Hi Folks

A few years ago, I installed several birdhouses for chickadees, house wrens and any small birds who are cavity dwellers. But a couple of downy woodpeckers who also are frequent visitors in the yard enlarged the hole on two boxes and have taken up roosting in them during the winters. The holes are now too big for the dees and the Eurasian sparrows have started to move in. How do I deter the latter while making sure the downies have a roosting/nesting home? Yesterday I put up two more birdhouses for the dees, so they will be fine. But I worry that the sparrows will kill the downies in this battle for the birdhouses.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

Shyamala