Town Sparrows

Any one from UK shed any light on the lack of sparrows?

I usually have lots of sparrows coming to my bird feeders all year, but over this past winter there have been none at all. Even now it is Spring, there are still no sparrows. I live at the edge of a small country town in Scotland and my house looks out over woods and a river. Am still getting blackbirds, blue-tits, robins, chaffinches etc, just no sparrows. Anyone else notice their absence?

Beulah

Yes I've notice d a radical decline in the Sparrow population over the past 15 years or so. During the early 90s I lived in central London;
there were thousands of them all around. In an attempt to reduce pigeon nuisance and the huge night time roosts of Starlings in central London many buildings were sprayed with chemicals to repel birds and potential nesting holes were filled in, but that doesn't explain the disappearance of Sparrows from suburban gardens, parks and open spaces. I spend a lot of time in the countryside too and now live in
Surrey and have only ever discovered one small group of Sparrows in this area.My best guess is that they have been affected by some fatal
and undiagnosed disease.

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The Song of Sparrows - Subtitle AC3 $24.99 Fired from his job on an ostrich farm after one of the birds runs away and he is blamed for the loss, a man becomes so obsessed with collecting useless rubbish that he begins to neglect his wife and daughter while becoming completely oblivious to their familial hardships. Karim earned a decent living by working on the ostrich farm, so after he is fired he sets out on a futile attempt to locate the bird. One day, as Karim heads into town in order to have his daughter's hearing aid repaired, he offers a lift to a wandering man and decides that there is good money in the taxi business. But as his connection to the people of the city grows stronger, his personality begins to transform. Every day, Karim returns home with a new haul of useless junk, giving his picturesque courtyard the appearance of a sprawling junkyard. When his wife offers a spare door from the courtyard to a neighbor in need, Karim completely looses his cool and sets out to retrieve the door. When Karim stumbles and breaks his foot while rummaging through his second-hand goods, the kindness of neighbors makes him realize that his priorities have taken a turn for the worse. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Gibb River Road

The Gibb River Road is found in the Kimberley Region in the north west of Western Australia, one of Australia's last wilderness frontiers. The road was originally built as a cattle route, stretching 660 kilometres between the town of Derby and the Kununurra and Wyndham junction. Typically the Gibb River Road is flooded during the monsoon season from November through to March, and is generally not driveable during this period with the rivers flooding and the creeks overflowing. Although some people do attempt to travel the Gibb River Road in a 2WD vehicle, a 4WD is recommended as the track is rough and there are plenty of rivers and creeks to cross.

As you drive through the Gibb River Road expect to see beautiful waterfalls and stunning gorges where you can take a dip in the water, the ranges are spectacular and the boab trees are always an interesting sight. The river crossings are exciting and by the time you have finished you will be an old hac at getting through them. You will be awe inspired by the sheer size of the stations, where it seems anything under one million acres is classified as small, watch out for the cattle though as they roam freely across the roads. When the sun sets the Kimberley Region becomes pitch black, but if you look up into the sky it comes alive with billions of stars overhead.

To tackle the Gibb River Road you do not require 4WD experience, don't forget your sense of adventure though. You do however need to be well prepared with a good sturdy vehicle and at least one spare tyre, plenty of water, food to last the distance and spare fuel. There are roadhouses and stations along the way where you can re-supply, with some offering repairs also. Always remember though you are travelling through the Outback of Australia where the roads are rough, the flies are plentiful and the dust is endless, with luxuries few and far between.

Accommodation is limited along the Gibb River Road if you are not camping / towing a caravan. Some of the stations that welcome tourists do have motel style accommodation for hire, do book ahead though to ensure they have a room for you when you arrive. If you are after luxury style accommodation then on the eastern side of the Gibb River Road, not too far from Kununurra are El Questro and Home Valley Stations. Both are working cattle stations that offer a range of accommodation options, from camping right up to luxury style, with a good range of stunning tours across their properties to fill in the days.

The Gibb River Road is a great place for you to explore the Australian Outback if you have limited time and you want the Outback experience. Fly into Broome and spend a day or two relaxing on Cable Beach before doing the drive along the Gibb River Road. Then take your time driving along the road, giving yourself a few days to really experience the stunning countryside, before heading back to Broome via the Great Northern Highway. Of course if you do not wish to drive yourself, lookout for the many specialised tours that will do the driving for you, giving you more time to stare out the window at this spectacular place. To avoid disappointment, book your tour early as they are a popular way to see the Kimberley Region.

If you would like to read additional information regarding the Gibb River Road, please follow this link: Gibb River Road

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Australian Outback Travel Guide