Hi Mark, biologist for many years and first time bluebird enthusiast as I recently moved to Ohio from the southwest! Missing my Says Phoebes, bluebirds are a endearing new species to have around. I got lucky and had a pair around since last year. Put up a box this spring and they immediately took to it! Then came the male house sparrow who bullied them away. Used your fishing wire technique as well as removed all millet and corn from my feeders (another recommendation). The male house sparrow tried hard to overcome the confusing obstruction for several days but the bluebirds came back and drove him away! They have been happily preparing for the eggs the past week. Thank you for your help!
I live in northwest Connecticut. I grew up in the 1950s just down the street from where I now live. Over 60 years ago the house sparrow was common and even living above our back 2nd floor porch. We threw out bread for them not knowing they were invasive. We called them English sparrows... and there were a lot of starlings too. I have a decent size lawn now and feed the birds throughout the cold months. I fed them year-round until a bear destroyed my feeder. I now throw seed and mealworms on the ground to avoid that again. I haven't seen a house sparrow or starling in many years now. People in my area put up bluebird houses 30 or more years ago and now bluebirds are back after being nonexistent here throughout my life. My bluebird houses are usually occupied by house wrens. They will fill up any other bird house with sticks to prevent other wrens from nesting close to them.
Early one year, after my bluebirds' eggs had hatched, there was a super aggressive starling who decided he wanted their box. I walked out there a dozen times that evening to shoo him off, but he was very persistent. Early the next morning I looked out the window and there he was sitting on top of the bluebird box, so I knew the battle had been lost to the starling. I looked in the box and the baby birds were GONE! He had managed to drag them out of the hole in the box and I found their little naked bodies lying scattered on the ground about 15 or 20 feet away from the box! The little monster had carried them about 15 or 20 feet while flying!!! I was so mad! So now I build a stuffed scarecrow in a lawn chair and place it near the birdbox. The bluebirds don't care, but the starlings scram!
My grandfather used to build purple martin houses. He mounted mirrors across from the openings. He claimed that it scared off starlings without deterring purple martins.
I had a Carolina Wren make a nest in a very small candle that was sitting on our deck on the table. I had to have my husband tie down the umbrella so the babies wouldn’t be getting rained on or sitting in the hot sun. I just can’t believe that she chose that candle for her nest, the candle was bought at the Dollar Store and was just a bit bigger than a tea light candle
Thanks for great content for Bluebird landlords. I love English House Sparrows. They make excellent target practice, and the neighboring cats enjoy eating them. Sparrows, Crackles and Starlings who come maraude my Bluebird and Swallow boxes don't live to tell about it. My Bluebirds have flourished since getting the English House Sparrows under control a few years ago.
I agree about the english/house sparrows and starlings, I shoot and trap those exotic, invasive invaders too. However, grackles are a native species, and technically a songbird, so legally and ethically they should not be harmed. If the nest box is properly built (1.5 inch hole & no perch), then grackles shouldn't be able to reach the nestlings anyway.
@@kirkbrode Thanks for that. True. I've done some research and discovered I'm guilty of lumping the Grackles in w/the bad guys. We've managed to attract some Chickadees which is a first since running off the house sparrows. Excited to see them hatch about the same time as the Bluebirds.
Thanks for in the information...several years back i found online plans for a sparrow spooker. My husband designed something similar. It is a wire shaped halo addition with shiny foil or mylar strips that dangle down onto the top of the box. This hangs over the top of the bluebird house and is added after eggs have been laid. I lost several bluebird nests to House Sparrows before but none in the several times we've put it up. But i also might try the less conspicuous fishing line instead. I was surprised the sparrow spooker wasn't one of your methods. Thanks for the great video.
I tried a sparrow spooker that a company sent me several years ago. It didn't work well so I experimented with the fishing line trick I had found on the internet and had far better results. Nothing is 100% effective but, over the years, we have had very positive feedback from folks who have tried it.
HSPs will nest in anything. Like you, I’ve never met a bird box that sparrows didn’t like. They are such a nuisance and the thing is, their numbers are exploding because most people put a box up and want Bluebirds but they give up and let the HSPs keep it, only increasing their numbers. I took mine down because I just got tired of the fight year after year. I love Bluebirds. We had a few successful BB nests and it was such a joy to see them all survive and fly away.
I discourage house sparrows from using my nest boxes by shooting and/or trapping then disposing them. I know I got the upper hand because I haven’t seen any at all this year
@@notsohandytim5090 use the in-house traps and have a bit of straw or hay sticking out of the entrance holes to entice them to go in. You just got to check them regularly so you don’t trap native birds and cause them stress. I trapped the same tree swallow 5 times in 4 hours. After the 3rd time I figured he was just messing with me.
