Sparrows Nesting in BlueBird Box

12 years ago

We just got a bluebird nesting box this year and the instructions with it said to destroy sparrow nests found in it.

Sparrows have started to build a nest in it and we keep cleaning out the nesting material and they keep adding more. What is the best way to discourage them? Cover the hole?

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Comments (6)

bluebirdbabe
12 years ago
you will never have bluebirds as long as there are house sparrows around. Once the male house sparrow has bonded with the box, not matter how many times you pull out the nest material, he will not leave. You have to get rid of it...If the bb goes in the box just to look around, the sparrow will kill it. Trust me I have learned the hard way. The only way to have bb and keep them safe is to rid your yard of house sparrows.

This link will help you.

http://www.sialis.org/

Karen
blueheron
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks, Karen, for the excellent site. Wow! I had no idea that sparrows were so predatory! For now, we put a piece of duct tape over the hole. I noticed the sparrows hanging around and on top of it. Hopefully, they will go elsewhere. Is it actually possible to drive them from the property permanently?

I'm wondering if the nesting box is even a good place for bluebirds. It's close to our house - will that deter them? There are shrubs around it which may attract the sparrows. I have a lot to learn about bluebirds and the SIALIS site is a good place to start.
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According to my own personal research, the Gilbertson PVC would be the least appealing nestbox to House Sparrows (HOSP) I would call a wildlife number for TN to find any regulations on trapping. Most areas allow it, euthanasia is the bigger issue. Also, check out sialis.org for more on that. Yes, it is very much possible that a Rehab center would take the HOSP. I emailed my local Raptor Rehab Center, who are under 10 miles away, and they said they would love to take them, and that they infact trap for the bluebirds too! ~Tim! Here is a link that might be useful: House Sparrow Euthanasia
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I also advise not to clean out the box. It is illegal to remove eggs and nesting material btw. Are the sparrows still around? Maybe they are harassing the EABL pair and causing her to delay laying. This could also be the females first nest and she isnt playing by the rules. The weather can also delay egg laying if it is cold. Keep an eye on the situation the next few days an hopefully she continues to lay. You could pair another box to keep the HOSP distracted until she finishes laying. Once she has finished laying and starts incubating, I would put the sparrow spooker back on. Good luck and keep us posted!
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Indigo, I'd leave the partial nest for now and see what happens. I'd also keep a very close eye to make certain the house sparrow is gone--a spooker can't be installed until after the blues have an egg in the nest, so your breeding pair would be in danger at least until that point. It is unusual for house sparrows, especially the males, to leave simply because the box has been left open for a few days. You need to make sure he's not lurking somewhere . . . if he does come back, wait until he and his mate start to build a nest and trap him. That's the best way to insure the safety of your blues. Kathy
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Many of the birds you mention aren't cavity nesters, so a nest box wouldn't matter. Probably chickadees are the most likely. If you put up a box for chickadees, of course make sure it's protected from predators with a baffle on the post or pole, especially since you mention cats and racoons. The hole size is 1 1/8", small enough that house sparrows and starlings won't be able to enter. One thing I read is that chickadees might prefer a larger hole to start with, like 1 1/4", and then once they have established use of the box, you can put a 1 1/8" hole reducer on. Much depends on the habitat in your yard and in the surrounding area. Chickadees seem to like the nest box to be on the edge of a woody or shrubby area. A chickadee box might also attract house wrens, so I guess it depends on whether you want to potentially host them or not. You don't mention what state you live in, so I don't know if you have house wrens. Other suggestions for nest boxes could be wood ducks (since you live near water), or even screech owls, which could use the same box as wood ducks. Or, you could try putting up an Owl Shack in the fall. I've got two up, no luck so far with screech owls, but the woodpeckers sure like to drum on that nice resonant box! If you have many dogs and cats running around your neighborhood, then you might not get anything at all. If that is the case, then you might not want to try and attract wood ducks, because they have to jump out of the box to make their way to the water, and would be easy targets for cats.
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christy2828
12 years ago
That's the nice thing about Bluebirds, is that they are easy to watch because they do not mind people activity. Mine is just off of my back porch, with kids, a swing set and a trampoline, and I have had them nest there for three years. I just had my first run in with sparrows, and I got the Van Ert trap. Got the trap today and the male. My blues should come back, I saw them today so I'm hoping for a nest in the coming days!! Good luck, Christy
kendra2003
12 years ago
As Christy pointed out, a Van-Ert trap is the way to go. You won't be able to drive them off your property. You will need to capture them (especially the male) and eliminate him. Best of luck.
christy2828
12 years ago
It was actually much easier than I thought. I ordered the trap on Friday and got it on Monday. Set it up and got the male within 10 minutes. It was inexpensive as well. I had also hoped they would just move on, but they just don't. The male would sit in the box throughout the day and my blues just couldn't get in. I would scare him off all day, but he was winning. Good luck, hope you get your blues :) Christy
tmann05
12 years ago
I would like to invite you to join the bluebird nut cafe forum. It is much more active than this site and we have many veteran bluebirders that can give quick answers. Check us out!

http://bluebirdnutcafe.yuku.com/

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Sparrows Nesting in BlueBird Box

Comments (6)

bluebirdbabe

blueheron
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Sparrows Nesting in BlueBird Box

Comments (6)

bluebirdbabe

blueheronOriginal Author

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blueheron
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