A Sparrow

[RockOne]

G'Day All.
Just a common sparrow. They are really common around here, but this is the only half-decent picture I have of them because they just won't sit still.....:-) :-) :-).

[dewmuw]

Niceeeee. DOF is great IMHO. Sparrows are birds on expresso aren't they! Sadly they are in rapid decline in the UK.

[RockOne]

Yeah. They're definitly lively. Was lying on my stomach on the ground...waiting. One finally came down. Got the shot. It heard the shutter and went. Waited some more, and same happened, but they were OOF or motion-blurred etc. One out of about 30ish isn't much of a success rate :-).
Blue wrens are even more difficult !!

Why are they declining in the UK ?. Ours are actually UK imports (from long ago) but seemed to have thrived here.

[Scottes]

That's a very nice shot. 1 out of 30 isn't a bad rate really. I've certainly had worse days.

[dewmuw]

Yeah. They're definitly lively. Was lying on my stomach on the ground...waiting. One finally came down. Got the shot. It heard the shutter and went. Waited some more, and same happened, but they were OOF or motion-blurred etc. One out of about 30ish isn't much of a success rate :-).
Blue wrens are even more difficult !!

Why are they declining in the UK ?. Ours are actually UK imports (from long ago) but seemed to have thrived here.

Why would anyone import sparrows? :confused:

There are two types of sparrow, house and hedge. They are declining largely due to loss of nesting sites. The used to nest in holes in house roofs and the like, but we are much tidier and house proud nowadays. There is a big campaign for people to put up nest boxes for them, but they will only nest colonially and so you need to have a three room nest box at least.

When I was a kid my parents roof house a whole flock - their chirping really reminds me of summer.

[mguna]

good shot...the DOF is great.

One question, why is the part below the neck slightly out of focus. was it done on purpose?

Rgds
GunaM

[RockOne]

Thanks Scottes. I Think I'll have a worse day when I go looking for somw wrens again. They are half the size and twice the speed of the sparrows :-)

Why would anyone import sparrows?
I think it was done so the early colonists wouldn't get homesick. For the same reason we have starlings as well :-). Maybe they needed reminding of the summer, although since they landed on 26th January, when the temperature would have been in the 30 Celcius, I don't think they'd need to much of a reminder :-) :-).

These ones are house sparrows.Not sure what they nest in around here, but they are very common.

why is the part below the neck slightly out of focus
I there is some slight motion blur in the feathers possibly.

[boomer1959]

Thats a very good shot :D

[RockOne]

Thanks Dave

[RJSorensen]

I am quite taken with the shoot and the challenge to acquire same. I will have to give it a go as time permits. Me thinks yours will be in the lead for sometime however, lol. Nice shot, thanks for posting it.

[marie]

Sadly they are in rapid decline in the UK.


:( not in decline over here

I'll send you some on a wing and a prayer Damian

:cool:




that is a beautiful shot Steve

[RockOne]

Thanks RJSorenson. Good luck with getting your picture. Time and patience is certainly needed, becuase they're very flighty :-).

[RockOne]

Thanks Marie.

[DionM]

Nice shot.

They're a real pest over here. Back in my younger days I used to shoot them with my air rifle. Had dozens of them around the house. That was of course before the sight of someone with an air rifle in the front yard was cause for concern :)