World Sparrow Day (a bit late)

It's a very special day today for several reasons. Of course it's Easter Day - the most significant date in the Christian calendar. Crawled out of bed at 5.30 to head out for 'sunrise' service at local farm. The sun did not visibly rise (though it is shining beautifully now) but we were serenaded by the dawn chorus.

It's also my eldest uncle's 80th birthday today, an event which I think he'd prefer to forget. He has grudgingly agreed to go out to lunch tomorrow with various members of the family so hope he isn't too much of a wet blanket!!

And finally, according to Twitter, it is World Sparrow Day. No I didn't know there was one either. Further research tells me it was actually on March 20th. Sparrows, along with many other familiar birds, are in decline. The featured bird is a Tree Sparrow, a red status bird meaning its population and breeding range has declined by more than 50% in the last 25 years. Locally, of course, populations can be quite strong. Certainly in my parents' garden in East Yorkshire they are thriving.