Sparrows (still) gathering nesting materials

[daemon]

We brush our two retrievers yesterday in the back yard, and some hair escaped onto the lawn.

What we didnt pick up was within 15 minutes or so gathered up by sparrows. They also take the dog hair off the back door mat.

Surely its relatively late in the year for nest building??

[Mobile Chicane]

Running repairs? Second brood?

I throw any loose feathers from pillows / duvets / hair from hairbrushes out to the winds in the hope that 'something' can make use of these.

[rolex]

Making fur coats for winter probably.

[Team 17]

Sparrows? We don't seem to have those any more in London

[One Amp Andy]

The sparrows in our garden are still collecting. They seem to like dog hair and compacted fluff from the hoover and dryer.

[daemon]

Team 17 said:

Sparrows? We don't seem to have those any more in London

Thats really sad. There are loads of them here. Over the winter we bought a covered bird table and put a whole load of different foods for them every morning. In the mornings the hedge would be literally heaving with loads of sparrows waiting on the food to go out when i got up. They would go bananas when i would bring the food out.

[SAGgy chef]

I've got a pair of swallows thats just started building a nest, right next to one that was built last year, that's not in use.

[tenex]

SAGgy chef said:

I've got a pair of swallows thats just started building a nest, right next to one that was built last year, that's not in use.

Probably 1st year birds just going through the motions,ready for next year.Swallows seldom use previous nests (unlike martins).
Late broods of swallows are not uncommon and form an important part of the food-chain (unfortunately for them.)

[SAGgy chef]

There's a kestrel that's local, and twice this week I've seen it getting chased away by about 50 swallows. An amazing site to watch as they bombard the kestrel, until it gets onto the thermals and rises.

[66comanche]

Team 17 said:

Sparrows? We don't seem to have those any more in London

That answers one question - I keep hearing how the Sparrow population has decreased massively yet there are more than ever IME, maybe they are just fewer in London (don't blame them!) hence the regurgitated media misfact.