Thanks, very much everyone for your positive feedback. IÂm so pleased you like the photos. They are so much fun for me to do and more fun to share. Sue White-throated Sparrows can be quite variable. The one shown here is a tan-striped morph as opposed to the white-striped morph that you have there. This bird is probably a youngster also because of the heavy streaking on the breast feathers. Some adults do retain some streaking but I donÂt think quite this much. Sparrows can be a real challenge to ID. Gldno, thanks, I didnÂt know that the juvie White-crowned had red-brown coloring on their heads. Neat! This is the first one of these IÂve ever had here. There is only this one in a large flock of mixed Juncos and sparrows. Marian, yes we do get Purple Finches here, they are our state bird, but I only rarely get them in my feeders. The females do look just like sparrows. T. no, no, no No snow envy You donÂt want this We have way too much. But if you insist IÂd be happy to ship it all your way. LOL Thanks! Michelle and Eileen, "unbirded" LOL Deanne

I would go ahead and set the trap if they have an active nest. I would set it immediately after work and keep it going until both are caught. I would even leave it set during work, if I had too. I forgot I had set a trap once and went to work all day. I noticed it was sprung when I got home. So I put the mesh bag over the box and slowly opened to door, I saw a small bird laying on its back with its feet in the air. I thought it was dead and opened the door all the way to determine the species. It was a male HOSP and he quickly awoke and tried to escape. I barely caught him. I dont think temperatures are that hot yet so I wouldn't worry about one dieing in the box. I don't think a native would go in an active nest anyhow. I know some in the purple martin community believe in "sparrow revenge" or "sparrow rage", which occurs when a HOSP nest are often disturbed. The HOSP becomes frustrated and destroys the nests of other cavity nesters. So they recommend trapping or shooting rather than disturbing the nest. They are also confident that natives wont enter a HOSP nest, some routinely use glue traps in the nests. You could still remove a native if you had too.

I was afraid that might be the case, they all look around the same size (martins) and info I found today said that the martins usually start to arrive here in February and look for nesting spots. In addition to All the other potential dangers/problems with the house/location where these martins are possibly planning to nest and raise babies, same neighbors also have a HAMM RADIO tower in their back yard and every year around late spring/ summer a great horned owl perches up there on and off and and hoots, I've heard him and seen him up there several nights in a row before. Is there anything I can do at this point, like put up a safe Martin house, or will they stay there now regardless? I'm hoping that if I talk to neighbors and explain the situation, they will do something about it. I feel sick at the thought of the martins going through whole process and end up losing babies or being harmed themselves. If I thought there was a possibility that they would relocate this late in the game, I'd gladly put up a safe place for them to nest and make sure it stays that wAy, although I'd be learning as I go, ughh, whole situation makes me nervous. I'm going to post the pics of the house and the birds tonight, I'm pretty sure the house is not the ideal layout either, it has little porches with metal railings on both floors and another railing across top and from what I've read so far, that makes it easy for owls to get to them. Thanks

I only get a few House Sparrows here but would find a horde of them intolerable and would remove the feeders (especially during the summer/fall, when food is more abundant for birds). There are more active measures you can take if you are willing. I have a BB gun but have never been able to hit one, however I have trapped a few with an inbox trap when Bluebirds were nesting in my yard. I would definitely remove the English Sparrow nests and discourage them from nesting in the Arborvitaes. Another thing I read you can do, is flush the birds from the arborvitaes on very cold nights. They will be unlikely to find new cover after dark and will be vulnerable to predators and hypothermia.