Month: September 2022

“FARMLAND SPARROWS decreased by about 60% between 1979 and 1995, but then stabilised at a new, lower level; this decline is attributed to changes in agricultural practices.” https://www.britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/article_files/V96/V96_N09/V96_N09_P439_446_A004.pdf View in LinkedIn

URBAN SPARROWS. “The situation with sparrows in built-up areas is much more complex, with a gradual decline until about 1990. Since then, a massive decrease has led to almost complete extinction in some urban centres, while in the suburbs and small rural towns, sparrows have decreased little, if at all.” https://lnkd.in/ezA77j7 View in LinkedIn

CENTRAL LONDON EXTINCTION. “While both urban and rural populations have undergone severe change, it is the decline in city centres which has attracted the most attention. Central London, along with the urban cores of Edinburgh and Glasgow, appears to be reporting near local extinction.” Nobody growing up in London does not recall the sheer abundance of sparrows in parks.” https://lnkd.in/eTu-5Ri View in LinkedIn

COUNTRY SPARROW POPULATIONS. “The House Sparrow index from 1970 to 1999, shows an increase up to 1979 followed by a decline of about 60%, although this had flattened out by 1995, suggesting that the farmland population has now stabilised at a new, lower level.” https://lnkd.in/ezA77j7 View in LinkedIn

RURAL REASONS. “This decline is in line with that of many other farmland species and is attributed to changes in farming practices: the switch from spring- to autumn-sown cereals; increased use of pesticides; increased use of herbicides; the switch from haymaking to cutting for silage before the grass has set seed; reduced spillage of grain and improved; storage to meet EU regulations.” https://www.britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/article_files/V96/V96_N09/V96_N09_P439_446_A004.pdf View in LinkedIn

RURAL CHANGES IMPACT. “These changes have reduced food availability, both of seeds, which sustain birds throughout the year, and of invertebrates, which are required by House Sparrows for rearing young.” https://www.britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/article_files/V96/V96_N09/V96_N09_P439_446_A004.pdf View in LinkedIn

SURVIVAL ISSUES. “Studies have suggested that a major impact has been a reduction in the survival rate, specifically of first-year birds, rather than a decrease in productivity.” https://www.britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/article_files/V96/V96_N09/V96_N09_P439_446_A004.pdf View in LinkedIn

Jurors give $289 million to a man they say got cancer from Monsanto's Roundup https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/10/health/monsanto-johnson-trial-verdict/index.html View in LinkedIn

Caribbean island bans plastic and Styrofoam https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/dominica-plastic-ban/index.html View in LinkedIn

Rook at this mess: French park trains crows to pick up litter https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/11/rook-at-this-mess-french-park-trains-crows-to-pick-up-litter?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other View in LinkedIn