New at Blue Birding
Hi Everyone! I live in Southern Lancaster County and just discovered blue birding as a hobby this year. I’m the ex-ignoramus who fed cheap bird food and didn’t know the difference between a sparrow and a swallow last year 
But I’ve been learning and had a bluebird house this summer. I put the mono filament up around the hole and weighted down from the top as well. So far, sparrow proof, and my five eggs and now little fledglings are about two weeks old (picture taken yesterday will be posted if I can find how to – and I only peeked once a week, this was the first picture). This morning… disaster… sparrow attack. I witnessed it and ran out. At least one baby dead, poked bloody in the center of its head. I know at least three are still okay. Mom and dad have returned and are feeding the survivors.
Here’s what I’ve done today, wondering if it’s right or if there are other suggestions… I raised the roof completely, as I heard sparrows did not like open roofed boxes. Put it down to about 2 inches open this evening, in fears of early fledgling. Ok to go ahead and close all the way? Took the dead baby out. There may be one more, but they all SEEM okay without handling, and I didn’t want to do too much at once by lifting them all and scaring off mom and dad. Put dangling shiny ribbon hanging above their box (wish I did this sooner). Now, the sparrows are nesting in decorative boxes 12 and 18 feet away. I’m not sure if it’s best to take away their nesting yet, or wait for eggs – I fear that revenge syndrome thing. If these babies can pull through, next job: sparrow control.
Any further ideas? Should I try to trap/kill the sparrows tonight?
Thanks — mb < Lancaster County>
Maribee Said,
May 31, 2009 @ 2:33 am
Good news! My three surviving bluebirds (possibly four, never did get the full count but never found another dead baby, fledged today!!! Then I promptly went and destroyed three sparrow nests, one with a near fledgling and one with five eggs. The sparrows are quite a-tizzy right now but serves them right. Now to trap the grownups! I’m on a mission. I’m so pleased the babies left, now I can breathe easier…. until the next round? I’m going to get a PVC box type…. ~mb
Phil Said,
May 31, 2009 @ 5:19 pm
Well done! My latest strategy (I keep changing!) on my bluebird trail is to try to trap the sparrows, but if I can’t, I leave the nest in the box. If I can trap the male, then I remove the nest. Best time to trap the male is between 10 am and noon. If I only trap the female, I dispose of her and leave the nest intact. If I can’t trap them and they lay eggs, I shake the eggs hard, cover them in corn oil and put them back in the nest. I also do the fishing line and sparrow spooker thing.
Maribee Said,
May 31, 2009 @ 8:45 pm
Thanks Phil! I was soooo relieved the babies were gone. But today brings more stress. My male is trying to re-claim the box … and is fighting sparrows for it. I think removing their nests really made them mad. I’m worried for his safety so I raised the roof. Everyone is just fighting over this ONE box, when there are others. I ordered a sparrow trap but it will take days to come and how long (?!) to even make a dent in this HOSP population. I guess it’s better to avoid letting my blues nest at all than to put them at risk??
Phil Said,
June 1, 2009 @ 4:44 am
It might be better to take the box down for a week or so. I’m pretty sure HOSPs start breeding earlier (like late Feb.) and stop breeding earlier (about now) than bluebirds. Bluebirds will start a nest up to like mid-June. This spring I opened a bluebird box on my trail and a dead male bluebird was in there, killed by a HOSP. Believe me, you don’t want to see that.
One thing I did at home was make a “fake” bluebird box (I call it my kill box) with a little ledge in front of the hole which I hang under the eave of my garden shed. HOSPs like the ledge and prefer nesting under eaves. Generally, but not always, the HOSPs go to that box first and I can trap them, leaving the real bb box available. But get used to dealing with HOSPs; it’s a never-ending struggle.
Phil Said,
June 1, 2009 @ 5:56 am
Did a little more research and I guess I’m wrong about HOSPs; apparently they breed right through mid-August. Seems like the past week or two they haven’t been taking over as many boxes on my bb trail, but maybe I’ve (finally) killed enough of them (this is my first year with a bluebird trail) that it’s starting to make a difference. I sure hope so!
Maribee Said,
June 2, 2009 @ 5:14 am
Oh, I’m wondering if I have the heart for this bluebird business! It is NOT good for the blood pressure or the graying of hairs!
I ordered a repeating trap for the sparrows. Don’t think I can use a Van Ert because my boxes are top opening and I can’t imagine how I can mount one.
Wonderful work with your trail, Phil!