20 March: World Sparrow Day

World Sparrow day - celebrated on 20 March since 2010 to raise awareness of the fact that populations are declining. Here are 10 facts about sparrows.

1. Sparrows belong to the genus Passer. There are about 25 different species, which range in size from the chestnut sparrow (Passer eminibey), at 11.4 centimetres (4.5 in) and 13.4 grams (0.47 oz), to the parrot-billed sparrow (Passer gongonensis), at 18 centimetres (7.1 in) and 42 grams (1.5 oz). People in Britain will be most familiar with the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus).
2. The English word sparrow, and also the Latin name, passer, are both terms meaning small, active birds. Both words derive from a root word meaning speed.
3. Sparrows usually fly at a speed of 38.5 km/24 miles an hour but can reach 50km/31 miles an hour when fleeing from danger.
4. Sparrows originated in the Middle East, but spread throughout the world so that now, the only continent with no sparrows is Antarctica. They are now the most widespread birds in the world.
5. The house sparrow was among the first animals to be given a scientific name in Carl Linnaeus's classification system.
6. 90% of an adult sparrow's diet is seeds and grains, especially oats and Wheat. They will, however, eat virtually anything - insects, worms, molluscs and even lizards and Frogs. They will also scavenge in bins and hop around in restaurants looking for crumbs. They are capable of performing complex tasks to get food. Young sparrows are fed mostly on insects for the first couple of weeks of their lives.
7. Come the breeding season, male sparrows will find a nesting site where they will start to build a nest and begin calling and displaying to attract females. They mate for life, but they also have affairs - about 15% of house sparrow fledglings are not related to their mother's regular mate. This, and the fact that they are so widespread and live close to humans, they have come to represent commonness, vulgarity and lewdness. The ancient Greeks associated sparrows with Aphrodite, the goddess of love. In Japan, however, they are a symbol of loyalty.
8. There is an Egyptian hieroglyph based on the house sparrow. The symbol usually meant small, narrow, or bad. It could also mean "a prolific man" or "the revolution of a year".
9. Up until the 19th century, sparrows were considered food - for people as well as for the family Cat. People would trap them in earthenware "sparrow pots" and cook them in a Pie. Sparrow pie, due to the sparrow's mating habits, was considered an aphrodisiac.
10. In the wild, a sparrow usually lives for around 4-5 years. In captivity, they can live longer. The oldest sparrow ever recorded reached the grand old age of 15 years and 9 months.

New!

Closing the Circle

A stable wormhole has been established between Earth and Infinitus. Power Blaster and his friends can finally go home.

Desi Troyes is still at large on Earth - Power Blaster has vowed to bring him to justice. His wedding to Shanna is under threat as the Desperadoes launch an attempt to rescue their leader. 

Someone from Power Blaster's past plays an unexpected and significant role in capturing Troyes.

The return home brings its own challenges. Not everyone can return to the life they left behind, and for some, there is unfinished business to be dealt with before they can start anew.

Ben Cole in particular cannot resume his old life as a surgeon because technology no longer works around him. He plans a new life in Classica, away from technology. Shanna hears there could be a way to reverse his condition and sets out to find it, putting herself in great danger. She doesn't know she is about to uncover the secret of Power Blaster's mysterious past.

Available from:

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Completes The Raiders Trilogy. 

Other books in the series:

Book One  

   Book Two