Day 7, April 28, 2020

Photo by Ann Wentz

​The humble House Sparrow, introduced in New York in 1851 and now present in all but the far reaches of North America. House Sparrows can be found most anywhere we are--houses and buildings are their domain. For some of us, they are the first bird we hear in the morning without fail.

Because they are nearly omnipresent, they can be easy to overlook. But that also may be why they are so fascinating. According to Cornell Lab of Ornithology, there have been almost 5,000 scientific papers published about the House Sparrow. 

Ann Wentz of Chicago's Mayfair neighborhood shared this photo of a House Sparrow, which has decided to take up residence in her back yard. Says Ann, "My husband made our birdhouse last year. I named our first resident George. I think he liked our yard and had three chicks. This year our second bird moved in early spring, and I've named him Edwin. He seems more active than the other birds. I love watching him."