@@christophe3281: 😆 Well the house I'm concerned about this year belonged to the violet-green swallows the last 2 years, which I'm fine with that. So now the sparrows have been attempting to set up ownership since mid March. So I've been harassing them on a daily basis, including pitching small stones at the birdhouse about 15 feet high attached to the house. So far they don't let me approach them closer than about 20 feet. The swallows already know what the sparrows are up to but they probably won't get serious about competing until sometime in May. So I'll see how that goes. As far as the Bluebird house (which the Bluebirds owned for about 3 years now), nobody has put in an application for that spot this year yet. So I don't know what's going to happen there. 🐦
Same here. We’ve had to shoot them because they have taken over so many of our bird houses. I also got a Sparrow trap and have gassed them. Now, my neighbors have a bird house that they don’t monitor and it has brought the HSP back with a vengeance. So frustrating. People shouldn’t have a bird house if they aren’t going to monitor and only add to the HSP population.
@@MarksBackyardBirds subscribed and paying close attention. New to bird habitat building. Bluebirds are in the back yard (NE Washington, pine forest and barren land) and without any enticement. I'm going all-in on native songbirds. Thanks again.
I've had chickadees nest in my bird house for the past three years and had to reduce the entrance hole to prevent the sparrows from getting in. On another note, there's a small park where I play softball that has a pond with several bird houses mounted on fence posts that surround it. It's a perfect habitat for the tree swallows who nest in the boxes. However this year, I haven't seen any swallow activity in the boxes but rather several sparrows sitting on top of the houses or on the fence next to it and fear they have taken over the boxes. I'm inclined to take my pellet rifle with me the next time I go out there and try to shoot the sparrows in the hopes that the swallows will return to the boxes.
Hi Mark, Thanks for your video. I have two bluebird boxes at the back of my yard which borders on open space-grasses, etc. For over three weeks I emptied house sparrow nesting material from the right box once or twice daily. A week ago they finally gave up. In the meantime, a pair of bluebirds built a nest in the left box and yesterday there were four eggs in it. I went out late this morning and found the entry hole filled with nesting material. When I opened the box there was no sign of either the female bluebird or the eggs. Do you think the predator was a snake? Or something else. We have PC pipe baffles on the pole, according to instructions on the Audubon website. I'd be grateful for any advice. Thanks! Jane
Sounds like sparrows wanted the nest and filled it with nesting material. They could have ran her off. The other possibility would be a raccoon. They tend to tear up the nest reaching in for the eggs. The baffle should have kept them out.
Thanks very much for getting back to me. I was surprised there wasn't a trace of the eggs-not a tiny piece of shell or a bit of egg yolk. Thanks again.
I prefer hardware cloth as it lets in the rain as well. Make sure you have a nest lift to keep the grass off the bottom of the box. I fear that the plexiglass may cause the inside temperature to get too high.
We live in rural NC and battle House Sparrows every season. Yes, they're extremely aggressive and will kill Bluebird chicks and sometimes the parents. FYI: Wrens will also destroy the nest & eggs of Bluebirds. We had one successful clutch of five Bluebird chicks to fledge this year, then the House Sparrows came in and took over both our boxes. Trust me, we don't allow them to lay their eggs. I despise these birds.
I'm in Reidsville North Carolina. I think that maybe The Sparrows have killed the birds that are in the bluebird nest I was so excited and thought they were fine😅
I have been battling house sparrows for years. I used to get the blue birds nest and get several Broods. I tried trapping them for three years in a row getting at least 150 to 200. They still went after my blue birds killed all the babies and destroyed all the eggs. I have bluebirds for probably 20 years and it seems the sparrow population is just getting worse. I wonder if I should go back to trapping the sparrows.
I often compare the House Sparrow battle to climbing a mountain in roller skates. There is an endless supply of them and people let them nest in their boxes which only adds to problem. It sounds like you situation could warrant the modified roof method. It isn't ideal but if the bluebirds are desperate for a nesting spot, they will use them. You can drill a large hole in the roof of the box (2" or more) and cover it with hardware cloth. This allows light and rain in which the sparrows hate but keeps predators from being able to reach in. Bluebirds brood their eggs and babies during cool wet weather. I have had them nest in boxes where the roof was hanging off to one side before. The most important part of this is to make sure your box has a nest lift so that the grass is off the bottom of the box so it can dry out. Good luck
Please viewers be aware that "sometimes" bluebirds can defend their nest form Eurasian house sparrows. Other times, the house sparrows kill the bluebird babies, and sometimes even the bluebird adults if they get them trapped inside the nest... I think by many of us have either had this unfortunate experience first hand, or seen photos of HOSPS building their nest right on top of the dcd bluebird parent...
Hi Mark. It is my understanding that tree swallows nest in the same type box as bluebirds. (Please correct me if I’m wrong). We have the swallows return every year and bought a new box for them. Do they tolerate the fishing line as well as the bluebirds? Also, when should we put out the box? I’m in southern Ontario, near Detroit.
They do nest regularly in bluebird boxes. I haven’t encountered anyone who has had them in a box with the fishing line. The Tree Swallow folks feel that the inside dimensions of their boxes should be a little larger than bluebird boxes. We start seeing Tree Swallows in our area in early March. More guess is you guys see them pretty close to that.
