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Pesky sparrows

SarahKateSarahKate Posts: 37
in Plants
Sparrows peck the flowers off primroses, crocus and runner beans but do not eat them or take them away.    Circles of primrose heads on the ground surround the green leaves at the moment.    Can anyone say why they do this and has anyone found that they are attracted to attacking other plants?

Posts

  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 21,526
    Yes, sparrows do it.

    But if you don’t have pheasants, think yourself lucky. Imagine the damage that a chicken-sized sparrow could do.

    And badgers are fun neighbours to have, too.
    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 11,158
    From the RSPB website 
    "Yellow and orange flowers are attractive to Sparrows because they contain yellow pigment carotene to brighten up their plumage for the breeding season."
    It's all to do with that Spring feeling !
  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 21,526
    Maybe grate some carrots and sprinkle them around?
    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,021
    I've never had bother with anything like this then earlier this week, I noticed a starling trying to tear lumps out of some freshly planted french lavender.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 11,158
    Apparently starlings do this, and blue tits go for mint (l remember seeing something about it on Springwatch l think it was). Whether it's for the smell or some way of keeping bugs away l can't recall🙄
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 9,036
    I have a bit of the garden where the naughty sparrows hang out. I can't leave any plants there or they seem to get vandalised. Anywhere else and they don't seem to touch anything.
    Tradition is just peer pressure from dead people
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 28,804
    Well, I knew not to plant yellow crocuses but not why the birds went for them so thanks for that Anni.   Maybe VJoy should also plant the purple and white forms and some very pale, native primroses.....
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • SarahKateSarahKate Posts: 37
    They do attack primroses of other colours too!!!    Primula Wanda has also been 
    stripped.     -    I am particularly upset losing the RED flowers from early runner beans. 
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 11,158
    There is a theory that they are after the moisture, but why they go for red flowers as opposed to the white ones, l don't know. Maybe it's the same reason that birds eat all the coloured berries over winter and leave the white ones until last.
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