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Mears Bush
Wildlife at Mears Bush
Sparrow
Starling
Sparrows are everywhere
Scientific name: Passeridae
Common name: Sparrow
Maori name: Tiu
Sparrows live close to humans and they make their nest in small trees or bushes. They use feathers, grass, barks, roots, pieces of paper and wool. The best food for sparrows would be small grains and seeds, sometimes even oats. Sparrows are social creatures and they usually nest in colonies. Sparrows are curious creatures and are very playful.
Starling in flight
Scientific name: Sturnus vulgaris
Common name: Starling
Maori name: Taringi
Starlings are common in New Zealand. If you are a fruit farmer they can be a pest but in pastoral areas it is useful. In these areas it eats grass grub and other pests.
These birds will nest in hollow trees, dead tree ferns and can even be found under the eaves of your house. Starlings will nest in September and October.
Camouflaged
Some basic facts
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Basically sparrows make their nest in trees.
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Sparrows eat many things.
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Sparrows are playful animals.
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Most sparrows live up to 9 years.
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Baby sparrows are born blind.
Starling black blue colour
Interestingly Starlings will return to the same area to nest, year after year. They may not use the same nest but they go to the same place.
Their feathers can have a black blue look to them. In winter the beak is black and in summer it goes yellow.
The excrement from Starlings is acidic and will eat into paint.
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