We just had baby bluebirds ripped out of the box by house sparrows. Based on a video, I put a skylight in the box. I cut a circular hole and then just screwed the top from a Chinese takeout soup container over it.
It's still unclear whether it's going to be successful or not. As soon as I put the box with the skylight up, a male was immediately interested. He would perch on the box every morning but he couldn't seem to attract a female. Whether his old mate was dead or whether she didn't want to return to essentially the same box where she lost her brood, I don't know. Right now there have been two birds in and out for the last couple of days so I have my fingers crossed. I guess the theory of the skylight is that bluebirds will nest in holes in trees and don't really mind the sun shining in, but sparrows don't like it and prefer to be fully enclosed.
Thanks for the information and video. I have a sparrow and bluebirds checking out my nest box. Unfortunately, it looks like the sparrow won because they are constantly flying in and out of it. I now have plugged the hole. How long should I keep the hole plugged and will the bluebird family come back to thw box after the sparrow has moved on? I have a trap, but im afraid of using it and catching a bluebird. Also, how long to leave the door open on the box to discourage them? Thank you, Sheldon
@@MarksBackyardBirds thank you for your quick reply. What are your thoughts on using a trap? Should I leave the box open too for a couple of days? Will the bluebirds eventually come back to the box? I had 2 successful nests last year. I even have a halo and streamers on thw box and the sparrow still used the box. I might try the fishing line too.
Door traps can work great but you have to watch them closely. If a chickadee, wren or bluebird go in, you need to get them out as soon as you can. If the sparrows are attached to that box, it is unlikely the other species will be allowed in. I would use the same time approach with the open door technique as with plugging the hole. Couple of days, then a week of that doesn’t work.
@Mark's Backyard Birds thank you again... sorry last question: do you think the bluebirds will come back and do you think the fishing line approach will work? I really enjoy your videos. I started using a suet log feeder after your video of them and my woodpecker population doubled. Thanks for your time.
@@sefunk77 unfortunately, the fishing line rarely works on a box the sparrows have already been in. From my experience, it is far more effective on a new box. I wouldn’t give on the bluebirds. They next multiple times per season and they may not have found a site they like better for this first nesting. Fight the good fight for them.
Sparrows are my most prevalent bird around my home. I always have a few doves, robins, and occasionally a cardinal. I only ground feed the birds and enjoy all of these birds. I do not have bird houses.
this is my first year of realizing how horrible house sparrows are. I read that if you remove the eggs from a HOSP nest, the male will go into a frenzy and kill any bird that comes near? Is this true? Also, it's late march now... is it too late to put up boxes? I live in an urban setting and would love to help the native birds out...
I have not heard of them going into a frenzy but I have heard of them killing young birds in nests before, even fledglings that have just left the nest. They are truly a nuisance species. Bluebirds nest three times a year in our area (not sure where you are) This video may be of help: th-cam.com/video/y5mhvl98KAk/w-d-xo.html You really do have to put a lot of energy into discouraging House Sparrows, but it can be done.
adr lee yes house Sparrow will go on a rampage, that happened to me in 1994 first year hosting BB, I didn't know if it was a HS' new to birding. I tore out the HS nest 50ft away from BB house, next day they broke every BB egg tossing on the ground, took over the house, I got smart and trap the male HS next morning and I rung his neck off, BB came back, they have been nesting here every year since then..I trapped around 45 HS in 2014 my neighbor was letting them nest..I haven't seen them till last year and I did eliminate three. I have a purple martin colony also.
Can you give a better description of the difference in nests when they first start? I have 2 boxes up and both have pairs of bluebirds in them all morning. They are fighting with the sparrows. Once they take off, the sparrows end up in the boxes. I'm checking them and want to pull the nests if they are sparrows but I can't tell who has them. Also I've seen that sparrows can go in and kill the eggs, babies, or even the female so unless I start dispatching the sparrows is it even worth it to have the boxes up?
Bluebirds build very neat grass nests while House Sparrows basically fill the box with lots of dried grass and other things like plastic rappers etc. Then they make a tunnel down to the egg chamber. This video may help th-cam.com/video/y5mhvl98KAk/w-d-xo.html , If you do decide to dispatching the sparrows, you really only have to take out the male. He is the aggressive one. The females will move on.
Dispatch the house sparrows every chance you get. Especially the males. The males are the ones that actually find the nest site/box/cavity and attract the female to it. Simply deterring, but not dispatching house sparrows (and European starlings) just causes a problem for some other bluebird family or other native cavity nesting birds. In other words, not dispatching house sparrows and starlings is the same as to eliminating native birds. You are correct in that it's better to not have the boxes up if you aren't going to keep the exotic, invasive species out of them. Otherwise, you would just be subsidizing/promiting birds that harm our native cavity nesting song birds.
