Sparrows

Post date: Sep 23, 2016 9:07:10 AM

I have recently joined a research project, led by Helena W. from Lund University, on avian malaria, MHC genes and House Sparrows (Gråsparv) Passer domesticus. We are currently assessing seasonal variation in malaria parasites and imune genes expression, and so I will be sampling this species regularly, every two months and during one year, in Skåne. Collaborators will be doing the same at three other sites in Europe.

House Sparrows have declined considerably in Sweden. They appear to be stable now, but are quite restricted and fragmented geographically. They are most abundant in farms that have cattle or horses, and those are the places where I am trapping them, all within a radius of c.20 Km.

I had never ringed this species in Sweden, but already got all the samples needed for September, in fact caught a few more than expected (35 birds). Other species were also caught during these sessions, namely Linnet (Hämpling) Carduelis cannabina (which was also a first for me in Sweden), Tree Sparrows (Pilfink) P. montanus, Goldfinches (Steglits) C. carduelis, as well as a few Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Robins. All these birds were added to the Ringing Totals.

Male House Sparrow, a beauty isn't it?

The female...

A young Linnet

The next few sessions will be spent collecting additional samples for the avian malaria study around Krankesjön, especially of the less common resident species, for which our sample sizes are still low (e.g. Bearded Tits). I hope, however, to catch some rare migrants as well (e.g. Red-brested Flycatcher) and a few sibes (e.g. Yellow-browed Warbler)!

More news soon!

JMN