House Sparrow - 2003-07

The House Sparrow is known to most people, its extrovert character and strong association with habitation making it difficult to overlook. Nests are built in crevices, mostly in buildings but sometimes well-woven nests are built in shrubbery.

Those who took part in both the 1984-88 and 2003-07 surveys will have become aware of the increased number of breeding House Sparrows. Their distribution expanded by 11% and some colonies have grown. At the same time the urban numbers have decreased while suburban birds have flourished. Although modern and renovated housing has not provided suitable nesting holes, older stock and in particular farm buildings have provided favourable conditions. Between 1994 and 2007 the BBS calculated there was a 93% increase in Wales. The estimate of 3,500 pairs breeding in Pembrokeshire in 1988 is considered to have fairly represented the situation at that time. Applying the increase noted by the BBS to the distribution found by the 2003-07 survey, results in a new estimate of 7,500 pairs breeding in the county at the end of 2007.

Graham Rees

 

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads) 

Red = breeding confirmed = 306

Orange = breeding probable = 79

Yellow = breeding possible = 27

Total tetrads in which registered = 412 (84.1%)