Sparrows'n'Peas

[wellie]

No, this isn't another of Wellie's Flobalob FlowerPot Person naming sessions!

Two of my neighbours have totally lost their pea seedlings/plants because of House Sparrows pecking at the emerging foliage, and they report now NOT to expect a viable crop because of that, and they're 'gutted'.....

Trousers and I have a longish row of purple-podded thingies (Wellie gratefully accepted a half-packet from the Gardener at The Big House a few months ago, and knows not if they're Mangetout, SugarSnaps or proper Peas, until she can talk to James again this week) and, whilst the plants are almost as tall as me (5'n'half) there's a growing interest from the Sparrow population that are landing on the climbing Borlotti Bean frame in front, in order to take a far better peck at said pea things.

As long as they leave my fresh Borlotti's alone, I care not a jot.

Why exactly do the Sparrows nip at the pea foliage, do you know?
Moisture content?
Supplimentary feeding for their young?
Pure Devilment?

I'd love to know....
X

[lynda66]

cos they are hungry ........ put some seed out for them and they won't need to eat your veg

[Flummery]

Dunno. I don't think it's just hunger. Our pigeons go for young shoots of peas and they get loads of food locally - nick it form bird tables, peck it from the fields. Is it occupational therapy? do they need toys?

They aren't going for my peas this year but they have in the past. They don't seem to fancy borlottis the same.

[hawthorns]

the sodding sparrows have had a go at my peas and swiss chard.

[smallblueplanet]

cos they are hungry ........ put some seed out for them and they won't need to eat your veg

Its absolutely nothing to do with being hungry - there's about 7 peanut feeders nearby, between us and the neighbours. They like ripping up leaves, very occassionally they'll sort of eat them. Most times they just rip them up and spit them out! They also have a go at the growing tips of our climbing beans and sometimes our salad leaves.

[lynda66]

actually, they do it in my privets at the front too i think its something to do with the young birds, cos they don't seem to do it any other time of year, and we have lots of babies again this year ......oh and sparrows don't actually seem to like peanuts

[smallblueplanet]

......oh and sparrows don't actually seem to like peanuts

Really, well perhaps you'd like to tell that to the ones round here - they're eating them from the feeders.

[lynda66]

wow, maybe it's just manchester sparrows that don't then lol ...... i gave up with peanuts, cos they just sat there, i only buy peanuts now for the squirrel ...... even the blue tits in my garden don't eat peanuts

[Alice]

Well now Wellie. That is interesting. My peas are fine as they're under nets - BUT- the sparrows have been attacking my sweet peas and ripping leaves off and eating them.
Now I know. Sparrows just like peas !

[lynda66]

ok i have the solution ...... stick peas in the feeders

[Paulottie]

Hi Wellie. Got a real mob of sparrows at home....used to feed the little beggars in the winter because I was told they were declining in numbers....not here they ain't! anyhow, I realised that they were pecking all the flowers from my Runners, had to stop growing them here and move operation to the allotment. (along with lettuce, beet peas etc. that they like!) Now they keep nipping in an pinching the chicken's food.

The flower thing is definitely worse in hot weather so I'd guess it is the moisture content they like.

[wellie]

Aha! You See? interesting...
....and (sorry, I've been away which is why I've not been on this thread for a while) the House Sparrows are STILL having a go at Ours, even though they're now taller than me.

I'll clarify that: The Peas are taller than me. Not the House Sparrows.

And as Manda so rightly says, it is absotitly nothing to do with whether you feed the birds or not. I have 4-6 nutfeeders, a birdtable and a posh seed-house wot Trizers re-painted for me recently, holding armfuls of extra-energy-sooper-dooper 'Bleed Wellie Dry, Get your Feed Here' kind of thing. And the Sparrows STILL insist on pecking at the pea foliage!

Alice, it's great to have you back, I do so enjoy comparing garden notes with you.X. and hope it's all going smoothly.

Paulottie - the sparrows are also doing that here right now, and my 86 year old neighbour says they do that out of 'devilment', as in naughtiness. Mmm.... bless their little cotton sox.... not.

Thank you all for your thoughts here.
X

[Two_Sheds]

Yes, sparrows are being real pests on my allotment too. Early on they ripped all the leaves from my chard and beetroot, then had a go at my peas until I netted them with that brilliant Debris Netting.

I have a bird bath out, and feeders, so they ain't hungry or thirsty. They ignore the lettuce, so I think there must be something extra tasty in those leaves ... maybe they taste like Hobnobs (you don't eat them cos you're hungry, do you?)

[Stacey Steve]

The birds took 3 successive lots of seedlings (flowers) from the planters on the front of the house and loads from pots in the back garden till I netted them.

My beans and peas on the plot I covered with fleece to protect them untill they were fairly hardy and the first flowers were showing. That has been successful, they don't seem to come near my stuff now, too easy pickings on other plots I suppose.

[lynda66]

i've decided to be kind to my sparrows, i've planted some peas and beans in the planter on the bird patio, (haven't got room for all the ones that germinated) and netted all my others ........so i'm gonna have very happy sparrows