Right in my Own Backyard - Sparrows - by Brandt Carter
posted: Aug. 13, 2020
In the beloved, spiritual song "His Eye is on the Sparrow," Civilla Martin immortalized the bird that had been glorified in a Bible verse. Most every person today knows her words, written in 1905. The sparrow has become a symbol of God's concern for the most insignificant of things.
Nevertheless, these little brown birds are something of an enigma. In bygone times, they were held in higher esteem. Now most birdfeeding folks regard sparrows as pests and "eating machines." Bird watchers may have the most redeeming perspective on sparrows these days, attained through the satisfaction of spotting the many varieties.
If you can name all the sparrows in your region, you have a keen eye for observation and identification. It's a difficult task to differentiate the many kinds of sparrows. In Indiana we have more than 16 sparrow types during the year.
Let me give you a list of the common varieties that may visit in your yard or feeder along with the season when you are likely to see them.
Sparrow - Time of Year
American Tree Sparrow - Winter
Chipping Sparrow - Summer
Field Sparrow - Summer
Fox Sparrow - Winter
Grasshopper Sparrow - Summer
Henslow Sparrow - Summer
House Finch - All year round
House Sparrow - All year round
Lark Sparrow - Summer
Savannah Sparrow - Summer
Swamp Sparrow - Winter
Vesper Sparrow - Summer
White Crowned Sparrow - Winter
White Throated Sparrow - Winter
I would like to suggest that sparrows deserve our interest and respect. These small, brown birds denote gentle nature, humility, freedom, and community life. Remember these attributes the next time they empty your feeder in no time flat!
brandt@broadripplegazette.com