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I watched a clutch of house sparrows eat at my feeder for the first time today. The female would pick the seeds up and put them in the little birds mouths, they caught on very fast. There was 1 female and 4 small juveniles.

Im sure they will become pest in the future as house sparrows dont often leave the area of their birth.... but it was too cute.

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Itsjustdeb

Cute, yes, but do you have any idea how much damage they (House sparrows only) do to the Bluebirds? If you destroy their nest they go on a killing spree and destroy every nest in their area. Even if you totally leave them alone they will kill adult birdbirds as they sit on their nests in their boxes.They decimate every bluebird egg and hatchling they find. Starlings do the same with Martins. I love birds and I can find something wonderful in each and every one - but - I definitely have my favorites. Those two are not among them. None the less, I have been known to pick up a baby and return it to the nest. I even tried to save a nest of starlings that fell to the ground after someone cut down their tree. I agree, there is some good in everyone and everything..................

Maybe nature can take care of itself. Maybe nature has it's own plan....knows best for itself.

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* laughs like crow, soars like eagle with vision of hawk, haunts like loon & lulls like nuthatch ....tickle tickle, feather has most powerful medicine of all...makes you laugh *

Generally I would agree (nature has its own plan), but in this case...   house sparrows aren't native, they were imported, so it's not really natural after all, is it?

alrighty then..... guess i wont share that anymore. I dont intend on cutting a tree down to save a bird.

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Itsjustdeb

deborah579 please don't be discouraged or unhappy.  This forum is great because it shows the diversity of the birding community.  It allows us all to ask questions, make identifications, tell observations and, often, offer an opinion.  Sometimes that offer of an opinion can sound like it's coming from a soapbox.  I'm guilty of doing that myself regarding Cowbirds and non-native species as well.  But, I want to let you know that I enjoyed reading your observation of the house sparrow family.  It's not their fault that they are introduced, after all. And, observing birds, whatever their origin is cool!!  So, please, keep sharing!

Yeah I would feel the same...... enjoy your nature no matter who and how it presents itself. Nature is very giving, has  a lot of surprises and simple feels good to be around. When you find joy.... yay...let nothing dampen your joy!

I love watching all birds. I just feel they are all here and I enjoy it as any experience comes. I help too when I can and feel it is right. Last year I helped some seagulls. One had a broken back and could feel nothing 'cept its starvation. At least I could take it to a wildlife rehaber so that it could get a shot to die more quickly. I love all birds and animals and do not like to see suffering.

A funny thing happened recently ...this is all human perspective.....I was staying at a friends and they have a nice front yard. First thing I always do no matter where I am is take note of the nature around. I wanted to put food out front and I did. It attracted squirrels, crows, blue jays and other birds. While sitting down at dinner with one of my friends and one of her boys (11 years)....my friend again was telling me what she doesn't like about the crows (we had this convo before)....she was going on about how she did not like how the crows scare the other birds away, go into other birds' nests etc. and more. Well she had a pile of eaten chicken wings in front of her and I exclaimed; That poor chicken, you ate it! Oh my god the chicken wanted to live and you ate the chicken!!!! I wonder if the humans were mean to the chicken before it died. Her 11 yr. old boy quickly shot me a look at smiled at me. I was joking around it 'cause there are always different sides to the big pic. For me I would like to hear more of the perspective of nature herself....she is unto herself and her own perfection.....I'd rather here more of that than human "take" or preference.

Is this a "soapbox" I wonder, lol. I'll take it to the shower shortly since I am unshowered yet coffee first, heh!!!! Maybe I'll start singing on it.....probably won't sound like birdsong though *wink*....

*chirp eeep trill*

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* laughs like crow, soars like eagle with vision of hawk, haunts like loon & lulls like nuthatch ....tickle tickle, feather has most powerful medicine of all...makes you laugh *

Deborah579 - thanks for your post. Not knowing much about specific birds, I soak up as much info as I can from everyones post. So now I know about House sparrows and too much about Bluebirds. Neither of which I was aware of before. I think most of us are here to learn and share about our feather friends. Im fascinated with eveything that has to do with birds - even the "bad" behaviors which in the end serve some higher purpose.

Enjoy everything you have (and see) and take nothing for granted.

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Happy Birding!

I am not discouraged or unhappy. If there were something we could do aobut the house sparrow population growing.. im all for it. I do not care for them either for what they do to the blue birds. However, i do clean the bluebird boxes out when i notice its them building. Ive never had a problem with them destroying a bluebird nest, not to say they dont, ive heard from many places they do.

 I dont care what species it was, it could have been cardinals and i would have not enjoyed the sight i saw anymore. This was the first time I had ever witnessed a parent bird teaching fledglings to eat seed from the ground. Even though they are a pest.. and i agree 100%, it was very interesting to watch this part of nature take place.

I will continue to share and I usually read more responses than i make. None the less.. i enjoy everything about this site.

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Itsjustdeb