[birdky] Re: FW: death to english sparrows

I have a bluebird trail on my farm in southern Warren county and have been
frustrated in the past by the same issue raised in this thread.

If you clean the house sparrow's nest from the bluebird box one of two
things happen: either (1) the birds will immediately rebuild (they are
amazingly persistent!) or (2) they will aggressively move to adjacent boxes.
In either case, their "instinct to propagate" always won out over my "desire
to eliminate".

 

My wife hit on an idea that we've had success with over the last few years.

House sparrows had consistently taken the bluebird house right behind our
house in full view of my deck observation point. 

(As if purposely to "thumb their nose" at my efforts to discourage them!)

 

I waited one year until they had laid five eggs, brought them to the
kitchen, placed the eggs in a pan of water, and brought the water to a boil.
I removed them quickly so as not to "hard-boil" them and returned them to
the nest. Over the ensuing season, I watched, although with some regret, the
sparrow's pitiful efforts to hatch those eggs.

They never gave up on them and only abandoned the nest at season's end.

 

PAYOFF:

Since that time, no house sparrows have attempted to use that nest box, In
fact, it would seem that they've decided that all of boxes of that type are
not suitable..

No birds were actually killed. (I suppose that might depend on your
viewpoint. I like to think of this as house sparrow birth control.)

No traps had to be maintained.

This year we have more bluebirds than we've ever had and fewer house
sparrows.

Just this week I've observed that a Bluebird pair has already staked out the
box behind my deck!

 

;>)

Bill Scates

Woodburn KY

Warren County

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Mike Tobbe
Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2006 8:02 PM
To: birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [birdky] FW: death to english sparrows

 

Today I installed two Van Ert traps, which I had ordered from NABS.  I'm
impressed.  The traps appear durable.  I installed both within 15 minutes.
Within one hour, I had caught a female house sparrow.  

 

Mike Tobbe

Little Mount

Spencer County

 

  _____  

From: birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Mike Tobbe
Sent: Saturday, March 11, 2006 8:05 PM
To: birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [birdky] death to english sparrows

 

Three weeks ago, I cleaned out the bluebird boxes.   Today, after observing
English sparrows entering and leaving one of boxes, my wife opened the box
and discovered a dead bluebird.  That does it.  I'm buying a rifle this
week.  Time to surrender to the dark side of birding.

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