Free house sparrows

[Tintola]

Might I ask what type of "job" you have where you can spend all day on the Finch Forum?? Sounds like a good one!

[SamDavis]

Might I ask what type of "job" you have where you can spend all day on the Finch Forum?? Sounds like a good one!

Software Developer, own small business, so I work from home in front of a computer all day.

[Nrg800]

And are your painteds sitting? I recall you mentioned a nest some time ago.

Yep, They're nesting still, also another nest, but not sure what species owns it. My Scarlet-chested Parrots are on eggs aswell. Put up a heap of Nesting Baskets last weekend, so hopefully they'll start using them soon!

[BENSONSAN]

Thx Sam they look great! Will speak to you soon

[E Orix]

Unless I am greatly mistaken
House Sparrow hens are different to male birds
Tree Sparrows are slightly smaller and sexes are alike
Also the black front on the male house sparrow varies,the more dominant bird the bigger area of Black.
We have an excess of sparrows here,while they are nice they pests as well.
I guess I would miss them if they disappeared.

[desertbirds]

Just a thought but is it responsible to be freighting these Sparrows around the country.? Not trying to be a kill joy but might be frowned apon by some.Might also land the persons involved in bit of hot water.No offence to those involved but i just think there is better birds to be had and focused on.Sparrows can survive in the wild (obviously) and can be a real pest.Personally i would not like to be responsible for bringing these birds into a new area.

[mattymeischke]

No offence taken; indeed, thank you for this excellent question.
We do keep gold and occasionally gold finches, but where they have established as ferals (like here) they are not a significant pest like sparrows.
Shall think about this prior to transporting them anwhere beyond the front gate....

[desertbirds]

Cheers Matty, i could just see the look on the National Parks guys face when he turns up to do an inspection and theres me with a cage containing Sparrows. Not a good look. Fortunately in the Territory i have to aply for permits to keep anything Australian and foreigns that arent on the list here.
Interesting to note that we dont have sparrows here but they are in Tennant Creek which is a small isloated town 500 ks north.

[E Orix]

You are correct,I am sure those in Western Australia would love to find a shipment of Sparrows arriving at the airport.
If they are in your area then simply catch them locally as they are easy to catch with the correct sort of trap.

[Tiaris]

Excellent point re encouraging the aviculture of a feral pest. Most people accept that many of our exotic species (& some natives) absolutely require aviary space to be afforded to them for their continued future survival in Australian aviculture. I'd hate to think that some exotic munia in desperate need of breeding up declined by the same proportion as increasing aviary stocks of house sparrows. Lets think about what we are doing & have a clear concience that our aviculture is responsible.