Where have all the sparrows gone?

[Dom]

#3921

Earlier in the season the garden was busy with sparrows, happily emptying my feeder in a matter of hours. More recently though they are almost never seen.
Is this typical after the breeding season? Is it influenced by local magpies/seagulls or the occasional sparrowhawk?
I’d be interested in any explanations or theories?

[Dan Haywood]

#4065

It’s a similar situation where I live in Lancaster Dom– only see House Sparrows using the feeder in our front yard during the breeding season– so we get one two two pairs (and sometimes their offspring) April to July.

They must then disperse to join local feeding flocks elsewhere (including farmland) until they return to their traditional nest sites in our immediate vicinity.

[Dom]

#4071

Thanks Dan. Maybe they have greater security as part of a small flock.

[Author]

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