In the great plains, mountain west, and desert southwest you can travel long
distances and not see a house sparrow. When you come to a small town or rest
area there they are! They thrive on human settlement and adapt to eating
about anything!
Earlier this year, at an outside restaurant area in Oberlin, there were a
couple of chipping sparrows walking around tables looking for scraps. This
was a first for me seeing a native sparrow panhandling!
David Dvorak Jr.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nancy
Howell
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 8:34 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [Ohio-birds] sparrow behavior
Oh yes, house (English) sparrows feeding on "grilled" insects, absolutely!
It is not only at fast food joints where the sparrows hang out, but along
freeway rest areas. Adaptability is key. What I cannot figure out is how
did house sparrows at fast food places in cities and suburbs learn this AND
how did house sparrows at rest areas along freeways, farther from food
places learn this? Independently, passed along through sparrows moving
between food places and rest areas?
Also, watch European starlings along freeway berms collect insects (and
maybe other food items) that have bounced off cars. Especially in the spring
and summer when they are collecting food for broods ... which happen to be
in nests in the overhead sign pipes along freeways.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David
Lewis
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 5:24 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [Ohio-birds] sparrow behavior
I read the other day that someone posted that they had observed House
Sparrows feeding from a suet feeder. I think the reason that they are so
plentiful is their adaptability. The behavior that I have witnessed from
them them is that of "parking lot sparrows". I first saw them doing this at
fast food parking lot, years ago. I watched two birds flying back and forth
from the front of parked car. I realized finally that they were flying into
the grills and eating insects that had been caught in the radiators. I have
since witnessed this on several occasions. Has anyone else seen them doing
this?
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______________________________________________________________________
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Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at
www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.
You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
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Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]
______________________________________________________________________
Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.
You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]
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