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The London House Sparrow Parks Project. Jacqueline Weir Supervisors: Simon Leather Linda Davies. London house sparrow decline. BBS data and London Biodiversity Partnership house sparrow survey in 2002 highlighted population fall in the Capital – in centre especially. Recent research.
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The London House Sparrow Parks Project Jacqueline Weir Supervisors: Simon Leather Linda Davies
London house sparrow decline • BBS data and London Biodiversity Partnership house sparrow survey in 2002 highlighted population fall in the Capital • – in centre especially
Recent research • PhD study, Leicester (Kate Vincent) • Nestboxes: urban-suburban-rural • Nesting success, environmental and habitat variables, chick condition and diet • High chick mortality and reduced post-fledging survival • Chick mortality linked to inadequate invertebrate availability, also NO2 from traffic • Suggests management of urban green spaces (away from roads) to promote invertebrate abundance
Ongoing RSPB research • London study • Volunteers feeding • mealworms for chicks • in gardens • Increased chick survival • Small increase in adult population – • seed food supply has recently increased this • Shown food as a limiting factor
London House Sparrow Parks Project • Trials of different management prescriptions in parks • Measuring: • invertebrate numbers and diversity • amount of seed available • bird use of plots • house sparrow productivity • Designing measures that can be easily incorporated into park management
Trials • Running over three years • Trial plots: • - long grass (uncut over winter) • - wildflower meadow (native plants sown, traditional haymeadow management) • - ‘wildlife seed mix’ (adapted wild bird cover) • Control areas: • - ‘normal’ amenity grass management
London House Sparrow Parks Project • Partnership with local authorities and other land management organisations in London • City of London Corporation • Islington Borough Council • Lee Valley Regional Park Authority • The Royal Parks Agency • Southwark Council • Sutton Council • Wandsworth Borough Council • Camden Borough Council
Funding • The project has gratefully received funding from SITA Trust, through the Landfill Communities Fund • Additional funding from ICB and Northern Trust