The Bluebirds are Back
I had a male bluebird arrive early as February 23rd and now I have a pair of bluebirds today March 4, 2009. Both are going in and out of the nest box and really giving it a close inspection. Both looked very healthy and looked to be mature birds. I noticed the male was pecking at the top side of the next box at the roof area. I just then remembered the duct tape is still over the ¼ inch vent area at the top of the roof and sides. The male was actually trying hard to remove this tape. I got my coat on and went out to remove the duct tape off both sides of the vent area and I noticed he was sitting in a near by tree watching me. I turn toward him and welcomed him back and at the same time he flew right at me and then returned to the tree again bouncing around and flickering his wings. I’d like to think he understood what I was saying and at the same time thanked me for removing the duct tape. Both were on top of the nest box before I got back into the house. I watch them both closely from inside and they seemed happy bouncing around on top on the birdhouse. The next thing I noticed both entered the nestbox, one after the other. They were both inside for quite sometime, I wonder what they were doing, ( little ones on the way ) lol. The weather is still cold but we are getting warmer temperature later in the week. It’s so nice to see the bluebirds are back, that means spring is just around the corner.
Harry Schmeider < Butler County Pa >
Dee Said,
March 16, 2009 @ 10:40 pm
I hung my bluebird houses yesterday and behold today I saw a bird on top of one and going in and out. Got my binnaculars and saw it was a sparrow. I am so mad. How do I prevent the sparrow from nesting in the house?????
Harry Said,
March 26, 2009 @ 7:26 am
Hello Dee,
House Sparrows are the most common problem blue-birder’s have. This invasive species introduce in the 1800’s has become the most abundant bird in North America. Do to the fact it bonds with the nest box and will defend it aggressively, We must find a way to deal with it. The house sparrow is not a protected bird, so you may dispose of it. The male house sparrow during the breeding season has only one thing on his mind: Procreation. Continuously destroying his nest, he becomes increasingly “frustrated”, aggressive, from my experiences, frequent house sparrow nest removal, without permanent removal of the house sparrows, is NOT a viable house sparrow control method. I was creating a “vindictive” and frustrated house sparrows. I now trap the house sparrow and dispose of it. I have found the Van-ERT Universal Sparrow trap works best.
You can find it at;
http://www.vanerttraps.com/universal.htm
From Harry Schmeider
Butler County
Nancy Putt Said,
March 27, 2009 @ 2:27 am
Hello Dee,
I have a “bluebird trail” at a golf course and I check all of the boxes once a week, during the nesting season. In my situation it is not feasible for me to use trapping to keep the sparrows from using my box……. using the trap means you need to keep watch ( like in your back yard) to check the box ( I’m not sure how often), while the trap is set, frequently to assure you do not trap the wrong species. Sparrows are darned persistant!!! When I identify their “messy” nest in one of the boxes ( you have to be sure of what species of bird is making the nest) I pull the nests and any eggs out….. I keep doing this every week, and I have found after 5 weeks of this they finally give up. The sparrows are getting smart and not coming to make nests at my trail.
Nancy Putt
Frances Said,
March 31, 2009 @ 6:38 pm
I use fishing line going from the roof to the bottom of the box, one string on each side of the front of the box, on either side of the hole. This spooks the house sparrow. I’ve also heard that one should wait until the nest of the HSP is fully built by before you take it out, and that after doing this 5 times or something, the HSP will leave permanently.
blueboy Said,
May 22, 2009 @ 9:22 pm
I had a house sparrow problem the first year I put up my boxes (near a shed). I took out the nesting material (almost completed nest), washed the box out, then left the front part of box totally open for 2-3 days. I thought the female must have needed to lay eggs soon, as she never came back.
Blueboy (Barb)