Animation: Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Known as Suzume (スズメ) in Japan

Hot enough to keep sane persons indoors, I've been taking walks before sunrise lately.

Once that sun rises above the hillsides, everyone stays close to the air conditioners.

The backpack, camera and large lenses for moon photography are still in the house.

When things cool off, after sundown, I'll be taking everything back to the office.

Birds, munching on a roll the wife staked out on some rebar, gave me an idea.

With 420 MM of lens on the Pentax, I could pick off a subject easily and make a GIF.

The little sparrow had no idea I was shooting through the open kitchen door.

The woman of the house thinks these birds are endangered.

People catch them and keep them in cages as pets or sell them in stores.

But, I think she's mistaken. I run across these birds everywhere.

So, I did some research to check on their conservation status. They aren't endangered.

There is a tale in Japan about these birds, a kind old man and, a wicked woman.

Read about the Sparrow with the Cut-Tongue if, you like fairytales.

It makes me glad, my wife isn't greedy and, winds up rolling down off the mountain!

Birds of the World - Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Wildlife Photo: Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)

Some sources call this bird the Eurasian Tree Sparrow.

They can be found throughout Europe, Asia, the USSR and even Indonesia.

They are almost wiped-out in the UK but, we have plenty in Okinawa, Japan.

Let me know if the folks over in Europe need any.

If you ask real nice, I may throw a few thousand crows in to boot !

They have all kinds of neat stuff about these birds at ARKive.

When you go over there to learn more they have a gadget you should try.

Turn the volume on your computer, all the way up.

Push the LISTEN TO THIS SPECIES BUTTON

The Cornell LAB of Ornithology has a recording of the Tree Sparrows chirps hooked-up to it.

That way, you'll know if a sparrow is stuck in your engine compartment.

Or, you might have a loose fan belt.

It's nice to know these things !

Wildlife Photos: Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)

Here's a couple of shots I took today near a bridge leading to Hamahiga Island in Okinawa, Japan.

The Eurasian Tree Sparrow isn't a bird that gets a lot of attention in my collection, they're fairly common around here. I see them everrywhere but, just haven't taken many photos of them.

There was a flock of them, making a racket right nearby so, I took a few photos just because it's the only wildlife I came across today other than some boys jumping off the bridge into the ocean.

I'm in the process of breaking-in a new camera and need to learn where all the controls are so, these little critters were good practice for me.

It may be mating season for these birds, for all I know. Not sure if you want to see those photos, though.  Birds have a right to privacy, too. So, I'll just give you an introduction to them here.

The Eurasian Tree Sparrow looks similar to a House Sparrow, only they hang out at the edge of woods, farmlands and gardens.  They feed on seeds and grains. Notice the beak. It's built for munching on seeds, not bugs, fish, snakes or insects like most of the birds in my photo gallery.

For those interested in learning more about the Passer montanus, I'll turn you over to my good friends at THE WIKIPEDIA CHANNEL  They have plenty more information and even links you can go to and listen to the noises Eurasian Tree Sparrows make.

Tomorrow I'll be on the west coast of Okinawa trying to get some great shots of Dragonboat Races for you to see. So, it's time for me to get cameras, lenses, and this old body ready for another long, hard day. Hopefully, it'll be a sunny one, too!