I see red bellied woodpecker trying to nest on the blue bird box I have out for them as well. Blue birds are very territorial from what I see. They attack the woodpeckers
The woodpeckers would likely need a hole larger than the 1 and 1/2" hole of an eastern bluebird box. If they have pecked the hole out larger, you may want to resize it back to the original size.
My first year with blue birds. Blue bird lay around 3 to 4 eggs they have hatch. The male and female are feeding the bluebirds babies. However, my yard is over run with House barrels and they are continually trying to get in the blue bird box and are fighting the male and female blue birds. What can I do?
I am going to try multi walled polycarbonate (the material they use for Green Houses) not just plexiglass that would heat up the nest Drill 2 1/2” hole in the top and cover the hole up with the poly… I have read this on the internet it makes sense the poly won’t heat up as much I will let you know with my results….
Can you show the difference in bluebird nests and materials they use and a sparrows nests and materials if you can't see them doing it so you can determine whats building it without actually seeing them. Picture would be very helpfull!
a bluebird nest will be about 5 inches tall with grasses, pine needles with a little cup to lay eggs... house sparrow builds a big nest with a tunnel that will take up the whole compartment using grass's,trash, paper, cigarette butts, plastic.
3 nest boxes on my lot 2 usually taken over by HSP. 1 box always with BB 2 or 3 broods a year. Just have been watching and epic battle between HSP and wrens fighting for a box. 2 days of conflict and watched yesterday as the wren emptied out the HSP nest, it’s quite entertaining. Today I decided to give a look and found the HSP had won as the male wren had been killed inside the box and the HSP had started making their nest over the body. Pellet gun ready to eliminate Mr Sparrow
We’ve 2 nesting bluebirds and house sparrows have come in and killed both families as they were fledglings… pecking their eyes out!!! It broke our hearts!!!!
Totally agree about Starlings as well as House Sparrows😡 Thank you for all the ideas🌞 How do you think putting a short piece of PCV tubing works to keep the sparrows out?
After trying all the techniques you have mentioned and actively trapping and dispatching HOS's, Ive had multiple successful Bluebirds nestings only to be destroyed after the 4 or 5th egg has been layed. I think i might have the wrong culprits pegged in my past failures to protect the Bluebirds. Just like before Ive woke up to the Bluebird eggs cracked on the ground. This time however, I witnessed a Wren entering the box and removing some of the nest to carry off. Does destruction of eggs sound like the work of a wren instead of the HOS's and what can I do if it is a Wren?
House Wrens in particular are well known for punching other bird's egg that are nesting close to their box. Do you have a wren house close by? They could be nesting in a knot hole. If the nest is greatly disturbed, I would suspect raccoons at night, especially with egg fragments on the ground. Do you have a baffle on the pole? I would consider moving the box in either case.
Sorry for the very long delay. This came in the week I broke my leg and missed it totally. I feel that a hole in the roof covered with wire mesh is something to try as a last result. I've seen it work but it is important to use a nest lift so that the moisture that does get into the box doesn't get absorbed by the nest material. I don't like plexiglass over the hole due to the "greenhouse effect" raising the temperature in the box.
@@MarksBackyardBirds I thought of a similar idea, not the roof but the door can be made from HDPE plastic (cutting board), it will let light in but also insulating and water resistant.
I HAVE had blue birds over many years but just a few days ago I checked my gas tank and a blue bird had built a nest in under the hood of the pig their was eggs in it but this is Nov so they are gone now in Michigan by lansing they will probably be back next year I hope!
I had a male house sparrow kill my female bluebird. She was so tame she would fly above my head and wait for me to feed her meal worms. I had the pair for several years and they would follow me in the yard when I saw the male sparrow sparrow kill her I was furious. They truly are rat birds
I just put up a new nesting box. It’s the Birds Choice Ultimate house for BBS. I saw a pair of eastern bluebirds inspecting it today in the evening. I didn’t see them go in, but they were definitely trying to figure it out. They hung out on the power lines, and even snagged a few bugs near the house. Is it normal for them to inspect and not go in immediately? I hope they come back 🙏
@@MarksBackyardBirds do they scope out houses before moving in? I can see them looking into the house, as they go to the opening, but they’re not going in, just clinging on at the hole. They come by for a few minutes, land on the house, watch, grab a few bugs, and leave lol
Darn house sparrows. They moved in right as I put up my first box! I saw bluebirds checking out the box then so I ran out to remove the sparrow nest, only to find their nest was completely gone then! Something took it! I’ve since added predator guards to the box, hoping bluebirds move in….
@@MarksBackyardBirds We will. We will make another birdhouse or two and put them up next Spring. May be too late for this summer. Sparrows have already taken over and chased all away. It seems a shame. I do enjoy watching the Eurasian Tree Sparrows. But we would like to see more bluebirds, wrens, chickadees and titmouse.
