How did sparrows arrive in Argentina?
Sparrows are surely the most common birds and the one we are used to seeing, either in houses, gardens, squares and everywhere. In fact, since they were children they must have been one of the first birds we have known and that is why they are so familiar to us.
Undoubtedly, they have invaded the province of Buenos Aires and the entire national territory with their presence. These small birds of approximately 15 cm. long, brown like the most dominant, with black stripes, white cheeks and gray pile, are very used to being close to humans.
In view of this joyful invasion of sparrows, the question is: How did they get to Argentina?
The reality is that there are many versions of how sparrows arrived in Argentina, some say that they were introduced by Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, others believe that in 1850 they were brought from the United States, there are those who claim that they arrived on board on a sailboat from Liverpool, among other stories.
However, there is a story that is more accepted, and it is the one that took place in 1871 when the Swiss-German brewer Bieckert set foot on Argentine soil for the first time:
- Emilio Bieckert, owner of the brewery boat, brought a cage with several pairs of sparrows and their chicks born at sea. But due to the rigor of customs regarding the requirement of the payment of a tariff for the bird cage, he decided to give up and released the birds. He allowed them to fly back to Europe.
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This happened in Buenos Aires in 1871, the birds already released by their owner flew down the Río de la Plata and went down to the trees on the riverbank. Precisely there they stayed, flew in the Buenos Aires sky and made their nests and multiplied until they spread throughout the country.
In fact, they took their place without paying customs duty. Fortunately, these small birds, far from returning to Europe, chose Buenos Aires to live, which is why they have taken over squares, parks, green spaces and our homes.
It is interesting to note that sparrows do not walk, but rather move with cute little hops.
To conclude, we can assure you that they have spread so much that they are part of the great family of passerids, as the most common species of sparrows that we know of that is so adapted to the urban habitat, near us.