Never Seen That Before - Unlikely Sparrow Guzzlers

[Carl Starace]

   Some years ago I clearly recall witnessing a House Sparrows demise from an unlikely,[to me], predator. That day I had decided to visit  the largest public park in Madrid, Spain on what turned out to be an unusually mild late autumn day. Strolling by the main pond we watched some people throwing down bread for a flock of House Sparrows. The crumbs were tossed at waters edge and each time the birds moved in to feed, a pair of Mute Swans swam in closer to them. Aware of the swans approach, the flock seemed to sense danger and would move back. We continued walking the shoreline until we heard the same people screaming and looking back could see one of the swans with a sparrow in its bill swimming out towards the center of the pond. It was not your typical day in the park.     Carl Starace      Niwot