Mon 2 Apr 2007
House sparrows have now murdered 2 bluebirds (one last year and a male over the weekend) and a tree swallow last year. Any suggestions on control of this. I remove sparrow nests daily from all my boxes and over the weekend bought a sparrow trap. However, a female bluebird got caught in the trap- so not so sure that the trap will work. I am converting the boxes to slot openings since it seems as if the bluebirds will use the slot boxes and the sparrows do not. (Plus I heard the the slot boxes do allow the bluebirds to escape if a sparrow tries to attack them). Any other suggestions?
April 2nd, 2007 at 12:14 pm
I have heard that when trying to evict house sparrows from a house that is for bluebirds, martins, or swallows that you should not remove the nesting materials. By removing the nest the sparrows will become aggresive to the next birds that try to nest in that box because the sparrows assume that the other bird removed the nest.
April 2nd, 2007 at 2:48 pm
I found this website that has some good points http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/ban/hsbyse.htm
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:24 am
Another good Bluebird website: http://www.nabluebirdsociety.org/
April 3rd, 2007 at 10:38 am
thanks for the information. some good tips.
April 4th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
I allow the house sparrows to have the box until they start spending the night in it. Then I go out at night, capture and dispatch the sparrows. Because they are so aggressive and build nests so quickly, many people find that the lethal solution is the only solution. It helps to have several boxes available so the bluebirds aren't totally shut out while the sparrows are in possession.
November 1st, 2007 at 5:41 am
Nice tips
thanks
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