I've noticed that on really cold days several species of birds are checking out the nestboxes. We have 8, and only one was used by the bluebirds. Two of them have had the holes enlarged by woodpeckers. One day last week there was a bluebird, a Carolina Wren, a goldfinch, and a titmouse checking out one house at the same time. They weren't fighting over it though. Just going in one at a time, then coming back out. They all flew away after each had a look at it. So far we haven't had any HOSPS. They mostly hang out at fast food parking lots, and grocery stores. Hope they stay there. The Carolina Wrens don't seem to bother the bluebirds. It would be hard for me to kill a HOSP (I'm a vegetarian), so if I couldn't capture them, I'd just stop with the bluebirds. Couldn't bear to see one of them killed. But I CANNOT kill an animal. It's against my beliefs. I think it's a decision that all of us have to make. If you can't do it, then you can't help the bluebirds out. Donate money or something else. I guess that's what I'd do.

Fairychild,
I am also a vegetarian like you.I have a hard time killing ants,spiders etc.Two years ago,when I did a nest check on my brooding Bluebird,I found her sitting on her 5 eggs bleeding from her head.She had her wings spread out as if to protect the eggs.She was DEAD!!!It was a shocking scene--one that I have heard of but never seen.On that day,after I removed my dead Blue,I set a trap in the box.Within 30 minutes,I trapped the culprit.I got rid of him.It was a rude wake up call for me.
michelle

I understand what would have to be done. I just pray it doesn't come to that. Although there are a lot of HOSPS in the area they tend to hang out in parking lots, and playgrounds. I haven't seen them in my yard. I was worried when I saw the wrens, but heard that the Carolina Wren isn't a problem. They were here last year while the bb were nesting and there wasn't a problem.

I thought a lot about the HOSP situation. If I see them before the BBs arrive, then we'll get rid of them in a humane way. If they show up afterwards, then I will make the choice of having someone else get rid of them, or taking my bluebird houses down. Having said that I know that it would be hard to remove the boxes after they were in use, and I wouldn't do it. I'd protect them night and day I guess. The HOSP like the Starling isn't a native bird. It's like kudzu.

I do have one question that came up recently. How do I know for sure that it's a "HOSP" ? There are about 10 species of sparrows around here. They aren't all killers are they?

Yes, Fairychick, there ARE many types of sparrows and other brownish birds as well. Here's a link that will help you with differentiating between house sparrows and other birds. To get a really good "crash course", simply drive to the parking lot of a WalMart, McDonalds or Home Depot, park relatively close to the store, sit in your vehicle and observe. Their 'song', if you can call it that, is simply cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep. The males are very easy to identify but the females can be tricky unless you know what to look for. Read the descriptions on this site and they will help you, I promise.
Michelle, I'm so sorry about your tragic experience. This has happened on all my trails at one time or another and it is devastating. Would that a house sparrow might simply fly to another location instead of killing the inhabitants of a nestbox--but, no, they wreak havoc even though, sometimes, they don't even use the nestbox once their victims are dead. Control is a must to make certain that our native birds can nest safely.
Kathy

Here is a link that might be useful: House Sparrow Identification

fairychick asked: How do I know for sure that it's a "HOSP"? There are about 10 species of sparrows around here. They aren't all killers are they?
ABSOLUTELY NOT. There are many native sparrows (protected by federal law) which do no harm to other birds. I don't think any of them will use nestboxes to raise their young. House sparrows, technically, are not even sparrows; that is a "common name" given to the imported, invasive
Passer domesticus, actually a type of finch. Notice the finch-like beak, unlike the native sparrows thinner beak. That finch beak is what gives them their ability to kill other birds in a nestbox.
Visit this web site, where you can find an enormous amount of useful info. http://www.sialis.org/index.html and click on House Sparrow Control. You will find many pictures and descriptions of male and female HOSP (as well as comparison pics of other brown birds), their eggs and nests, recordings of their song, etc. You will also find many techniques for humanely controlling HOSP and protecting the native cavity nesters. READ READ READ.
BlueBars

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.sialis.org/index.html

you can also put sparrow spookers on the bluebird box. You can find information on the sialis site to help you.

The house sparrow killed my momma tree swallow sitting on her eggs. It was a sight that I can not get out of my mind. I made the decision to rid my yard of hosp. it is not easy, but as you said, if you can't do it then take the boxes down.

Best of luck to you this spring.
Karen