Here are some more seasonal shots to get you into the fall mood – a Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) from a couple of days ago during a busy migration time for the species. They will pass through the eastern U.S. in good numbers in the autumn with some staying into the winter if they find an acceptable field or other open space with plenty of seeds. They are certainly declining overall in the east because we have far fewer fields than we used to as our natural areas often revert back to forest with the decline of agriculture combined with the continued rise of suburbia. Other remaining natural areas are sometimes carefully manicured or cut completely for multiple use parks, sporting fields, and supposed aesthetic appeal.
