tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post669613686833318793..comments2023-09-23T05:14:52.410-04:00Comments on The Pine River Review: World Bird Wednesday LISpringmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09094132506583563094noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-31805110019614099952011-11-15T02:53:45.479-05:002011-11-15T02:53:45.479-05:00As it has been pointed out, the House sparrow is i...<i>As it has been pointed out, the House sparrow is in decline in it's homeland of England and Europe. I ran across that fact in my research this week too but I did not find any theories explaining the phenomenon. Interesting and a little scarey. </i><br /><br />Along with pesticides and modern farming methods, decline of nesting space is a factor. Sparrows used to nest in any nooks and crannies they could find in old buildings. New buildings don't have those any more or at least not as much, that's a big problem for sparrows. Gentrification very often goes along with a decline in sparrow population. <br />In Hamburg, where I live, you can find a lot of sparrows at the zoo (nesting in the animal houses) and in the outskirts of the city, but otherwise they are a pretty rare sight.???https://www.blogger.com/profile/00467285279627231933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-14725617209230640862011-11-12T21:28:39.599-05:002011-11-12T21:28:39.599-05:00I am so happy we had time while on our roadtrip fo...I am so happy we had time while on our roadtrip for me to spend some time catching up. as always this essay is as great as your pix. actually if hunters really WERE filling their freezers and eating I might not object so much (having for a while been in a position where geese and fish were pretty welcome supplements to trying to feed a family on a budget). back then hunting was a cheaper hobby --- and now most people I ever talk to who hunt don't even want what they shoot. It's just the thrill of the kill and i hate that. (So does my husband, who used to hunt.)<br /><br />So.... your pictures are great -- and I am more than delighted to see you use the LBJ identification. I feel so much better about my bird identification abilities now. Thanks for everything as always.Sallie (FullTime-Life)http://www.travelingrainvilles.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-41994844240776654902011-11-10T05:17:28.709-05:002011-11-10T05:17:28.709-05:00Hi Springman...just wanted to stop by and thank yo...Hi Springman...just wanted to stop by and thank you for "following". I'm happy with the response to my bird post. Would have joined sooner but I wasn't too happy with the quality of my photos. But I'm glad I did!:)<br /><br />WBW will be a wonderful learning experience for me. Looking forward to that.<br /><br />Have a great day!!Nature Rambleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01873392512787718466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-3879800481920737842011-11-09T23:05:53.748-05:002011-11-09T23:05:53.748-05:00a wonderful, thought provoking read!!
this is a g...a wonderful, thought provoking read!!<br /><br />this is a great group of people gathered here, i always enjoy joining in and reading your comments and the comments of others!!<br /><br />thanks!!Debbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16823369215793154260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-989847456334609792011-11-09T23:05:13.612-05:002011-11-09T23:05:13.612-05:00Very thoughful and though provoking post Springman...Very thoughful and though provoking post Springman! Good for you to take advantage of birding wherever it presents itself! Love the shot of the white-crowned sparrow up there tucked in-between the house sparrows. Is that suppose to be you? You are just a little more special that us common LBJ's! Me? Well, I am a Brown Creeper! You'll find me in the woods! <br /><br />I have to admit it is hard for me to remember that there are hunters out there now. Why do they get to have the woods just when the weather is getting perfect?Kathie Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10377224759599266209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-7370029690132380852011-11-09T18:57:54.570-05:002011-11-09T18:57:54.570-05:00Very informative post. I don't know if we even...Very informative post. I don't know if we even have a shooting season in Australia, I suspect not with most species being protected and special licenses required to even own any type of firearm. <br /><br />Your insight to American politics is interesting. You are also a good story teller, even making connections from my random photo post.<br /><br />Like your shots of these little birds, the definition of their feathers is delightful.Karen @ Pieces of Contentmenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00719349569606790410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-85947485210879737592011-11-09T15:26:44.650-05:002011-11-09T15:26:44.650-05:00Another wonderful post Springman. Your writing is ...Another wonderful post Springman. Your writing is always on the same par as your excellent photographs. I look forward to each WBW even if I do not have a bird each week to offer to the pot. Oh...not a good choice of words there.John @ Beans and I on the Loosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09185975793295220723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-2818726389319316122011-11-09T09:39:18.569-05:002011-11-09T09:39:18.569-05:00These are lovely captures Springman!These are lovely captures Springman!Pathttp://bailey-road.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-76067521638537350672011-11-09T07:59:12.836-05:002011-11-09T07:59:12.836-05:00Brilliant shots Springman!! I love sparrows and yo...Brilliant shots Springman!! I love sparrows and you have captured the perfectly!