Sparrow getter

KDX said:
Those birds that look like sparrows are likely Common Redpolls. When they showed up I thought they were sparrows until I pulled out the binoculars and saw the red on them.

redpollcommon.jpg
Click to expand...

Yep lots of these around Alberta right now. They seem to like black oil sunflower seeds
 
The Red Poll and red coloured House finch are very similar, as far as ID the beak of the Poll seems more of a straight pointy shape while the Finch's upper part is a bit curved. I've seen both in my feeders.
 
Brutus said:
The Poly group gets a lot of mileage discussions such as this on the web.
Best saved for safer places, grain elevators or small coffee shop Stettler or Swift Current.

maybe
Click to expand...

They get a lot from talk about anything going Bang! or even POP !
Gotta keep it on Bird Feeders , Not 'Getters' !
Most anything here is fodder for them ;-(
 
Just saying...there is so many less birds now than in 80's and 90's...maybe those sparrows need a helping hand.:)
It's sad how the bird population has plummeted, as well as insects.
 
Steiner said:
Just saying...there is so many less birds now than in 80's and 90's...maybe those sparrows need a helping hand.:)
It's sad how the bird population has plummeted, as well as insects.
Click to expand...

You want to help the Native Sparrow species, you will learn how to ID an English Sparrow (which is an introduced, highly competitive, invasive species) and kill as many of them as you possibly can. Keep dumping feed in to the English Sparrows, and you are actively helping the invasive species, crowd out and drive off the Native Species.

Nothing wrong with shooting English Sparrows. The shooter has to be aware of exactly what he or she is shooting at! There are lists of birds that are considered pests, vermin, etc., and any acts you take to control them, generally either reduce predation or competition against the Native Species that they prey on or crowd out.
 
trevj said:
You want to help the Native Sparrow species, you will learn how to ID an English Sparrow (which is an introduced, highly competitive, invasive species) and kill as many of them as you possibly can. Keep dumping feed in to the English Sparrows, and you are actively helping the invasive species, crowd out and drive off the Native Species.

Nothing wrong with shooting English Sparrows. The shooter has to be aware of exactly what he or she is shooting at! There are lists of birds that are considered pests, vermin, etc., and any acts you take to control them, generally either reduce predation or competition against the Native Species that they prey on or crowd out.
Click to expand...

The males are easy to identify, I struggle with differentiating the females from all my native sparrows. Starlings on the either hand are easy to identify so I shoot them every chance I get.
 
timandkimandshea said:
Wait... you put out bird feed in a bird feeder, then kill the bird that shows up?
Click to expand...

Right? I only want certain birds at my feeder and I’m going to kill the ones that I don’t like? Feed the birds or don’t feed the birds. Don’t mean to sound judgmental, but what you’re doing is kinda messed up.
 
Many people don't understand the invasive species that live amongst us.
Those house sparrows are crazy invasive and will kill and outcompete most native species. I watched one kill and throw 4 purple martins nestlings before I could get the pellet gun out to stop the carnage! They are vicious little bastards!
I happily shoot every house sparrow I see. Same with starlings.


If you just feed them all winter - pretty soon all you will have are house sparrows. I like the diversity of the natural species and I do what I can to help out the natural balance. At the feeder we now have junco's, gross beaks, blue jays, woodpecker's, chikadee's and some little red chested bird that I have not been able to identify just yet. Before it was just sparrows.
 
jef612 said:
Many people don't understand the invasive species that live amongst us.
Those house sparrows are crazy invasive and will kill and outcompete most native species. I watched one kill and throw 4 purple martins nestlings before I could get the pellet gun out to stop the carnage! They are vicious little bastards!
I happily shoot every house sparrow I see. Same with starlings.


If you just feed them all winter - pretty soon all you will have are house sparrows. I like the diversity of the natural species and I do what I can to help out the natural balance. At the feeder we now have junco's, gross beaks, blue jays, woodpecker's, chikadee's and some little red chested bird that I have not been able to identify just yet. Before it was just sparrows.
Click to expand...

Purple Finch ?
 
Cocked&Locked said:
It's hard to imagine how some Brit immigrant thought those things were so wonderful that he brought some from England to release here... and quickly became a plague.
I read that is how they were introduced.
Click to expand...

I read somewhere that some Shakespeare fan released them in North America because he wanted all of the birds mentioned in his plays where he moved too. Then the population took off.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom