Bluebirds and House Sparrow checking out the same nest box

9 years ago

I have a pair of bluebirds who have been spending time at a bluebird box in my yard for a few weeks now. Unfortunately i have also seen a house sparrow at the house. One day I even saw the bluebird pair "attack" the house sparrow to chase him from the box. Any suggestions on what i can do? There is no nest started by either birds yet.

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parkernicole01

9 years ago

Congrats on eggs! Would definitely put up a sparrow spooker now. It's the best known way to keep HOSP from invading. You can make one because it takes about a week to order through mail. The fishing line can stay on all season, but the spooker only needs to stay up from 1st egg to fledge. Sialis site is the best resource. Has helped me many times!

Like vamanos mentioned above, the only sure way to avoid HOSP invasion is to trap them. You can get a van Ert trap put into the box the HOSP are interested in & trap them one by one. The DRTS is an even more serious way to trap. Again, Sialis outlines all of this. Biggest piece of advise: don't let HOSP nest with you or you'll never get rid of them. As you probably know, they are not native & have caused many problems with our native birds (i.e.- EABL, CACH, etc). By law you are able to trap them/dispose of them & remove their nests, eggs, & young. I know it sounds harsh, but it's a personal choice. Best f luck!

Nicole

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Comments (11)

vamonos99
9 years ago
Sorry but if you have it in you you must get rid of the HOSP. Other posters have good luck with sparrow spookers but only after the first egg is laid. So grateful not to have them in my yard. They are all at Target. LOL.
User
9 years ago
Having same problem so will be following this thread
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sharp18
Original Author
9 years ago
Update: After some research, I hung two pieces of fishing wire on either side of the opening to the bird house. The sparrow approached the house but left, he would not go in. It did not bother the bluebirds. The sparrow is now spending time at another birdhouse in the back yard, and the bluebirds are busy in the front, and we have two bluebird eggs so far:) ! The Sialis site has a description of this plan, and I think it only worked because the sparrow was not yet committed to the box, but was "scouting" it out. After I hung the string, it seemed to discourage him enough that he moved on.
parkernicole01
9 years ago
One more thing- make sure you use correct weight of fishing line that's weighted down if hanging so birds don't get caught up in it. I'm sure Sialis explained this.
sharp18 thanked parkernicole01
parkernicole01
9 years ago
LOL. They do like to hang out at strip malls!
sharp18
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you! I was all set to put up a sparrow spooker, but I spoke to a source at the local Wild Bird Unlimited who is very knowledgeable. She told me that many customers have not had good luck with them, and that in fact it scares off the bluebirds as well. Now Im confused and going to do a bit more research. I have not seen the sparrow at the bluebird house in a month, and we now have 3 eggs :)
parkernicole01
9 years ago
I love WBU, but know many bluebirders that would disagree. After 1st egg is laid & you put it up, you do want to make sure bluebirds take to it. Once they've laid an egg, they are committed. If you see a 2nd egg the next day, then you know it's worked.
sharp18 thanked parkernicole01
sharp18
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi! sorry for break between posts. I did put up the spooker and also a wren guard. We have 5 eggs, and are on day 11-12 of incubating (not sure whether to count the day the last egg was laid as day 1, or the day after it was laid as day 1). Thanks for your help!
vamonos99
9 years ago
I am so glad you put both up! Nothing worse than losing those sweet babies! Fingers crossed!
sharp18 thanked vamonos99
parkernicole01
9 years ago
Some people count day 1 as hatch date & some people count day 1 as the day after. I personally count day 1 the day after last hatch. As long as you're keeping up with it, you should be good. Nothing is full proof, but glad you got predator preventers up & things are working out. Hope all continues to go well!

Bluebirds and House Sparrow checking out the same nest box

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Bluebirds and House Sparrow checking out the same nest box

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