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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It is the most amazing thing if you get box you can open and see the babies or handle them each day to see the startling amount of growth/changes every single day! Our boxes are right under the power line and the parents will sit on the line and watch us and sometimes chirp, but they are a- ok with their babies being handled as long as you don't let them get chilled and are gentle. I learned the hard way to stop trying to hold them after 12 days when i made one batch fledge early. Kept trying to put them back in, but it was too late and the parents really got mad about that. I don't think we've ever had a nest that went much beyond 16 days though, so it's interesting that they are supposed to stay in 21 days. I don't even open the box after day 12. Yes, predators love blues (any baby bird). When you figure out where you want to put a house, make sure cats, coons or snakes can't get to it. Grease the pole or use a baffle or mount the box in such a way that nothing can get in. BTW, the big boxes sell very reasonably priced cedar blue houses- like $12 last i looked. You may very well get some competition from titmice or chickadees- they all like the same size, so you could get multiples and hang them (titmice are the fiercest mamas- they won't budge and will hunker down and hiss at you!). Blues happily nest close to the others but won't nest close to their own kind. And they love to have a choice of boxes. Some years i've had 3 out of my 4 boxes full. The only ones you may want to evict if the get into the box would be the alien house finches. Knock on wood, i've never had it be a problem, but have head from others that it can be.
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I have one house that's being used this year. Same one as last year. The new houses I built and hung last fall have no residents. I've read they are territorial and will reuse the same nesting box for several years. I was hoping to have a few pairs, but I'll take the one. I tried to get photos inside the house yesterday, but mama bird wasn't too eager to let that happen. And I didn't want to scare her away. I've been seeing other broken eggs laying around the yard. They're tiny and white. I'm thinking the squirrels are the cause.
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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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I agree with bigmatt. Every time I think the nest is finished I will see the mama several days later taking more nesting into the box. It's not uncommon for either of the pair to not be seen for a couple of days. She could skip a day in the laying process. Once she lays the last egg and starts incubating she will be around a lot more.
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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
Original Author