8/3/2019 GTSP Newsletter 2 2008

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The GTSPs aim is, with the help of local landowners and managers, to aid the conservation of Gowers tree sparrows.

The Gower Tree Sparrow Project in 2008

Thanks to all the landowners on Gower, who have helped us with nest box and feeder sites in 2008. Tree sparrowscontinue to breed at Newton Farm but, as we explain, coaxing them into our five-star accommodation has proved difficult.

The feeding project will continue this winter, so hopefully there will be enough birds surviving in the spring to take aninterest in the nest boxes.

Once again, thanks for your help, merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Andrew Lucas

On behalf of the Gower Tree Sparrow Project

Newton Nucleus Shuns Nest Boxes

Despite the provision of scores ofnest boxes, the tree sparrows atNewton Farm continued to prefertheir traditional hole-in-the-wall nestsites. Although again the local blueand great tits benefited from thewooden alternative! At least 3 pairsof tree sparrow bred at the farm

again this year, with full grownyoung seen in August.

It can take a while for some birdspecies to work out what nest boxesare for, and it may be that the ruinsof Newton Farm represent far betterreal estate. Hopefully 2009 will seeGowers first nest box breeding treesparrows, which will help immenselywith monitoring their breedingperformance.

A tree sparrow carrying food outside the entrance of its wall cavitynest at Newton Farm. Barrie Swinnerton

Feeder News

The feeding station continued todraw tree sparrow during the2007/08 winter. An average of fivetree sparrows was seen on eachvisit to the feeders, althoughnumbers did fluctuate from 1 to arecord of 9.

A well used feeder at Newton

However as we arent yet able totell individuals apart in the field,the actual number of individuals

could be much higher. Hopefullywell be able to make doublefigures again this winter.

During 2004, tree sparrows wereseen near Hardings Down. In2008 nearby landowners kindlyallowed the GTSP to erect a newfeeding station at their farm, andhopefully tree sparrow will still bein the area to use them.

If you want any further information, or have seen tree sparrows anywhere in

Gower, please contact us:

Andrew Lucas, C/o CCW, Llys Tawe, Kings Road, Swansea, SA1 9FGOr email a.lucas@ccw.gov.uk

Newsletter written and compiled by Richard Facey

Tracking Tree Sparrow

Where do tree sparrows go? How long dothey live? One way to find out is through birdringing. A small, uniquely numbered,lightweight ring is put on a birds leg, allowingus to identify them as individuals. Bird ringingis administered by the British Trust forOrnithology.

Bird ringing at the Newton feeding stationtook place in December 2007, with anothersession in January 2008. In total 46 birds of10 species were ringed. Fine nets, known asmist nets, were erected close to the feedersand nearby hedges, to intercept birds.Among the first birds to be caught were twotree sparrows. Unfortunately these were theonly two to be caught tree sparrows arevery good at avoiding nets.

Although tree sparrow are not thought totravel far, we may be in for a surprise. A birdringed as a nestling near Barnsley, (SouthYorks) was recently found dead nearLlandeilo in the Tywi Valley. This pioneer oftree sparrow exploration had travelled justover 260km (160miles) from its place of birth

to its final resting place in Carmarthenshire!In addition, this autumn birdwatchers inSwansea were amazed to see two treesparrows at Blackpill, well outside their usualfarmland habitat. So who knows whereGower birds may end up!

Ringing will restart again this winter and it ishoped more tree sparrow will be ringed. Anycaught will also be fitted with a uniquecombination of light-weight colour rings toallow individuals to be identified in the field.

The first tree sparrow to be ringed on Gower by the GTSP Dave Bull