I had sparrows invade my box last year and I just let them stay through out the winter. But I’m wondering when would be the best time to get them out. I’m assuming now since winter is about done
@@garrettstraffon608 You can try that, but the sparrows are so persistent. You can try plugging hole for a week or so in hopes they will move on to another site. Depending where you are, the bluebirds will not start laying eggs for a couple of weeks in our area.
Would like to have seen close up shots that were on your screen. Photos were hard to see on my IPad. Can’t you zoom in when showing pictures? Sure would help to visualize the things you’re talking about.
I honestly have very little sympathy for house sparrows. They’re very aggressive, and I understand it’s their nature, but they’re just very hard to like. I recently got into birding and I put up a bluebird house which a pair of chickadees (Salt and Pepper) nested in. One day, I come back to find house sparrows in the house and when I saw Salt and Pepper at the feeders, I see they heavily injured Salt’s wing and Pepper’s foot. Thank goodness it wasn’t worse, but these birds are just too detrimental for me to have sympathy for them.
house sparrows are an endangered and protected species here in the Netherlands.... We almost dont see them anymore.... So over here you cant kill their nest (building) I guess
Mark, similar to other commenters I am thinking you could add a clear plastic (or thick glass) roof covered with a window film that reflects the heat but allows in sunlight. These films come in varying degrees of opacity and with a little experimenting you could discover which film worked the best.
Within 30 minutes after my bluebird box was up I had a English sparrow building a nest! It has been a constant fight! This year I am trapping and killing every one of them that I can catch!
@@MarksBackyardBirds I noticed today blue birds are back on top of the nest box and the sparrows are gone. Maybe it took a little bit to get rid of them. I’m going to watch them. Make sure they don’t come back. I’ll put fishing line on top if they do or take the box out. Thank you.
if you have house sparrows nesting close to Blue Birds that are nesting, never tear their nest out they will go on a rampage killing bluebirds and babies...use a Van ERT to trap these non-invasive birds in their house.
Now I'm not sure how to remainly euthanize the nestlings or even if I should but if I don't I'm going to have about 25 because I have five boxes with about five babies each
I decided I couldn't stomach killing the adults so after the nest removal really wasn't enough I decided to addle and then pierce the eggs and lo and behold I have tons of sparrows
House sparrow is state bird of Delhi How to attract them Please make a video for Delhi, BIHAR 200 MILLION PEOPLE ALL INDIA 1400 MILLION LOVE SPARROW.....
I have two bird houses. One for sparrows and one for blue birds. My theory is that if the sparrows have a place to nest then they wont compete with the blue birds.
Unfortunately, that doesn't always work and you are helping the sparrows make more young to compete with bluebirds and other native cavity nesting birds.
@@MarksBackyardBirds Well it's currently working. The sparrows are supposedly aggressive but both species are keeping to themselves right now. I could try covering up the sparrow box to see if that increases competition for the blue bird house? It's not like taking down the sparrow house all-of-a-sudden erases them from my neighborhood. Like it or not, the sparrows aren't going anywhere.
Hi Mark, biologist for many years and first time bluebird enthusiast as I recently moved to Ohio from the southwest! Missing my Says Phoebes, bluebirds are a endearing new species to have around. I got lucky and had a pair around since last year. Put up a box this spring and they immediately took to it! Then came the male house sparrow who bullied them away. Used your fishing wire technique as well as removed all millet and corn from my feeders (another recommendation). The male house sparrow tried hard to overcome the confusing obstruction for several days but the bluebirds came back and drove him away! They have been happily preparing for the eggs the past week. Thank you for your help!
That is awesome. So glad to help!
I live in northwest Connecticut. I grew up in the 1950s just down the street from where I now live. Over 60 years ago the house sparrow was common and even living above our back 2nd floor porch. We threw out bread for them not knowing they were invasive. We called them English sparrows... and there were a lot of starlings too. I have a decent size lawn now and feed the birds throughout the cold months. I fed them year-round until a bear destroyed my feeder. I now throw seed and mealworms on the ground to avoid that again. I haven't seen a house sparrow or starling in many years now. People in my area put up bluebird houses 30 or more years ago and now bluebirds are back after being nonexistent here throughout my life. My bluebird houses are usually occupied by house wrens. They will fill up any other bird house with sticks to prevent other wrens from nesting close to them.
I wonder if the House Finches are displacing the House Sparrows.
Early one year, after my bluebirds' eggs had hatched, there was a super aggressive starling who decided he wanted their box. I walked out there a dozen times that evening to shoo him off, but he was very persistent. Early the next morning I looked out the window and there he was sitting on top of the bluebird box, so I knew the battle had been lost to the starling. I looked in the box and the baby birds were GONE! He had managed to drag them out of the hole in the box and I found their little naked bodies lying scattered on the ground about 15 or 20 feet away from the box! The little monster had carried them about 15 or 20 feet while flying!!! I was so mad! So now I build a stuffed scarecrow in a lawn chair and place it near the birdbox. The bluebirds don't care, but the starlings scram!
