House Sparrow action plan

Aims
1. Raise awareness of the need for biodiversity conservation by focussing attention on the decline in the house sparrow and its importance as a cultural emblem.
2. Establish the cause(s) of decline in the population of house sparrows and, if possible, undertake measures to reverse the decline.



Until about ten years ago, the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) was one of the commonest birds in London and was one of the most numerous and regular visitors to garden bird tables. The 'Cockney sparrer' has always been a firm favourite with Londoners, reflecting its lively social behaviour and relatively tame nature. In Hudson's day, sparrows had been present by the thousand in the parks of central London. However, on 10 September 2000, a London Natural History Society 'Bird Walk' around Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens failed to find a single one.

There is much evidence that this once abundant bird has declined dramatically in recent years. It is now common knowledge that house sparrows have disappeared, or become far less common, in many places where they were formerly abundant. This applies both in the centre of London and many of the suburbs, as well as some of the surrounding towns and indeed a number of cities in other parts of the country such as Bristol and Edinburgh.

Contact
The Lead for this species is the Greater London Authority.
Paul Forecast,
RSPB,
2nd Floor,
65 Petty France,
London SW1H 9EU

Tel: 020 7808 1244
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.rspb.org.uk