I've noticed over the last few days that sparrows have been feasting on aphids on all of my milkweed species. I've never noticed this before but perhaps I wasn't paying attention. I guess I'm happy to see they're making themselves useful for once.
by kayesskayen
10 Comments
Oh that’s what they’re doing! I’ve noticed house sparrows hanging around on the plants in my garden in ways I hadn’t seen before. Nice to know they’re doing something other than harassing wrens!
That’s interesting. No toxins in the sap then. Unless they can eat monarch caterpillars too.
they’re doing the thing!!!!
I fuckin hate house sparrows(in my native range because they kill native birds)
I’ve lost so many caterpillars to sparrows 😢
I’d rather have the aphids.
I have a massive population of both milkweed and house sparrows and never once I’ve seen them eat the aphids.
So THATS why i keep seeing them in mine!
Send some sparrows over to my house, my milkweed is more aphid than plant right now. Hadn’t seen any all summer but all of a sudden overnight my milkweed is absolutely covered in aphids for some reason.
Been watching a bunch of different sparrows do this in my brown eyed Susan’s and pollinator strip all summer. They were loving the Japanese beetles and green June bugs, too.