Is the hole opening 1.5 inches? Generally starlings can fit in it.
My grandfather used to build purple martin houses. He mounted mirrors across from the openings. He claimed that it scared off starlings without deterring purple martins.
I have never heard of that trick. Dido it work?
I had a Carolina Wren make a nest in a very small candle that was sitting on our deck on the table. I had to have my husband tie down the umbrella so the babies wouldn’t be getting rained on or sitting in the hot sun. I just can’t believe that she chose that candle for her nest, the candle was bought at the Dollar Store and was just a bit bigger than a tea light candle
I’ve always said you can have the nicest bird houses out and a Carolina Wren will choose anywhere but that. Cool story. Thanks.
Wow that’s awesome. I get a Carolina wren feed on my feeders. Wish it would nest in one of the wren homes I have out there
Thanks for great content for Bluebird landlords. I love English House Sparrows. They make excellent target practice, and the neighboring cats enjoy eating them. Sparrows, Crackles and Starlings who come maraude my Bluebird and Swallow boxes don't live to tell about it. My Bluebirds have flourished since getting the English House Sparrows under control a few years ago.
I agree about the english/house sparrows and starlings, I shoot and trap those exotic, invasive invaders too. However, grackles are a native species, and technically a songbird, so legally and ethically they should not be harmed. If the nest box is properly built (1.5 inch hole & no perch), then grackles shouldn't be able to reach the nestlings anyway.
@@kirkbrode Thanks for that. True. I've done some research and discovered I'm guilty of lumping the Grackles in w/the bad guys. We've managed to attract some Chickadees which is a first since running off the house sparrows. Excited to see them hatch about the same time as the Bluebirds.
You people are invasive WTF ! You’ll get your karma I can’t wait
just remember if using lead pellets it can poison whatever eats them.
Thanks Mark, that was an absolutely excellent video. I always like your personal tips and tricks from an expert in the field.
Thank you Darren.
Thanks for in the information...several years back i found online plans for a sparrow spooker. My husband designed something similar. It is a wire shaped halo addition with shiny foil or mylar strips that dangle down onto the top of the box. This hangs over the top of the bluebird house and is added after eggs have been laid. I lost several bluebird nests to House Sparrows before but none in the several times we've put it up. But i also might try the less conspicuous fishing line instead. I was surprised the sparrow spooker wasn't one of your methods. Thanks for the great video.
I tried a sparrow spooker that a company sent me several years ago. It didn't work well so I experimented with the fishing line trick I had found on the internet and had far better results. Nothing is 100% effective but, over the years, we have had very positive feedback from folks who have tried it.
HSPs will nest in anything. Like you, I’ve never met a bird box that sparrows didn’t like. They are such a nuisance and the thing is, their numbers are exploding because most people put a box up and want Bluebirds but they give up and let the HSPs keep it, only increasing their numbers. I took mine down because I just got tired of the fight year after year. I love Bluebirds. We had a few successful BB nests and it was such a joy to see them all survive and fly away.
Like Red-headed Woodpeckers because of starlings, bluebirds have had to retreat to rural areas to find a peaceful nesting sites.
I'm using one of my Bluebird House, as a Kill box for Sparrows , They Build i remove and Kill
thank you for your help.
I discourage house sparrows from using my nest boxes by shooting and/or trapping then disposing them. I know I got the upper hand because I haven’t seen any at all this year
Christophe 3: I did that for awhile and it worked for me too. But now the neighbors are feeding them which completely kills that option for me. 😑
@@notsohandytim5090 use the in-house traps and have a bit of straw or hay sticking out of the entrance holes to entice them to go in. You just got to check them regularly so you don’t trap native birds and cause them stress. I trapped the same tree swallow 5 times in 4 hours. After the 3rd time I figured he was just messing with me.
@@christophe3281: 😆 Well the house I'm concerned about this year belonged to the violet-green swallows the last 2 years, which I'm fine with that. So now the sparrows have been attempting to set up ownership since mid March. So I've been harassing them on a daily basis, including pitching small stones at the birdhouse about 15 feet high attached to the house. So far they don't let me approach them closer than about 20 feet. The swallows already know what the sparrows are up to but they probably won't get serious about competing until sometime in May. So I'll see how that goes. As far as the Bluebird house (which the Bluebirds owned for about 3 years now), nobody has put in an application for that spot this year yet. So I don't know what's going to happen there. 🐦
Same here. We’ve had to shoot them because they have taken over so many of our bird houses. I also got a Sparrow trap and have gassed them. Now, my neighbors have a bird house that they don’t monitor and it has brought the HSP back with a vengeance. So frustrating. People shouldn’t have a bird house if they aren’t going to monitor and only add to the HSP population.
@@GreenfieldsHomeplace: Yep.
Nice. Well done video.
@@kentuckygreenthumb1 thank you!
great recommendations, thank you
Thanks for watching!
