The UK population of Tree sparrows declined by 93% between 1970 and 2008 and when I moved to my home on the Yorkshire Wolds over 27 years ago there was only one pair of tree sparrows nesting here.
Since then I’ve put up special terraced nest boxes and food out for these birds. Now I have over a hundred and I love to hear these noisy flocks as they chatter around the garden. When I spotted a flock perched together on a hawthorn branch, I decided to paint the scene.
Painting tree sparrows
Using acrylic paint, I started with the sky, then painted the rolling hills in the background, and, some distance away, the trees and hedgerows. Once the backdrop was ready, I began painting the sparrows onto the branch. There were 19 individual sparrows altogether. Tree sparrows have a chestnut brown cap, white collar and cheeks and a black cheek spot. Males and females look similar.
Once the sparrows were complete, I painted in the hawthorn leaves and flowers. In total it took weeks and weeks to complete, but I'm pleased with the final result.
