The world outside my window is getting noisy again, and that can only mean one thing. Spring is around the corner. These little guys are chirping away every morning, flitting happily between their home under the eaves, and the magnolia tree in the garden. It’s a welcome sight, and I love waking up to their sweet happy voices as they go about their business.
The house sparrow mates for life and never goes far from home, choosing to return to the same nesting place year after year. This means that I get to enjoy them at close hand, as I have a nest right outside my bedroom window. Apparently, they use a set of postures and behaviours to communicate with each other. I wonder what this chap is trying to say! Come on girls I’m waiting!
I caught this one nest-building last year and thought that she had the look of a certain favourite detective of mine.
Breeding starts in may, although I’m sure my sparrows start earlier. They will have 3 lots of chicks, laying 3 to 5 eggs each time.
In years gone by ‘Sparrow Pie’ was a delicacy known for its aphrodisiac properties but I can’t imagine this chap on my dinner table, even with the prospect of an added promise! I think I would much prefer to just enjoy him in his natural state.
Spring is coming…
Love Alison x
Through rose tinted glasses. 
Birds are beautiful – and you remind me of that with this glorious post!
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Thankyou Christy, i always love this time of year when they start getting active.
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House sparrows have naturalized here in the States, mostly in urban areas. I call them MacDonald’s birds because every franchise has its flock, lol! They are noisy, yet intrepid, threading their way between feet at outdoor tables, gleaning food.
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Sounds like they aren’t quite as amusing as mine. Guess they give a different impression when in large groups.
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Sweet shots!
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Thankyou.
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Wonderful story of the house sparrows announcing Spring to you. Your photos of them have so much personality.
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I love the birds in the spring time 🙂
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AS I told one hopeful fellow, here in New England (Massachusetts) we probably have one or two rip-snorting blizzards of some variety still to go! But one has to be hopeful! I am bowled over by this fine and intimate photography–getting even the fluff in a sparrow’s beak perfectly focused! Takes great skill–even with a nest next to the window! WHAT A FASCINATING BLOG THIS IS!
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Thankyou so much. I do enjoy watching them. Hope you manage to stay warm.
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Oh sure–got the car’s heater fixed and my wife says I’m a natural furnace! 🙂 Thank you for honoring me…with a visit to my humble blog effort–come back again, please!
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Because of the chickens, our garden is full of sparrows. They swoop down on the chicken feed en mass so the chickens can’t target a peck. The chickens are so funny trying to chase them off. Bet the sparrows laugh as these big dumpy guys can’t fly! We have one Sparrow Espagnol male who sits on our balconette and makes a real din. I don’t think he has a girl yet, so he is getting quite fraught. Fingers crossed for this year.
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Ah did you get them already. Mine are snowed in today and the day is calling for a snowy walk.
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Wonderful photos and it’s always nice to hear the birds singing, the beauty of nature.
~Lauren
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Nothing nicer.
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No neighbours ones but they are near our house. Ours arriving in a month.
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Ah that will be fun. Nutritious too when they start to lay.
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Can’t wait. But with all this snow the coop is still work in progress.
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Ah hope it gets done soon. Loads of snow here too, drifts in the garden which are boot deep. Nice to be tucked up in front of a roaring stove.
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Great post and a wonderful blog.
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These are gorgeous photos Alison. All of them are pretty but the first one is my fave.
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Thank you. I love waking up to them at this time of year. Spring is on its way.
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Yay! Can’t wait. I need sunshine and some warmth.
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