Sparrow shortage not down to magpies

19 June 2000



Sparrow shortage not down to magpies

MAGPIES and sparrowhawks are not to blame for the decline of sparrows, according to leading researchers.

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds research biologist Dr Jeremy Wilson and PhD student Dave Hole have been investigating sparrow decline.

They discovered the farms sparrow population is plunging – from 45 breeding pairs in the 60s to 15 pairs now.

However, the researchers found no evidence that magpies or sparrowhawks were having an effect.

This is despite persistent claims that these birds, which have undergone population explosions in recent years, are responsible.

Dr Wilson and Mr Hole noted that the sparrows were laying their eggs later than before, which would reduce the number of broods they could have.

The researchers are unsure why this is happening.

• Magpies not guilty for death of dawn chorus, FWi, 21 October, 1998
• The Independent 19/06/2000 page 5