Elk Rapids Almanac
July
Sparrows in Michigan- Among the birds in our gardens, woodlands and wetlands, the underappreciated sparrow is a bird with 10,000 years of documented existence, an adaptability to various environments and habitats, an ability to live close to humans, and important ecological value. There are over 24 known varieties of sparrows worldwide, with their populations drastically reduced over the years due to pesticide use, lack of nesting sites, light pollution, food scarcity, loss of habitat.For a list of 19 types of sparrows found in Michigan, and their sound recordings: https://birdwatchinghq.com/sparrows-in-michigan/
Today their most important role is their presence in our ecosystems, maintaining the food web and ecological balance.
Sparrows eat insects, caterpillars, beetles, aphids that can destroy plants, and they help spread the seeds and grains they eat. They do pest control by eating harmful worms, insects, beetles, aphids and help with pollination as they visit flower to flower. They are prey for larger birds, hawks, snakes, but can negatively impact native birds by taking their nesting cavities. They are indicators of ecological balance, indicating the health of an ecosystem and changes in the environment or biology of an area.
Their declining populations weaken the ecosystem, and conservation measures like creating protected habitats, reducing pollution, planting native species, and promoting sustainable development can help. https://avibirds.com/sparrows-in-michigan/
Today their most important role is their presence in our ecosystems, maintaining the food web and ecological balance.
Sparrows eat insects, caterpillars, beetles, aphids that can destroy plants, and they help spread the seeds and grains they eat. They do pest control by eating harmful worms, insects, beetles, aphids and help with pollination as they visit flower to flower. They are prey for larger birds, hawks, snakes, but can negatively impact native birds by taking their nesting cavities. They are indicators of ecological balance, indicating the health of an ecosystem and changes in the environment or biology of an area.
Their declining populations weaken the ecosystem, and conservation measures like creating protected habitats, reducing pollution, planting native species, and promoting sustainable development can help. https://avibirds.com/sparrows-in-michigan/
Song Sparrow-avidbirds.com
July 18
Our region in Michigan is home to several native sparrow species including the American Tree Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, and House Sparrow. Sparrows we are most likely to encounter locally include Song Sparrows which are common nesters; Swamp Sparrows which nest in cattail marshes (go figure!); White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows which migrate through our area; American Tree Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos which spend the winter here, often around feeders. _Kirk Waterstripe, Grand Traverse Audubon Club
July 26
Recently in my backyard in Elk Rapids I have been watching groups of chipping sparrows in the shrubs. These small attractive sparrows nest in shrubs near open fields and will often come to feeders with sunflower seeds. They congregate near our native plant gardens where they are likely feeding on seeds from native grasses and herbs, and insects during breeding season. Their song is a loud trill that can sound similar to a junco or pine warbler. However, the chipping sparrow's song is much more mechanical sounding than that of the musical junco. The pine warblers use the forest further back from our yard with tall pines, and their song sounds more slow, relaxing, and sleepy. The chipping sparrow's bright rusty crest, black eyeline, and gray belly make it stand out from other sparrows. When I am in the conifer wetlands at Grass River Natural Area, I most often hear the high whistle of the larger white-throated sparrow, and most often see them foraging on the ground for insects, and even under the boardwalks! _ James Dake, Education Director, Grass River Natural Area
Chipping Sparrow-avidbirds.com
July 28
Song Sparrows are one of our most common migratory species, and they are hardy birds, in the past arriving in early March and hanging around until mid-October. However, climate change has impacted bird migration in our area as much as it has fruit production. Today, increasing numbers of Song Sparrows are remaining in our area all year. This bird is one of the most common and recognizable of all the sparrow family, and if you are ever to have a migratory songbird in your yard, this one would be the most likely species. If Song Sparrows do decide to nest in your yard they are easily recognized by their reddish brown backs and white breasts with reddish brown streaks. They breed throughout our country up into Canada and along the West Coast up into Alaska. _Kay Charter, founder, Saving Birds
A historical sparrow event: Author and naturalist Stephen Moss describes an event that occurred during the Great Leap Forward, in 1958 in Shanghai, China. The Great Sparrow Campaign was launched to eliminate one of the “four pests”, with tree sparrows being the main target because they ate grains which were needed to feed the people. Chairman Mao proclaimed that all people should be mobilized to eliminate the sparrows, to be poisoned, trapped, killed in any way possible. People banged on pans, chased sparrows with clubs, keep them from landing, kept them flying til they dropped dead of exhaustion. One flock almost escaped by taking refuge in the Polish embassy grounds, but citizens surrounded the area and beat drums for two days and nights. Afterwards the embassy staff used shovels to clear hundreds of dead sparrows from the compound. A year after the cull took place, the annual rice harvest was disastrous, in large part because there were no birds to keep check on the swarms of locusts, which stripped the crops bare, contributing to the following great famine. It is estimated that the final campaign total included one billion sparrows killed. _Stephen Moss, Ten Birds that Changed the World, 2024
Note: World Sparrow Day began in 2010 as an initiative of the Nature Forever Society as a global effort to raise awareness about the importance of sparrows and other common birds.
Note: In some new age symbolism, sparrows represent joy, community, teamwork, protection, simplicity, hard work, self-worth. In the Middle Ages, sparrows represented peasants and the downtrodden. Shakespeare’s Hamlet notes “there is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow”. Sparrows in the Bible represent God’s love and care for his creation, as well as the importance of humility and trust in God’s provision.
Note: World Sparrow Day began in 2010 as an initiative of the Nature Forever Society as a global effort to raise awareness about the importance of sparrows and other common birds.
Note: In some new age symbolism, sparrows represent joy, community, teamwork, protection, simplicity, hard work, self-worth. In the Middle Ages, sparrows represented peasants and the downtrodden. Shakespeare’s Hamlet notes “there is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow”. Sparrows in the Bible represent God’s love and care for his creation, as well as the importance of humility and trust in God’s provision.