The sparrow spooker goes up after they have committed to the nest (once the first egg is laid). In the mean time, it may be best to put up a spare box to try to entice the HOSP into. Once he shows an interest, you can insert a VanErt trap and the Blues will be safer come spring.

Kendra,that is what I thought. I do have two other boxes up. The blues sit on all three at times, but I have only seen the HOSP sit on and go inside the one. There is a mealworm feeder near this box. The reason it is there is because the blues roost in a nearby large tree. They haven't been coming to this mealworm feeder long, it took them awhile. Should I move this feeder now or wait until nesting season? Thanks for any advice.

HOSP love white feathers. Perhaps you could put a few white craft feathers into the box that the HOSP seems interested in, then set the VanErt. Also, make sure to check it often in case one of the Blues does decide to enter that box. Since it is winter, the HOSP may be using that box as a night roost. What has worked for me is to set the VanErt trap before dark, and I've usually caught him by morning. I think I would move the mealworm feeder further away from the nest boxes so the Blues will get used to its new location by spring. My mealworm feeder is probably at least 300 feet from the nest boxes out back, and the Blues have no trouble accessing it when nesting time comes.

Thanks again Kendra. I will move the feeder away from all three boxes but it won't be as far away as yours. My yard is not that large. Hopefully they will find it soon. It took them awhile to find this one. Thanks for the info about the HOSP.

Bluebirds are smart. I think if you're using the same feeder, they will recognize it and have no trouble finding its new location.

I put up fishing line on the box the sparrows kept going to and they had started building a nest. That has kept them away, but the blues don't mind. My blue couple have been scouting out all three boxes. Every once in awhile I see straw or pine needles in their mouth. Sometimes I see two males and only one female. Hope one of the males finds a mate. Maybe i will have two sets. I moved my feeder away from the boxes. Blues have found it just fine. I love watching them. Here we go. I guess I will get nothing done this spring except watching them.

FISHING LINE TRIPWIRES!!!!!!!!!! Sparrows were bugging the heck out of my blues until I put on the fishing line (tripwires on top -- including an "X" across -- and a couple lines dangling with a fishing weight near the opening.. IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!! The sparrows don't go near the nestbox anymore -- ever --

I am amazed that the fishing line worked so well for some of you. I did it per the book (Sialis website) and the House Sparrows ignored it and went into the box anyway. I wish it worked for me as well as it has for you. Van Erts, and DRST are the only things I have had success with. That and the sparrow spooker put up after the first egg is laid has kept the Blues safe so far.

I just put the fishing line pulled tight on both sides of the entrance hole and wrapped the line around two tacks on the top of the box and the bottom. The line runs beside the entrance hole on each side, but not over it. Sparrows have not been back so far. Blues still go in the box sometimes, but had started to build a nest in another box. Nest is partially finished but they have stopped building. They keep checking out all 3 boxes I have and my neighbors birdhouse. Who knows where they will end up nesting.