The House Sparrow Passer domesticus in urban areas: reviewing a possible link between post-decline distribution and human socioeconomic status

Abstract

The House Sparrow Passer domesticus is traditionally associated with human habitation. However, the species has undergone dramatic declines in many urban areas in north-western Europe. There are many theories as to why this decline has occurred, but the lack of data on House Sparrow numbers prior to their decline has hampered efforts to investigate these theories in detail. This review summarises the demographic changes in urban House Sparrow populations since the 1970s, and considers evidence that the current distribution of House Sparrows may reflect changes in urban habitats caused by socioeconomic change. Evidence is mounting that, within urban landscapes, House Sparrows appear to be more prevalent in areas with a relatively low human socioeconomic status. Here, we present evidence to suggest that House Sparrows may have disappeared predominantly from more affluent areas, and that these areas are more likely to have undergone changes to habitat structure. We also show how these changes in habitat could influence House Sparrow populations via impacts upon nesting success, foraging and predation risk.

Use of anthropogenic material affects bird nest arthropod community structure: influence of urbanisation, and consequences for ectoparasites and fledging success

“…The availability of suitable nesting sites limits breeding density (Newton 1998) and with the removal of mature and dead trees typical of suburbia, there will be fewer natural nest sites in such areas (Wiebe 2011). Buildings may provide some cavities, but modern or refurbished houses tend to have fewer potential nesting holes to compensate for this loss of nesting sites (Mason 2006;Shaw et al 2008). As a result, the provision of nest boxes in urban areas may be a particularly valuable resource, allowing cavity nesters to prosper (Chace and Walsh 2006;Wiebe 2011) and providing an opportunity to investigate factors affecting urban bird breeding biology.…”

Misapplied Ecology: Investigations Of Population Decline In The House Sparrow

“…The consensus emerging from these studies on the cause of urban sparrow declines was summarised by Shaw et al (2008), who reasoned that variation in the development and maintenance of urban landscapes explains the evidence that sparrows have declined less in areas with lower socio-economic status. Thus, 'deprived' areas are said to provide more nest sites in ill-maintained buildings, and more feeding opportunities in gardens with mainly native shrubs, while sparrows in affluent areas are deprived of nesting opportunities through home improvements and modern building techniques and of feeding opportunities by development of brown-field sites and conversion of gardens for off-road parking.…”

“…However this is difficult to reconcile with reported densities of around 2 per hectare for residential areas with gardens and between 1 and 2 per hectare for residential areas lacking gardens altogether. Meanwhile Shaw et al (2008) argue that stability of Sparrow populations in low status districts of cities can be explained by greater prevalence of native shrubs supporting higher densities of insects. All such explanations may be redundant however, since a simple explanation of variation in urban Sparrow declines Vol.…”

“…The RSPB is also implementing the recommendations of Peach et al (2008) that urban spaces be managed to increase invertebrate densities through planting of native species and restricting mowing in sites away from roads under the banner of the 'London House Sparrow Parks Project' . Elsewhere Shaw et al (2008) urge the development of mitigation measures for regeneration and the planning of new settlements to create an urban landscape "sympathetic to the needs of the house sparrow", and there is widespread implementation of conservation recommendations emerging from these studies, via their incorporation in 'Biodiversity Action Plans' devised by local authorities.…”

Population and Nesting Records of House Sparrow <i>Passer domesticus </i> in Yellampet, Nizamabad District, Telangana, India

“…The population decline of this species is also reported throughout North-Western Europe [8,9,10]. Hence, House Sparrow is now listed in a Species of European Conservation Concern (SEPC category 3; Bird life international 2006 [11,12]. Though quite a few hypotheses are put forward to enlighten the declination of the species viz., reduction in food supply, increasing developmental activities, reduced availability of nest sites, and electromagnetic radiation, but there is no strong evidence to support any of these [13,14,15,16].…”