Gabriel Willow, expert leader of our popular Birding Tours of Bryant Park, suspects the sparrows are creating small shelters for warmth and protection from the wind. That theory would explain why they appear to be territorial over the holes, although Gabriel mentioned another reason they may be digging in the snow: for fun!
By the way, birding tours of the park will be offered again this year in the spring and fall. The spring tours will begin in April, and in a month or two you'll be able to find all the details at www.bryantpark.org.
Thanks for posting these. The birds are always fascinating in Bryant Park and so unafraid too...They let you get so close to them. But I had never seen them do this before. I stood and watched them for quite some time.
ReplyDeleteThe Park was so beautiful that morning.
Carol
Hi Carol,
ReplyDeleteThank you for catching the birds on camera! From what I've heard, no one in our office has seen them do this either...but then again, this is the most snow the park has had in a very long time. Their behavior is fascinating!