<br />I always enjoy your posts :)Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17541748309832254889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-4973454935243814482011-11-09T07:13:37.780-05:002011-11-09T07:13:37.780-05:006:20 AM here this WBW on the Rio Pine and I am hom...6:20 AM here this WBW on the Rio Pine and I am home and thankful to be away from the fire scene for a couple of days. A few thoughts...<br /><br />Thanks for the ID on the second bird of this post Larry. A juvenile White-crowned sparrow you say? I yield to your expertise, it is appreciated. Further, your information about the duck stamp is intriguing, curious that birders and photographers are heaped in with bird hunters and increase their political punch because of it. I did not know that.<br />I left the duck header up for a second week because it was appropriate to the post. A duck hunting buddy of mine saw it and salivated, "I could take out three of those birds with one shot!" I mean I love this guy, but what a different mind set.<br />You got it Owen, the common everyman of birds. I am thrilled to see exotic birds from around the planet and I pursue them avidly myself, but a humbling day like the one had made me seeing the beauty and divinity, if you will, of the commonest of creatures. It lifted my soul to heaven, just like the Egyptians said it would!<br />As it has been pointed out, the House sparrow is in decline in it's homeland of England and Europe. I ran across that fact in my research this week too but I did not find any theories explaining the phenomenon. Interesting and a little scarey. <br />All of these well thought out and insightful comments are humbling to me. A thousand thank yous is not enough to express my emotion.<br />Cheers, DaveSpringmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09094132506583563094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-68424431160045341262011-11-09T06:47:47.348-05:002011-11-09T06:47:47.348-05:00Hi Springman, yes I am back from Germany and am tr...Hi Springman, yes I am back from Germany and am trying to catch up with all the posts. I agree with White-crowned Sparrow - it's in first winter plumage. Marvelous header photo! Today's post is especially thought-provoking, a fact that's also reflected in the many commments. You have weaved together a lot of different subjects and given us much to chew on. I love it!!Hilke Brederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18357741278362930033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-66711842842620843602011-11-09T04:22:54.602-05:002011-11-09T04:22:54.602-05:00Hi there - house sparrows can be found outside my ...Hi there - house sparrows can be found outside my window too - brought all the way from the UK. The question with no clear answer is "if we had the chance now, would we remove them from Australia?" Make you think about what we call natural.<br /><br />I waited a long time to get the last of the gull pictures - both birds looking right - but it never came. A kid with a sandwich made them a better offer!<br /><br />Cheers - Stewart MStewart Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04622420206244603688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-17236584870816268612011-11-09T01:25:26.324-05:002011-11-09T01:25:26.324-05:00You and your commenters have made some very good p...You and your commenters have made some very good points. <br />Thanks for the subject...I'm not taking sides...this time. <br />Happy Birding!jeanlivingsimplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08820800238853344959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-13327362892923746202011-11-08T23:06:22.456-05:002011-11-08T23:06:22.456-05:00Another intriguing post Dave. I see you have the m...Another intriguing post Dave. I see you have the male House Sparrow as your first photo but the second is a juvenile White-crowned Sparrow. The last photo looks like a female House Sparrow to me.<br /><br />As for the hunters. There has been a LOT of discussion in the bird blogging world on the subject of hunters funding the wildlife preserves and wetlands. The "Duck Stamp" is actually the "Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp." The controversy comes around the fact that many conservation minded people like birders and wildlife photographers purchase duck stamps to help the environment but all the credit goes to hunters!<br /><br />For me this argument came about when Tennessee decided it was time to hunt Sandhill Cranes! Well, needless to say, this sounded like insanity to me. I wrote a <a href="http://www.thebirdersreport.com/conservation/help-stop-the-sandhill-crane-hunt" rel="nofollow">post about it</a> too.<br /><br />But we need to convey to the USFWS that we birders and non-hunter outdoor enthusiasts need a "Conservation Stamp" that we can contribute to and get credit for! Maybe that would change some political clout and some conservation decisions!<br /><br />Check out <a href="http://10000birds.com/time-to-buy-a-duck-stamp-or-not.htm" rel="nofollow">this post on 10000 Birds on this issue</a>.<br /><br />Thanks for hosting WBW and bringing up this most important subject once again.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09072345959644694466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-18378635614881746862011-11-08T22:56:56.877-05:002011-11-08T22:56:56.877-05:00Great photos. Sparrows are always fun to watch.Great photos. Sparrows are always fun to watch.mickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-38866042271060526162011-11-08T22:38:13.427-05:002011-11-08T22:38:13.427-05:00So good of you to put in a word for the commoners ...So good of you to put in a word for the commoners in the bird world, may the invisible everyman of birds not be forgotten. I toyed for a moment with the thought of taking a picture of the common black starling, or was it a grackle (?), that was poking around my back yard in the wet leaves looking for protein, but I thought it so far from worthy of your distinguished page here that I didn't dare... but perhaps I will run for the camera next time if the starling comes back...