@@MarksBackyardBirds subscribed and paying close attention. New to bird habitat building. Bluebirds are in the back yard (NE Washington, pine forest and barren land) and without any enticement. I'm going all-in on native songbirds. Thanks again.
That is great!
Wonderful information Mark! Appreciate your expertise!
Thank you for tuning in!
I've had chickadees nest in my bird house for the past three years and had to reduce the entrance hole to prevent the sparrows from getting in. On another note, there's a small park where I play softball that has a pond with several bird houses mounted on fence posts that surround it. It's a perfect habitat for the tree swallows who nest in the boxes. However this year, I haven't seen any swallow activity in the boxes but rather several sparrows sitting on top of the houses or on the fence next to it and fear they have taken over the boxes. I'm inclined to take my pellet rifle with me the next time I go out there and try to shoot the sparrows in the hopes that the swallows will return to the boxes.
I definitely can’t speak to your local firearm laws. But legally you can kill the sparrows.
Thank you. Very helpful
Thank you Mark I am going to try the 10 lb
fishing line
Hi Mark, Thanks for your video. I have two bluebird boxes at the back of my yard which borders on open space-grasses, etc. For over three weeks I emptied house sparrow nesting material from the right box once or twice daily. A week ago they finally gave up. In the meantime, a pair of bluebirds built a nest in the left box and yesterday there were four eggs in it. I went out late this morning and found the entry hole filled with nesting material. When I opened the box there was no sign of either the female bluebird or the eggs. Do you think the predator was a snake? Or something else. We have PC pipe baffles on the pole, according to instructions on the Audubon website. I'd be grateful for any advice. Thanks! Jane
Sounds like sparrows wanted the nest and filled it with nesting material. They could have ran her off. The other possibility would be a raccoon. They tend to tear up the nest reaching in for the eggs. The baffle should have kept them out.
Thanks very much for getting back to me. I was surprised there wasn't a trace of the eggs-not a tiny piece of shell or a bit of egg yolk. Thanks again.
I heard about opening a hole in the roof but covering it with lexan or plexi glass. Any thoughts on that?
I prefer hardware cloth as it lets in the rain as well. Make sure you have a nest lift to keep the grass off the bottom of the box. I fear that the plexiglass may cause the inside temperature to get too high.
We live in rural NC and battle House Sparrows every season. Yes, they're extremely aggressive and will kill Bluebird chicks and sometimes the parents. FYI: Wrens will also destroy the nest & eggs of Bluebirds. We had one successful clutch of five Bluebird chicks to fledge this year, then the House Sparrows came in and took over both our boxes. Trust me, we don't allow them to lay their eggs. I despise these birds.
They are a true menace for bluebird landlords
I'm in Reidsville North Carolina. I think that maybe The Sparrows have killed the birds that are in the bluebird nest I was so excited and thought they were fine😅
I had Chickadees build in one of my BB houses. Made their next with a lot of moss. I just left them alone.
I have been battling house sparrows for years. I used to get the blue birds nest and get several Broods. I tried trapping them for three years in a row getting at least 150 to 200. They still went after my blue birds killed all the babies and destroyed all the eggs. I have bluebirds for probably 20 years and it seems the sparrow population is just getting worse. I wonder if I should go back to trapping the sparrows.
I often compare the House Sparrow battle to climbing a mountain in roller skates. There is an endless supply of them and people let them nest in their boxes which only adds to problem. It sounds like you situation could warrant the modified roof method. It isn't ideal but if the bluebirds are desperate for a nesting spot, they will use them. You can drill a large hole in the roof of the box (2" or more) and cover it with hardware cloth. This allows light and rain in which the sparrows hate but keeps predators from being able to reach in. Bluebirds brood their eggs and babies during cool wet weather. I have had them nest in boxes where the roof was hanging off to one side before. The most important part of this is to make sure your box has a nest lift so that the grass is off the bottom of the box so it can dry out. Good luck
@@MarksBackyardBirds thank you. I will ask my husband to modify one.
Please viewers be aware that "sometimes" bluebirds can defend their nest form Eurasian house sparrows. Other times, the house sparrows kill the bluebird babies, and sometimes even the bluebird adults if they get them trapped inside the nest... I think by many of us have either had this unfortunate experience first hand, or seen photos of HOSPS building their nest right on top of the dcd bluebird parent...
House Sparrows are truly detrimental to bluebirds and many other native cavity nesting birds.
I use weighted fishing line on my caged suet feeders to keep sparrows away. It works on 95% of sparrows.
That is a great result.
Hi Mark. It is my understanding that tree swallows nest in the same type box as bluebirds. (Please correct me if I’m wrong). We have the swallows return every year and bought a new box for them. Do they tolerate the fishing line as well as the bluebirds? Also, when should we put out the box? I’m in southern Ontario, near Detroit.
They do nest regularly in bluebird boxes. I haven’t encountered anyone who has had them in a box with the fishing line. The Tree Swallow folks feel that the inside dimensions of their boxes should be a little larger than bluebird boxes. We start seeing Tree Swallows in our area in early March. More guess is you guys see them pretty close to that.
