Sparrow invasion.

[Capt_Lightning]

In previous years, I have watched the House Martins return to nests in the eaves of my neighbours' houses. This year, the nests have been invaded by sparrows who robustly defend 'their' nests from the displaced martins.

Is this a common behaviour for sparrows - I mean taking over vacant nests?

[aeshna5]

I have observed this a couple of times.

[Picidae]

slightly aside from your observation, given the desperate decline of House Sparrows over the last 30 years, they seem to have done very well this year, not sure if anyone else has noticed this - Had some fledgings for the first time ever in the garden. Perhaps people have tired of tropical planters and decking! Either way, perhaps HS are adapting to the shortage of nesting sites by making more use of secondhand nests - many species do 'hot' nest with other species.

[forestwildlife]

Ye Sparrows have done very well in my garden too ive got 3 nests and all are on their second clutches.

[Capt_Lightning]

A number of species seem to be doing very well here in N.Aberdeenshire. Sparrows were fairly common, but seem to be more so this year. Also Curlews and Lapwings are much more in evidence round where I live, but haven't seen so many Chaffinches, coal tits etc..

Whether it's relevant or not, there is a lot of tree planting (10's of thousands, mainly native species) and restoration of hedges happening here.

[ron1863]

From having no Sparrows for years, I have been getting Sparrows and their young in the garden for the past week, probably a couple of families are there are over a dozen emptying the seed trays at an alarming rate. Good to see them back too

[James M]

Funnily enough I've just started seeing sparrows again too. They seem to come in cycles, a couple of years ago I remember seeing lots and thinking how I hadn't seen many for years and then the next year I didn't see any only to arrive back this year.