Comments on: The Bluebirds are Back http://www.thebsp.org/blog/2009/03/04/the-bluebirds-are-back/ Where it's all about Bluebirds and other Nest Cavity Birds accross Pennsylvania and Elsewhere Mon, 23 Aug 2010 04:01:03 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: blueboy http://www.thebsp.org/blog/2009/03/04/the-bluebirds-are-back/comment-page-1/#comment-394 blueboy Fri, 22 May 2009 16:22:23 +0000 http://www.thebsp.org/blog/?p=128#comment-394 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) 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)

]]> By: Frances http://www.thebsp.org/blog/2009/03/04/the-bluebirds-are-back/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Frances Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:38:52 +0000 http://www.thebsp.org/blog/?p=128#comment-33 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. 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.

]]> By: Nancy Putt http://www.thebsp.org/blog/2009/03/04/the-bluebirds-are-back/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Nancy Putt Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:27:17 +0000 http://www.thebsp.org/blog/?p=128#comment-32 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 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

]]> By: Harry http://www.thebsp.org/blog/2009/03/04/the-bluebirds-are-back/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Harry Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:26:43 +0000 http://www.thebsp.org/blog/?p=128#comment-31 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 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

]]> By: Dee http://www.thebsp.org/blog/2009/03/04/the-bluebirds-are-back/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Dee Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:40:58 +0000 http://www.thebsp.org/blog/?p=128#comment-27 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????? 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?????

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