Common but declining resident.

Despite their apparent familiarity, House Sparrow numbers are declining, and, between 1994 and 2012 have declined by 25% in Hertfordshire. The causes of the decline are believed to be related to limited food and survival of farmland populations. Traditionally they formed large flocks in rural areas, in late summer and massed in favoured sites such as Cereal fields, where they inflicted great damage to the crops. Gladwin (1985) recorded that, “flocks of up to 1,000 are regularly seen, particularly in fields of ripening cereals and on stubble fields following the harvest.”

Regarded as pests they were, in Hertfordshire, subject in the Nineteenth and early Twentieth Century to the practice of, “Bat Folding”, where they were caught after dark in winter, with nets on long poles which were drawn along walls and hedges. There is an account of this being practised at Aston Church and Rectory (Jack Pallett’s Memories – Turner 2007).

House Sparrows used to form large communal roosts, on 26 January 1983 3,000 were estimated to be roosting in Fairlands Valley (this was the last big roost recorded in Hertfordshire). Other large flocks recorded from Stevenage are; 100 feeding on Pheasant food in Box Wood on 17 December 1972, 200 plus at Hertford Road on 20 March 1974, 100 plus behind the now demolished Dixons Warehouse in Martins Way on 3 April 1974, 300 plus on the remains of a Broad Bean Crop by Broaches Wood (now part of the Great Ashby Estate) on 30 October 1974, 150 in a mixed flock of finches at Norton Green Tip on 16 November 1977, and between 200 and 300 in the Hertford Road area in October 1978. The largest flock recorded in recent times is 51 at Aston End on 14 February 2021.

The 1973 and 1992 Breeding Atlases confirmed them as breeding in all 11 tetrads covering Stevenage, the 2012 Atlas confirmed breeding from 10.

Breeding was confirmed from Chells Manor in 2017.

The 2012 Winter Atlas confirmed their presence from all 11 of the tetrads covering Stevenage.

At Watery Grove the Common Bird Census recorded them as being present in the 1974 breeding season and, holding a single territory in 1987. 

Former resident, not recorded since 1990.

Tree Sparrows in Britain have declined by 89% since the 1970’s and, have virtually disappeared as a breeding species in south east England, the reason for this decline is not fully understood. There have been other unexplained fluctuations in the past. Their population remained stable from the end of the nineteenth century until 1930 when a slow decline began that continued until about 1955. In the 1960s many areas were re-colonised, reaching a peak in the 1970s, when the present decline began. Habitat loss, especially the loss of hedgerows, changes in farming practices and the use of insecticides have been suggested as the cause of the decline.

 Mr S. Maples obtained a male at Fairlands Farm on 25 November 1907 and claimed that it was, “by no means a common bird here”. The following year, 1908, he reported that they were, “much more abundant than usual”. Foster (1914) stated that, “specimens had been noticed at Fairlands Farm and two birds had been obtained at different times.” In Hine (1934), Foster stated that Tree Sparrows, “are by no means uncommon in the district. Definite increase in winter.”  

The records from the 1960s are: One in a Raleigh Crescent Garden between 5 and 8 August 1965 and 30 at the Old Sewage Works, Roaring Meg on 12 February 1968.

In the 1970s and 1980s the records are: 50 at Box Wood on 16 February 1970 feeding on food put out for Pheasants; 30 at Box Wood on 26 March 1974; 12 at Fairlands Valley in January and March 1974; 43 at Nine Acre Spring (near what is now Cleveland Way, Great Ashby) on 24 November 1974, 20 at Fairlands Valley on 22 March 1975; 50 at Astonbury on 12 February 1977; 30 at Astonbury on 9 April 1977; 50 at Norton Green Tip in a mixed finch flock on 16 November 1977; at least 10 birds at Astonbury Wood on 5 March 1978; Astonbury 1979; 11 ringed in Box Wood 1979; Astonbury Wood 1980.

They were confirmed as breeding in seven of Stevenage’s tetrads in the 1973 Breeding Atlas and from one in the 1992 Atlas.

At Watery Grove the Common Bird Census recorded them holding a single territory in 1973, and as being present in the 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979 and 1981 breeding seasons. 

The most recent records are of one in a Windsor Close garden in 1988, and proven breeding at Aston in 1990.