Sparrow shooting

[only1harry]

Got these 4 English Sparrows from about 17 to 20yds with the 850 .22 and 1 with the 36 .177.  The 20yd one was with the 36.

I am not sure but it looks like it might be a family of 2 bigger male & female, and 2 smaller ones which maybe their chicks.  They are definitely all English sparrows.  I checked them well through the scope and confirmed their marks after the shots.  All 4 were hanging around together.  I wasn't sure at first about the little ones, because I have Song Sparrows too which have grey streaks on their chest, but after I shot the big female, the 2 young ones were hanging around the corpse and then the male (more colorful w/black spot/blotch in the upper chest) flew in, and he was hanging out next to the little ones and even flew over the dead female one.  After I shot the male, the smaller ones were still hanging out just 2ft away, so I shot them too once I confirmed they did not have lines on their chest (which other Sparrow species do).

With the absense of G-hogs, and squirrel season a couple of days away, I was not left with too many choices, and had to stay sharp with my shooting, so what better targets than 4 English Sparrows? 

[dk1677]

Nice shooting on those pests Harry!

[The Knot]

thats a family for sure nice work harry

[only1harry]

Thanks guys.  I wiped out a whole family!  Isn't that genocide?  hehehe 

[PhantomF4E]

My cats are licking their chops. I don't know why but they love English food. Won't touch a grackle or a Starling, maybe they are racist cats or something.

[Mebits]

Good shooting. 20 yrd is a long shot on a small moving bird. I get several every week at that range. I've got parents and their broods coming in too. Last year, I thought I took the population down enough, but I've got a flock of a few dozen birds in the neighborhood.

I get a little twitch when I see all of them. I'm taking a couple every day and I don't know that I'm denting the population.

But I'll soldier on, like you Harry.

[oldpink]

Nice work on eliminating an entire family of intrusive species.
If you have any cats, they will positively love the treat you shot for them.

[gamo2hammerli]

Harry, your accuracy and the rifle`s also devastated them.

[only1harry]

Thanks everyone. 
Rest assured no sparrow goes wasted   The cats around here love them too.  Some eat the Starlings too, and a Grackle once in a while, but most of the "black" birds end up in a possum's or skunk's belly.

Dave: 
Yeah they go down very easy and stay down when I use the .22cal 850.  I just see a cloud of feathers ("poof", hehe).  They never move after that.  The 36 .177 has taken about 10 Starlings and Grackles total, and they never moved either after impact, but it has not taken enough to compare to the 850 .22 which has taken close about 100 or more.  I 've had maybe 1/2 dozen out of a 100 Starlings and Grackles fly a little or walk a couple of feet, and then expire with the 850.  It's a probability game. 

I prefer .22 for medium-sized birds.  As far as Sparrows, you can hit them with BB's or smaller, and they still go down easy.

[Wade.S]

Nice shooting Harry. I shot 3 of them myself yesterday, but mine were only one at a time. It sure is nice when they sit still for you after you have already shot one, or two, or three.

[only1harry]

Thanks Wade.  Actually none of them sat still for me.  They were all moving a little when I shot them.  They were on the lawn walking around.  They can be challenging when on the ground.  I prefer shooting them when they 're on a branch or when they land on top of my fence.  I have shot a few of them that way, but I 'll take them any way I can  

[1377x]

good job
nice shooting!