Hi all,

I appreciate Bob bringing up the House Sparrow. His is an astute
observation, and House Sparrows do indeed appear to be in a steady downward
spiral, both in North America and in their native range.

Few of us will lament their disappearance, but this trend is still
interesting and possibly instructive. It's important to pay attention to
trends in common species - even introduced ones - as they too tell stories.

I put some thoughts in data up on my blog about the case of the House
Sparrow, if you are so inclined to read about these reviled but interesting
birds: http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/

Jim McCormac

Jim McCormac
Columbus, Ohio
Like nature? Visit my blog: http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/
Like birds? Join the Ohio Ornithological Society: http://www.ohiobirds.org

On Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 2:09 PM, Barrett,Robert P <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Does anyone else find it odd that Kathi listed a house sparrow as bird 51
> of 2009?  I have not seen one yet, either, and I've counted around 50
> species, too.  I was in Gulf Shores AL on January 1.  Since then, I've
been
> through MS, LA, MS, AL, TN, and KY on my way back home, and saw not even a
> probable sparrow perched on a rooftop.  Not that I'm complaining, just
> puzzled.
>
> Dr. Bob Barrett
> Geography and Planning
> University of Akron

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