House Sparrows and yellow crocus flowers

[A McLee]

Admiring my newly emerged yellow crocus, flowers I remembered the days when you had to cover them with black thread to prevent House Sparrows ripping them apart to get at the nectary at the base of the bloom. It seems years ago now. Does anyone still have this problem in their gardens, or has the habit been lost, like tits opening the foil caps on milk bottles to get at the cream?
Alistair McLee