Post by tanner on Apr 20, 2019 13:34:39 GMT
Well thanks so much for the quick reply! Yes, I am from the US, North Kentucky/Ohio area. Perhaps this is a British Bird forum I came to?
Well...you may find this interesting/controversial. But here is a little history. The House Sparrow was brought here maybe 100ish years ago. It is regarded as an invasive species. One of only 2 birds allowed by law to remove the nests/eggs. The House Sparrow (weaver finch actually) decimated the native birds. As an example...blue birds once flourished here. I have only seen a handful in my lifetime. The House Sparrow is quite vicious to the smaller birds. Some like wrens fight back fairly well, others end up dead.
I have never “intervened” before, but was considering removing this nest. The blue egg, I am quite certain now, is a House Finch egg (it would be such an extreme rarity to be a bluebird). A few days ago I found a similar egg on the ground. I am thinking the Finch made the nest, laid the eggs, House Sparrow cane and threw them out, laid her own eggs, finch returned and laid a final egg, Sparrow chased away finch. Hence, a nest with 6 House Sparrow eggs and one blue house finch egg.
I am wondering if the house finch egg can still hatch.
I am trying to figure out, as a very amateur birder, what I should do.
I don’t believe the House Sparrow is considered invasive/nuisance bird in England. Correct?
Tanner
Well...you may find this interesting/controversial. But here is a little history. The House Sparrow was brought here maybe 100ish years ago. It is regarded as an invasive species. One of only 2 birds allowed by law to remove the nests/eggs. The House Sparrow (weaver finch actually) decimated the native birds. As an example...blue birds once flourished here. I have only seen a handful in my lifetime. The House Sparrow is quite vicious to the smaller birds. Some like wrens fight back fairly well, others end up dead.
I have never “intervened” before, but was considering removing this nest. The blue egg, I am quite certain now, is a House Finch egg (it would be such an extreme rarity to be a bluebird). A few days ago I found a similar egg on the ground. I am thinking the Finch made the nest, laid the eggs, House Sparrow cane and threw them out, laid her own eggs, finch returned and laid a final egg, Sparrow chased away finch. Hence, a nest with 6 House Sparrow eggs and one blue house finch egg.
I am wondering if the house finch egg can still hatch.
I am trying to figure out, as a very amateur birder, what I should do.
I don’t believe the House Sparrow is considered invasive/nuisance bird in England. Correct?
Tanner