House Sparrows

Norfolk Girl · #1 (**permalink**) 28-10-2009, 11:09 PM

Hello,

Sorry I've been neglecting everyone - got caught up on Facebook, but am now wondering if it's a waste of time!

Anyway, I have been trying to provide as many homes for ladybirds as possible in my garden. As I also love feeding and providing for the birds, a question suddenly struck me.

When reading about house sparrows, all I have found is that they eat 'insects'. Does anyone know if they (or any other birds) eat ladybirds?

I am rather hoping that the liquid given off by ladybirds is bitter enough to stop them being eaten. I know there is nothing I can do about it either way - just curious.

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 29-10-2009, 05:35 AM

I think generally they would avoid them due to the acrid chemicals they have for defence. I'm sure if a bird took one, it wouldn't go back for seconds!

david156 · #3 (**permalink**) 29-10-2009, 07:41 AM

Hi.

I was allways told as kid that they were red to act as a warning about there bad taste!

Norfolk Girl · #4 (**permalink**) 29-10-2009, 11:29 AM

Thanks for your replies - David156 & aeshna5,

I'm also hoping that is the case, as I rescued over a dozen ladybirds from my brown bin. The shrubs at the front of my garden had been cut down and put in the bin for compost collection. The poor ladybirds must have been happily living in the shrubs. Hopefully most of them have crawled out of the bin and will be grateful that I have transported them to a new home.

It's the most ladybirds I've seen this year and I prefer a happy ending if possible

david156 · #5 (**permalink**) 29-10-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norfolk Girl

Thanks for your replies - David156 & aeshna5,

I'm also hoping that is the case, as I rescued over a dozen ladybirds from my brown bin. The shrubs at the front of my garden had been cut down and put in the bin for compost collection. The poor ladybirds must have been happily living in the shrubs. Hopefully most of them have crawled out of the bin and will be grateful that I have transported them to a new home.

It's the most ladybirds I've seen this year and I prefer a happy ending if possible

The most you've seen this year!!!

Being a Norfolk Girl you should have gone up the coast earlier in the summer.
There were thousands of them swarming everywhere. Never seen so many. The only downside was that they were dying by the thousands aswell!!!

Cheers David.

Norfolk Girl · #6 (**permalink**) 29-10-2009, 03:09 PM

There were hardly any ladybirds to be seen during the summer time. So yes, that is the most I've seen locally.

I live inland, nearest town King's Lynn, where abouts are you? Not good to hear that you saw so many dying.

david156 · #7 (**permalink**) 29-10-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norfolk Girl

There were hardly any ladybirds to be seen during the summer time. So yes, that is the most I've seen locally.

I live inland, nearest town King's Lynn, where abouts are you? Not good to hear that you saw so many dying.

I'm over north east norfolk area. I saw thousands at Cley beach, salthouse and various places through to Horsey Gap area but the place I rememder the most was when I was at Cart Gap near Happisburgh. They were everywhere. You couldn't drive with the car window open cos they'd come in by the hundreds! You couldn't even walk without treading on them. It was horrible. So many dead Ladybirds!

TeresaW · #8 (**permalink**) 29-10-2009, 08:14 PM

If ever there was an influx of anything over the summer and autumn, ladybirds, including harlequins, Painted Lady butterflies, honey fungus, they all seemed to come to Norwich...

What youre probably finding and rescuing from your bins are Harlequin ladybirds. They have a variety of patterns, from black with red spots, to red with lots of spots etc. You can tell them from our own ladybirds by the brown legs usually.

Norfolk Girl · #9 (**permalink**) 29-10-2009, 10:28 PM

Hi TeresaW,

From what I could tell, the ladybirds I was rescuing were native and did have black legs. They were all smallish, red with two spots showing.

I always wonder what to do if I do find what look like Harleqin ones. Are the researchers still wanting them sent to them?

Perhaps this thread should be entitled Ladybirds

aeshna5 · #10 (**permalink**) 30-10-2009, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeresaW

If ever there was an influx of anything over the summer and autumn, ladybirds, including harlequins, Painted Lady butterflies, honey fungus, they all seemed to come to Norwich...

What youre probably finding and rescuing from your bins are Harlequin ladybirds. They have a variety of patterns, from black with red spots, to red with lots of spots etc. You can tell them from our own ladybirds by the brown legs usually.

Some of our native ladybirds also have brown legs such as 10-spots!