Across the East River in Brooklyn, the big fountain in front of Borough Hall has been shut off since last week, but a few sparrows were gamely attempting to bathe in it yesterday, flitting around in the dregs of Sunday night's rain showers.
Fewer postmortem swab samples were available from sparrows compared with those from crows because fewer sparrow carcasses were available (sparrows are less susceptible to fatal WNV infection than crows) (13 ).
There were quieter sounds, too: the squeak and chirp of suddenly deployed brakes, the rattle of loosely attached auto parts, the repeated cries of a soft-drink vendor, even a few stray sparrows twittering in West Broadway's sparse foliage.
Just a few decades later, the sparrows sing noticeably slower songs, and a new study reveals the reason.
The game is so named because of its residents; in my town I've a few vain sheep, a weightlifting sparrow, a self-doubting crocodile, a trendy fox, and that's not even the half of it.
I was excited – not just because this is always a lovely bird to see, but because after six days on the Greek island of Rhodes I was beginning to despair of ever seeing any birds at all, apart from a few collared doves and house sparrows.
There are a few records of disease extirpating house sparrow populations, especially from Scottish islands, but this seems to be rare.
There were a few Etro extras: bird decorations from sparrows to owls, perched on shoulders or hats.
A few years later, Annette Messager was outfitting dead sparrows with small wool sweaters -- pink, yellow and blue -- that she had knitted herself ("Boarders at Rest," 1972).
Soon dozens of sparrows arrived as well as a few pigeons.
