Mourning the London Sparrows
I am 67. In my foolish youth sparrows were regarded as a pest. Any garden had several flocks visiting, it was strange to see a lone sparrow. They chattered everywhere, were always fully occupying trees, were in constant combat with starlings (also gone) and if there was any chance of human food, a gang would be found. In my local cafe garden (Golder's Hill Park) they were there in their hundreds, taking dive bombing swoops on your buscuit crumbs.
In the evening, one could see flocks travelling from hedge to hedge "common as a cockney sparrow" was a common air.
Now, their number has gone. An eagle eye can often see one or two, if your lucky maybe 5 to ten. Perhaps somewhere there will still be the big flocks... but alas they are few and have gone the way of my salad days..
A joy they were, part of my heart and the tempo of London life. Considered an ugly bird, by the eyes of fools, considered a pest, but with such vivacity and joy of living, they would scrap for any morsel and were not afraid of the clang and cacophony of city life.
How I wish I could see them again, watch their little friendships, the drama of their loves and family crises. Their lives as short as ours and full of the same dramas and fortunes
In the evening, one could see flocks travelling from hedge to hedge "common as a cockney sparrow" was a common air.
Now, their number has gone. An eagle eye can often see one or two, if your lucky maybe 5 to ten. Perhaps somewhere there will still be the big flocks... but alas they are few and have gone the way of my salad days..
A joy they were, part of my heart and the tempo of London life. Considered an ugly bird, by the eyes of fools, considered a pest, but with such vivacity and joy of living, they would scrap for any morsel and were not afraid of the clang and cacophony of city life.
How I wish I could see them again, watch their little friendships, the drama of their loves and family crises. Their lives as short as ours and full of the same dramas and fortunes
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They have successfully bred somewhere in it and we have been enjoying their noisy banter in our garden.
More untidiness required.
I have lived rurally for going on the last 20 years and rarely spend time in any city. We do have sparrows in our garden but they are outnumbered by goldfinches. It's too easy to take any of them for granted.