We are very lucky to have a great insight into Mr and Mrs Sparrow's life due to a camera in a nest box which feeds into a screen in the Senior Infant room. For a number of years we have been fascinated to watch the process of egg-laying, hatching, feeding and fledging that takes place each spring.
Mr Sparrow has a grey head, white cheeks and a black bib. He has black on his upper throat, breast, beak and eyes. His crown, cheeks and underparts are grey, and his upper back is brown.
Mrs Sparrow is smaller than Mr Sparrow. She is duller in colour, lacking the black head, throat patch and brown back. She is more greyish in colour and has a lighter beak than Mr Sparrow.
Mr Sparrow has a grey head, white cheeks and a black bib. He has black on his upper throat, breast, beak and eyes. His crown, cheeks and underparts are grey, and his upper back is brown.
Mrs Sparrow is smaller than Mr Sparrow. She is duller in colour, lacking the black head, throat patch and brown back. She is more greyish in colour and has a lighter beak than Mr Sparrow.
Mrs. Sparrow's Diary: Spring 2014
Sunday 9th March: Male is busy building the nest.
Tuesday 11th March: Female sparrow checks out the nest, does a little tidying up and then is happy to move in!
Thursday 13th March: Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow continue to build the nest. Mr. Sparrow does a lot of fetching of twigs and leaves. Mrs. Sparrow does most of the tidying and arranging of the nest.She really is the boss!
Tuesday 24th March: After a few quiet days Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow are busy again. Mr.Sparrow is busy fetching sticks and feathers and little bits of moss. Mr.Sparrow makes a lot of noise and whistles loudly while doing his fetching. Mrs. Sparrow is quietly busy fixing and arranging the nest.Some things never change!
Friday 28th March: Photo number 3 shows Mr. Sparrow puffing out his feathers, making himself look big and defending his property.Mr. Sparrow's colouring blends in very well with his surroundings.This is called camouflage.
Tuesday 8th April: Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow were missing for over a week but returned today.They may have been building a nest elsewhere.We hope they will choose our nest box.We will keep you all posted over the Easter break.
Mon 12th May: There has been no activity in the nest box over the Easter break and since we returned to school after the break. Unfortunately for us , it looks like our sparrows have decided to build elsewhere.
We will keep you posted if there are any developments.
Mrs. Sparrow's Diary: Spring 2015
Monday 13th April: When we returned to school after the Easter holidays Mrs.Sparrow was back in her nest box.
She was busy building her nest We will keep you all updated on developments.
We also have a thrush now nesting in our school yard shelter.
We will keep you updated on her progress too!
Sunday 9th March: Male is busy building the nest.
Tuesday 11th March: Female sparrow checks out the nest, does a little tidying up and then is happy to move in!
Thursday 13th March: Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow continue to build the nest. Mr. Sparrow does a lot of fetching of twigs and leaves. Mrs. Sparrow does most of the tidying and arranging of the nest.She really is the boss!
Tuesday 24th March: After a few quiet days Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow are busy again. Mr.Sparrow is busy fetching sticks and feathers and little bits of moss. Mr.Sparrow makes a lot of noise and whistles loudly while doing his fetching. Mrs. Sparrow is quietly busy fixing and arranging the nest.Some things never change!
Friday 28th March: Photo number 3 shows Mr. Sparrow puffing out his feathers, making himself look big and defending his property.Mr. Sparrow's colouring blends in very well with his surroundings.This is called camouflage.
Tuesday 8th April: Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow were missing for over a week but returned today.They may have been building a nest elsewhere.We hope they will choose our nest box.We will keep you all posted over the Easter break.
Mon 12th May: There has been no activity in the nest box over the Easter break and since we returned to school after the break. Unfortunately for us , it looks like our sparrows have decided to build elsewhere.
We will keep you posted if there are any developments.
Mrs. Sparrow's Diary: Spring 2015
Monday 13th April: When we returned to school after the Easter holidays Mrs.Sparrow was back in her nest box.
She was busy building her nest We will keep you all updated on developments.
We also have a thrush now nesting in our school yard shelter.
We will keep you updated on her progress too!
Mrs. Sparrow's Diary: Spring 2018
Mrs.Sparrow is back again this year but she is not sure if she wishes to setup residence in this cosy nest!
We will keep you posted regarding Mrs.Sparrow's decision.
For the first time in four years Mrs. Sparrow has laid three eggs!
Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow have been busy over the past few weeks, protecting the chicks and feeding them well.
The boys and girls were delighted to see all this on our camera.
Two of the chicks were big and strong and left the nest on Tuesday 5th of June.
Mrs. Sparrow stayed with the one small remaining chick and feed him all day Tuesday and Wednesday morning.
The third little sparrow chick flew the nest on Wednesday 6th of June.
The boys and girls were both happy and sad but were very glad to have witnesseed nature up close and personal!
We will keep you posted regarding Mrs.Sparrow's decision.
For the first time in four years Mrs. Sparrow has laid three eggs!
Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow have been busy over the past few weeks, protecting the chicks and feeding them well.
The boys and girls were delighted to see all this on our camera.
Two of the chicks were big and strong and left the nest on Tuesday 5th of June.
Mrs. Sparrow stayed with the one small remaining chick and feed him all day Tuesday and Wednesday morning.
The third little sparrow chick flew the nest on Wednesday 6th of June.
The boys and girls were both happy and sad but were very glad to have witnesseed nature up close and personal!
Mrs. Sparrow's Diary: Spring 2021
Mrs.Sparrow and her husband Mr.Sparrow have returned to our nest box again this year. Four eggs were laid and they have just hatched out. Our boys and girls were again able to view proceedings on our camera. We will let you know how they get on!
Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow are busy feeding their four chicks. The chicks are growing and changing every day.
They will soon be ready to fly the nest.The camera is situated in the Senior Infant classroom and the boys and girls in Senior Infants have now named the chicks. They are called Peppermint, Winglet, Buddy and Jimbob!
All four chicks have now left the nest. This happened over the weekend of the 15th/16th May.
Mrs. Sparrow's Diary : Spring 2022
Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow have been busy over the Easter holidays. The nest is in place now as is Mrs. Sparrow.
She has been sitting on the nest for the past few days. We will keep you posted if there are any developments.
Four chicks have now hatched out in the nest.
Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow are busy feeding the baby chicks.
Mrs. Sparrow Diary: Spring 2023
Once again Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow have been busy this Easter time. Their nest is now ready and Mrs. Sparrow is sitting on the nest. We will keep you posted if there are any developments.
Mrs. Sparrow is sitting on four eggs and three chicks have now broken out of their shells.
The young chicks are doing well and are well looked after by Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow They are feeding the chicks on a regular basis and the chicks are getting stronger everyday.
Today when we came back to school after the weekend the chicks had flown from the nest. We wish them well on their new exciting journey through life.
