 sparrows at a time and it scares the more interesting species off

[Magus]

Re: Food Riot

A wonderful picture, Andrew.

Its a bit of a bore as we can have over 20 sparrows at a time and it scares the more interesting species off

A chance would be a fine thing. I haven't had a Sparrow or a Starling in the garden (inner suburbs of Manchester) for years. My thuggish squabblers are the Goldfinch. Whoever gave them the collective name of a "charm" hadn't met my visitors!


Gus

[Olybirder]

Re: Food Riot

Another great shot Andrew. Tree Sparrows in your garden - lucky you! They are like rocking horse poo in this part of the world.

Ron

[brian1208]

Re: Food Riot

I'll do you a swap Gus

[Magus]

Re: Food Riot

I'll do you a swap Gus

Goldfinches are also very greedy and extremely messy with their food. Pretty though.

[brian1208]

Re: Food Riot

we used to get them but the Sparrows chased them off

[Maczero]

Re: Food Riot

Its a bit of a bore as we can have over 20 sparrows at a time and it scares the more interesting species off

Brian

Too true. This winter mobs of sparrows have appeared (Tree and House) and swarm the bird feeders. We used to see Long Tailed Tits, but hardly at all this year.

Andrew

[Maczero]

Re: Food Riot

Ron

Have some of ours. There are plenty to go round.

[brian1208]

Re: Food Riot

Brian

Too true. This winter mobs of sparrows have appeared (Tree and House) and swarm the bird feeders. We used to see Long Tailed Tits, but hardly at all this year.

Andrew

At least they are providing you with some good opportunities for action BIFs

(a couple of years ago we had two males literally fight to the death in our garden. When I picked them up to dispose of them the damage done to their little bodies was amazing, each had the soft chest feathers of the other stuck in their claws and great chunks had been gouged out. Nature red in tooth and claw! )

The chestnut heads of the tree sparrows show very well in your shot by the way, nice to see

[Mrs T]

Re: Food Riot

Great shot, I'm surprised that they are so aggressive.

[Olybirder]

Re: Food Riot

Ron

Have some of ours. There are plenty to go round.

Have you really got lots of Tree Sparrows? I have about 20 House Sparrows using my feeders but I can't remember the last time I saw a Tree Sparrow anywhere. They are very attractive little birds.

Ron

[Maczero]

Re: Food Riot

I would say about 65-35 in favour of the House Sparrow this winter.

[OM USer]

Re: Food Riot

I don't think I have ever seen a tree sparrow. The house sparrows are slowly coming back to the outskirts of suburban london after hiding in the green belt area for 20 years. We get far more pigeons, doves, and magpies than we ever used to and perhaps not quite so many starlings. Blue tits are common, we still get robins, and I've seen the odd long tailed tit, thrush, blackcap, wren, and siskin.