On 14 September 1998 while visiting the Gateways Hotel, Seven Mile, Port Moresby, National Capital District (NCD), I heard the familiar chirping calls of House Sparrows Passer domesticus. Several sparrows were feeding along the Jackson’s Parade fence line of the hotel while others were perched in coconut palms growing along the same fence line. A minimum of four males and two female House Sparrows were seen. While searching for House Sparrows in the crowns of the palms I noticed nests in three of the trees. A female House Sparrow entered one of the nests.
The nests were large, untidy bundles of dried grasses built among the dead leaves at the base of the palms’ crowns. Each nest was approximately 25 cm across and 20 cm deep (from top to bottom of the bundle of dried grasses) with an entrance in the side.
On 22 September 1998 a second colony of House Sparrows was discovered at the Islander Hotel, Waigani, NCD. Two nests had been built in a patch of bamboo near the hotel’s main entrance. Adult House Sparrows were sitting in the bamboo near the nests. The nests were untidy balls, constructed of dried bamboo leaves, of which there was a plentiful supply nearby and supported by several bamboo stems. Each nest was approximately 20 cm across and 20 cm deep. By 15 October 1998 there were 4 nests in the patch of bamboo
These observation are the first documented occurrence of House Sparrows nesting in PNG although previously breeding was suspected on Yule Island, Central Province, c. 100 km NW of Port Moresby, in 1988 (Gregory-Smith & Gregory-Smith 1989). House Sparrows seem to be well established in Port Moresby now (Hicks in prep) so it is unlikely these are the first nesting attempt by this species.
The origins of Port Moresby’s House Sparrow colonists is not known. The first three records of House Sparrow in PNG all occurred near the port of Port Moresby (Ashford 1978, Hicks 1986, R. Gregory-Smith in Hicks 1988) prompting speculation that they had a ship assisted passage. However, this species has been spreading north along the east coast of Australia and by 1990 had reached the southern Torres Straits Islands (Coates 1990) so its occurrence in Port Moresby is not surprising.
Ashford, R.W. 1978. First record of House Sparrow for PNG. Emu 78:36.
Coates, B.J. 1990. Birds of Papua New Guinea, Volume 2. Dove.
Gregory-Smith, R. & J. Gregory-Smith. 1989. House Sparrow Passer domesticus on Yule Island, Central Province. Muruk 4(1):23.
Hicks, R.K. 1986. Female House Sparrow Passer domesticus on Paga Hill, Port Moresby - A second record for PNG. Muruk 1(3):20
Hicks, R.K. 1988. Recent Observations: January - March 1987. Muruk 3(1) 26-30.
Hicks, R.K. in prep. House Sparrow Passer domesticus established in Port Moresby.
The nests were large, untidy bundles of dried grasses built among the dead leaves at the base of the palms’ crowns. Each nest was approximately 25 cm across and 20 cm deep (from top to bottom of the bundle of dried grasses) with an entrance in the side.
On 22 September 1998 a second colony of House Sparrows was discovered at the Islander Hotel, Waigani, NCD. Two nests had been built in a patch of bamboo near the hotel’s main entrance. Adult House Sparrows were sitting in the bamboo near the nests. The nests were untidy balls, constructed of dried bamboo leaves, of which there was a plentiful supply nearby and supported by several bamboo stems. Each nest was approximately 20 cm across and 20 cm deep. By 15 October 1998 there were 4 nests in the patch of bamboo
These observation are the first documented occurrence of House Sparrows nesting in PNG although previously breeding was suspected on Yule Island, Central Province, c. 100 km NW of Port Moresby, in 1988 (Gregory-Smith & Gregory-Smith 1989). House Sparrows seem to be well established in Port Moresby now (Hicks in prep) so it is unlikely these are the first nesting attempt by this species.
The origins of Port Moresby’s House Sparrow colonists is not known. The first three records of House Sparrow in PNG all occurred near the port of Port Moresby (Ashford 1978, Hicks 1986, R. Gregory-Smith in Hicks 1988) prompting speculation that they had a ship assisted passage. However, this species has been spreading north along the east coast of Australia and by 1990 had reached the southern Torres Straits Islands (Coates 1990) so its occurrence in Port Moresby is not surprising.
Ashford, R.W. 1978. First record of House Sparrow for PNG. Emu 78:36.
Coates, B.J. 1990. Birds of Papua New Guinea, Volume 2. Dove.
Gregory-Smith, R. & J. Gregory-Smith. 1989. House Sparrow Passer domesticus on Yule Island, Central Province. Muruk 4(1):23.
Hicks, R.K. 1986. Female House Sparrow Passer domesticus on Paga Hill, Port Moresby - A second record for PNG. Muruk 1(3):20
Hicks, R.K. 1988. Recent Observations: January - March 1987. Muruk 3(1) 26-30.
Hicks, R.K. in prep. House Sparrow Passer domesticus established in Port Moresby.
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