Hi Hammon, please go QUICKLY to www.sialis.org It is normal for them to start and stop several times but you have a REAL problem. You must be willing to take active measures againts the House Sparrow if you want your Blues to be safe. Please look at some of the pictures of what HOSPs do to Blues on that website. It will make you sick. If you are not willing to rid your area of HOSPs please take down your box so your Blues are not killed. We are here to help you every step of the way in this very unpleasnt task should you decide to help the Blues.

Thanks Lisa, yes, I have learned all about the horrible house sparrows. I have been on that website and was planning on putting up a sparrow spooker as soon as the first egg was laid and I am willing to do anything to get rid of the sparrows. Just wondered if the blues could have been spooked away by them.

Hammom, I do think the HOSP can scare them off. The first two years I had Blues build complete nests and then leave without ever laying an egg. Of course I couldn't put up the sparrow spooker until the first egg was laid, so I didn't even get a chance to put it up. While I never saw the HOSP near the box before the Blues left, they claimed the boxes right afterwards, so I assume they chased off the Blues. If you are seeing the HOSP on the box at this point, you should put in a Van Ert, or other inbox trap to catch him. Wait until he finds a mate and claims the box, and he'll go right into the trap.

Kendra, thanks for the info. I have been sooo dissappointed thinking the sparrows could have spooked them off....My question is, how will I know that the sparrow is actually claiming a box?? I have checked and the nest is still the same from how the blue birds left it. If I put a trap in there and the blue bird did got back in....this won't hurt a blue bird?

hammom, when you put a inbox trap in you need to monitor it closely. The trap won't hurt the bird but if you would happen to catch something other than a HOSP you want to release it immediately. I did trap a male Blue earlier this year by accident and let him go. I have also trapped TRES and once a Downey woodpecker, they were all released unharmed. I have disposed of many HOSP with the VanErt inbox trap, they are the best thing since sliced bread! I also have a BB gun with a scope and that has taken care of plenty of HOSP too. If you would like to continue to offer nestboxes and have HOSP problems the best thing you can do is buy a VanErt. Good luck, hope you get the Blues to nest and get rid of the HOSP.

Donna

Hammom, you will know if a HOSP has claimed the box because he will go in and out of it. He will sit on top of the box and cheep away trying to attract a female. I learned from this forum to be patient. Let him think it is his for a few days. Once you see him going in and out and cheeping on top for a couple of days, set the trap at night and he won't be able to resist going in first thing in the morning. You can glue a few pieces of dry grass over the metal trap mechanism which seems to make the HOSP less suspicious of it. I have never had any other birds go into the box once the HOSP has claimed it, but I know it can happen. Use a bag you can see through like a mesh laundry bag or clear trash bag to capture the bird when you open the door to the box. That way you can be certain of the ID.