<br /><br />And very fine reflections on the strange times we live in, where gun lobbies rule politicians... very strange indeed...Owenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12622587942009516590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-35315056594128130822011-11-08T22:28:54.725-05:002011-11-08T22:28:54.725-05:00Great post today! I would love if there were a ba...Great post today! I would love if there were a ban on guns!Reenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17813380986631007962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-87147442653188366722011-11-08T19:12:36.637-05:002011-11-08T19:12:36.637-05:00Lovely shots in this post, Springman! I never go ...Lovely shots in this post, Springman! I never go out looking for LBJ's -- but I'm always glad to find them when I can't find what I was looking for!<br /><br />Back in California, we had a large flock of house sparrows that lived in the tree near our driveway. Every now and then they would make quite a ruckus out front, and they were loud enough that we heard them loudly inside. Every time it started to rain they would start making tons of noise too, and I could just picture them all fighting over the best branches to keep dry. In keeping with the theme of your post, now that we're in Massachusetts, we still have a group that I see regularly -- they hang out on our fire escape in the mornings.Pat Ulrichhttp://blog.patulrichphotography.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-81923476827519403822011-11-08T18:43:26.364-05:002011-11-08T18:43:26.364-05:00For my money, I'd be happy to see a world wide...For my money, I'd be happy to see a world wide ban on shooting of any kind, guns, mortars or rockets etc. I remember somewhere in the good book is the admonition "thou shalt not kill". Killing to survive is one thing,bit killing for sport is sheer madness.<br /><br />We have a flock of resident house sparrows that do rather well on the wheat put out for the chickens but are very wary of cameras.<br /><br />I think I'm developing a foot fetish, I just love the way little birds curl their toes around a twig. Nice captures of the sparrows, the last one seems to have a cross-bite.Arijahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03720793296992474762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-64582809246027848082011-11-08T18:00:58.309-05:002011-11-08T18:00:58.309-05:00Good read Springman. When I am up on the moors tak...Good read Springman. When I am up on the moors taking wonderful images of the endemic Red Grouse I have to remember that their habitat is preserved by the very peole who shoot them as so called sport.... they pay to keep the habitat in tip top condition... swings and roundabouts I supose.<br /><br />The Red Jungle Fowl is alive and well my friend.... I saw one in Malaysia this year...lolDavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18161477971524343938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-66263037444439965722011-11-08T16:51:22.566-05:002011-11-08T16:51:22.566-05:00Beautiful, detailed close-up's, Springman! Exc...Beautiful, detailed close-up's, Springman! Excellent!Brian Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937257563835611400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-84513555995253642882011-11-08T16:21:37.834-05:002011-11-08T16:21:37.834-05:00well I love the sparrow, your photos are superb, I...well I love the sparrow, your photos are superb, I can't imagine how much time you must spend in waiting for the perfect shot. And, how many you pass over til' you come across the best one to use here too. That could take quite some editing time. I enjoy your articles; so full of information; like a really interesting Geographic article. The reference to the stamp detail also, very creative post. Loved your comment about stocking up your bird freezer/hard-drive.Carole M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13261384312136535762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-23188031154681831532011-11-08T15:33:54.130-05:002011-11-08T15:33:54.130-05:00Wonderful shots of those little brown things I can...Wonderful shots of those little brown things I can never focus my eye on, let alone the camera!!Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15609527768798543641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-7900820062732992472011-11-08T14:12:52.730-05:002011-11-08T14:12:52.730-05:00A lovely post with a lot of passion for your wonde...A lovely post with a lot of passion for your wonderful wildlife... <br />As Keith (Holdingmoments) has aleardy said the House Sparrow is a bird in decline in the UK... and a real favourite of mine..<br />Killing any wildlife for sport just doesn't register with me...theconstantwalkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06243294919370970037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475638899054945042.post-82522236852542379442011-11-08T13:56:43.621-05:002011-11-08T13:56:43.621-05:00Interesting thoughts . . . I enjoyed your photos a...Interesting thoughts . . . I enjoyed your photos as usual and am hoping that people weigh in on which waxwings I had in my yard . . .Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07478738702507038796noreply@blogger.com