#jakelog

European Moose

Absolutely massive, this skull weights just over 2.5kg. That is just 1% of what a smaller female weighs, 1% !

This skull is also 0.33% of skulls added to the #jakelog . This is the 300th skull added and marks the completion of Book 10!

A run through of Book 10

Another entry complete!

This ones a male Chaffinch. Despite thier colourings being quite bright, they are used to blend in. Theyre one of the UKs most common Birds I rarely ever see them.

The males in particular are very distinctive. They have a sort of blueish grey head and neck with an orangey pink underside including the face and throat. But did you know they also have some hidden green? Whilst not always visible they have a mossy coloured green rump!

Descriptions of the females are usually quite rude, washed out and Sparrow like are often used. I suppose these birdwatchers think we're unremarkable. Ladies your white barring is wonderful

The First 10. There's been some change along the way

Tree Sparrow added to the Jakelog, again not the best still massively out of practice but getting there.

Unlike us House Sparrows across the UK Tree Sparrows arent associated with humans infact they rely on ever changing Farmland habitats including hedgerows and woodland edges. Its a species we've still yet to see as thier habitats are further reduced.

Looks wise we're pretty similar however they lack the grey head and instead sport a rather large black cheek spots. Interestingly theres no real visible difference between male and female of the species. Theyre a difference shade of brown often referred to as chestnut and also a little smaller

In the winter months they can be seen feeding in flocks often joined by Reed Buntings feeding on seeds and weeds and the like

They are also cavity nesters opting for a tree cavity rather than roof! They also mate for life, I assume they dont commit infanticide like House Sparrows do though if it goes oear shaped.

Giant Finch, an absolute unit.

I still cannot get over the size of this guy. It looks comical next to other other Finches and birds on the shelf (made worse by its position next to the Wrens.

With a wingspan of arond 30cm and an average weight maxing out at 70g these Hawfinch are still considered Sparrow sized however the average House Sparrow is at max 39g and has a 25cm wingspan.

Im certain that massive head holds all the weight. On average the House Sparrow skulls are just over 0.3g that means the Hawfinch skull is nearly 3 times as heavy! This one doesnt even have a beak sheath or pterygoids!

What a skull, what a bird. Incredible

The final House Sparrow brings us to the end of Book 11 of the #Jakelog (we still have 4 more skulls to add before we're up to date with current skulls)

So we know that House Sparrows can be found almost on every continent. Most of these locations are man made introductions. As for the US, they were originally introduced as pest control in 1851. This was in Brooklyn to protect the Basswood trees from the caterpillars of the Linden Moth but they soon spread far an wide.

In 1860 they were introduced into New Zealand to help with crop pests and yet just 20 years they were themselves considered a crop pest.

Does anyone else spy a trend here? Youre employing a very strong seed eater to eat insects which we largely do during breeding season. We then decimate your crops on our little summer holiday when the kids get left behind. Foolish Humans.