Sparrow Control
Bluebirds disappear in favour of sparrows when housing densities reach two per acre, the mean housing density in Bermuda today. The House Sparrow nests from February to June. A sparrow nest is an untidy nest made of different grasses, feathers and plastic trash, often wrapping over the top of the nest.
Bermuda’s bluebirds used to have 3 broods a season but because of the aggressive house sparrow competing for nesting boxes it has been reduced to one brood a season, in June and July. However with good monitoring and actions to dissuade the sparrows from nesting it is possible to have 2-3 broods a season.
Sparrows fit through the same size hole (1 ½ inches) as the bluebird, and as such they often evict bluebirds from nesting boxes sometimes killing the young or an adult in the process. Many bluebirds are attacked and killed by groups of sparrows. When sparrows occupy your bluebird box, the male sparrow has staked his territory, claimed your nesting box for the season and will continually attract females to his box.
The only way to rid the nesting box of sparrows is to deter the male sparrow from nesting. There are various ways to do this:
- Continually remove the sparrow nest, or wait and remove the eggs and nest.
- Leave the box door open for a week or more.
- Take your box down for a few weeks.
- Trap and cull the male sparrow.
- If one continually evicts the sparrow and there are bluebirds in your area the bluebird will nest.
Discourage House Sparrows by adding a skylight by Dean Rust
Here is an easy method to discourage house sparrows from invading and “taking over” your bluebird nest box ………….ADD A SKYLIGHT !! (Sparrows prefer dark nesting boxes)
House sparrows are and have been the bluebirds’ #1 Enemy; so let’s get started on “how to” prevent them from driving your bluebirds away.
If you have an old nest box or a new one, this technique will work. You will need:
- 1/4” power drill
- 3″ hole saw
- 4” x 4” opaque plexiglass piece (1/4” works great)
- 4 copper screw nails/brads for plexiglass
- tube of silicone caulk for plexiglass
- 1/16” drill bit for brads; 1/8” drill for screws
- tape measure & straight edge
- hammer for plexiglass
- Locate the center point on the roof of your box directly over the floor area.
- Puncture the spot with a nail; then drill a 3” hole completely through the top.
- Pre-drill the holes 1.5“ from the corners in the plexiglass
- Position your plexiglass or over the opening and hammer a copper brad into each hole
- Place a bead of silicone caulk to seal the plexiglass on all 4 sides.
Congratulations !! You are finished and can install your bluebird box to its desired location.
I have used this “Bluebird Box Skylight” technique on many sparrow-infested trails with great success. Nothing is 100% effective (“Sparrow-proof”) when trying to discourage house sparrows but I think you will be happy with your results. It is worth a try just 15 minutes of your time and a couple dollars in cost.
***NB. In the months of June and July it is recommended, once the bluebirds have laid eggs, to tape over the plexiglass roof to prevent excessive sunlight and heat effecting the chicks.****
Sparrow Spookers
A Sparrow Spooker is a device with shiny, fluttering streamers suspended above a bluebird box to deter House Sparrows (HOSP) from entering a bluebird box to attack eggs, nestlings or incubating adults. Should be installed after the Bluebirds have laid their first egg and removed as soon as the chicks fledge. NB. We sells spookers.
For more information visit http://www.sialis.org/sparrowspooker.htm
Spookers can be purchased for $45, please contact Stuart Smith 777 9856 or [email protected]
Mona-filament (fishing) Line
Fishing line has been used to deter sparrows from entering the box:
http://www.thebsp.org/uploads/5/4/0/2/5402163/monofilament_plan_by_joan_watroba.pdf
http://www.bluebirdconservation.com/2015/02/using-fishing-line-to-deter-house-sparrows/