House Sparrow Appeal

Much has been written about the plight of the “cheery cockney sparrow”. However, the fall in numbers of House Sparrows is by no means restricted to London. Throughout the country, we have Garden BirdWatchers bemoaning the loss of this most familiar of garden birds. We estimate that there are ten million fewer House Sparrows in the UK than there were twenty-five years ago! See Facts & Figures

Recent BTO work for DEFRA has revealed some interesting discrepancies between different parts of the country and across different habitats. We hope that by examining these regional variations we should start to reveal the reasons for the House Sparrow’s troubles. We know, for instance, that

See Regional Differences. We do not know yet know why there are these differences.

We are looking in detail at local House Sparrow populations to see if they breed more successfully in some areas or whether it is simply a problem of too many birds dying each year. In either case, we need to know why.

The key thing we need to do is raise money for new research. This is why we launched the House Sparrow Appeal. Our aims are to:

Undertake a new nationwide House Sparrow survey; Launch volunteer-led surveys in a range of key areas and Support detailed scientific research.

Can you get involved?

Gardens have become really important habitats for many of our common birds, especially House Sparrows, which means that Garden BirdWatchers are now at the forefront of BTO work. We just need more of you! click on here for more information.

You can also provide practical help. For information on how to help House Sparrows in your gardens, please read our House Sparrow Information Sheet.

Teach your children (or grandchildren)

A new book for children of between 2 and 6 has been launched to promote the “Holes for the Homeless” message. Spud Finds a Home tells the story of Spud the Sparrow’s hunt for somewhere to nest. Money raised from the sale of the book will be added to the BTO’s House Sparrow Appeal. This appeal will fund research into the reasons for the decline in the UK’s House Sparrow populations. It is believed that many House Sparrows find it hard to find places to nest in our modern houses and Spud is delighted when, after an adventurous search for a suitable home, he is provided with a new nest box.

The book is written by Graham Appleton, the author of two previous children’s books about Rusty the Swallow, with wonderful illustrations by Cambridge artist, Brendel Lang.

Spud Finds a Home cover

Copies of the book can be obtained from:

Spud, House Sparrow Appeal, British Trust for Ornithology,
The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU

Each book costs £5 (including p&p), half of which will go towards the BTO's House Sparrow Appeal. Cheques should be made payable to British Trust for Ornithology.

There are regional differences in the recent fate of House Sparrows. The latest Breeding Bird Survey figures for House Sparrows (1994-2002) are as follows. Note - this is only a short period. Most declines had happened before the start of BBS in 1994.