We just had baby bluebirds ripped out of the box by house sparrows. Based on a video, I put a skylight in the box. I cut a circular hole and then just screwed the top from a Chinese takeout soup container over it.
Hopefully that will discourage them. They are aweful
What a great idea
It's still unclear whether it's going to be successful or not. As soon as I put the box with the skylight up, a male was immediately interested. He would perch on the box every morning but he couldn't seem to attract a female. Whether his old mate was dead or whether she didn't want to return to essentially the same box where she lost her brood, I don't know. Right now there have been two birds in and out for the last couple of days so I have my fingers crossed. I guess the theory of the skylight is that bluebirds will nest in holes in trees and don't really mind the sun shining in, but sparrows don't like it and prefer to be fully enclosed.
@@61hink Good luck. It is always up to them.
Thanks for the information and video. I have a sparrow and bluebirds checking out my nest box. Unfortunately, it looks like the sparrow won because they are constantly flying in and out of it. I now have plugged the hole. How long should I keep the hole plugged and will the bluebird family come back to thw box after the sparrow has moved on? I have a trap, but im afraid of using it and catching a bluebird. Also, how long to leave the door open on the box to discourage them? Thank you, Sheldon
I would start with a couple of days and watch it closely. If that doesn’t work, try a week. Keep cleaning out that sparrow nesting material.
@@MarksBackyardBirds thank you for your quick reply. What are your thoughts on using a trap? Should I leave the box open too for a couple of days? Will the bluebirds eventually come back to the box? I had 2 successful nests last year. I even have a halo and streamers on thw box and the sparrow still used the box. I might try the fishing line too.
Door traps can work great but you have to watch them closely. If a chickadee, wren or bluebird go in, you need to get them out as soon as you can. If the sparrows are attached to that box, it is unlikely the other species will be allowed in. I would use the same time approach with the open door technique as with plugging the hole. Couple of days, then a week of that doesn’t work.
@Mark's Backyard Birds thank you again... sorry last question: do you think the bluebirds will come back and do you think the fishing line approach will work? I really enjoy your videos. I started using a suet log feeder after your video of them and my woodpecker population doubled. Thanks for your time.
@@sefunk77 unfortunately, the fishing line rarely works on a box the sparrows have already been in. From my experience, it is far more effective on a new box. I wouldn’t give on the bluebirds. They next multiple times per season and they may not have found a site they like better for this first nesting. Fight the good fight for them.
Sparrows are my most prevalent bird around my home. I always have a few doves, robins, and occasionally a cardinal. I only ground feed the birds and enjoy all of these birds. I do not have bird houses.
Thanks for sharing!
What are all the dowels on your box for?
Perches
A touch added by the builder
this is my first year of realizing how horrible house sparrows are. I read that if you remove the eggs from a HOSP nest, the male will go into a frenzy and kill any bird that comes near? Is this true? Also, it's late march now... is it too late to put up boxes? I live in an urban setting and would love to help the native birds out...
I have not heard of them going into a frenzy but I have heard of them killing young birds in nests before, even fledglings that have just left the nest. They are truly a nuisance species. Bluebirds nest three times a year in our area (not sure where you are) This video may be of help: th-cam.com/video/y5mhvl98KAk/w-d-xo.html You really do have to put a lot of energy into discouraging House Sparrows, but it can be done.
adr lee yes house Sparrow will go on a rampage, that happened to me in 1994 first year hosting BB, I didn't know if it was a HS' new to birding.
I tore out the HS nest 50ft away from BB house, next day they broke every BB egg tossing on the ground, took over the house, I got smart and trap the male HS next morning and I rung his neck off, BB came back, they have been nesting here every year since then..I trapped around 45 HS in 2014 my neighbor was letting them nest..I haven't seen them till last year and I did eliminate three. I have a purple martin colony also.
Can you give a better description of the difference in nests when they first start? I have 2 boxes up and both have pairs of bluebirds in them all morning. They are fighting with the sparrows. Once they take off, the sparrows end up in the boxes. I'm checking them and want to pull the nests if they are sparrows but I can't tell who has them. Also I've seen that sparrows can go in and kill the eggs, babies, or even the female so unless I start dispatching the sparrows is it even worth it to have the boxes up?
Bluebirds build very neat grass nests while House Sparrows basically fill the box with lots of dried grass and other things like plastic rappers etc. Then they make a tunnel down to the egg chamber. This video may help th-cam.com/video/y5mhvl98KAk/w-d-xo.html , If you do decide to dispatching the sparrows, you really only have to take out the male. He is the aggressive one. The females will move on.
Dispatch the house sparrows every chance you get. Especially the males. The males are the ones that actually find the nest site/box/cavity and attract the female to it. Simply deterring, but not dispatching house sparrows (and European starlings) just causes a problem for some other bluebird family or other native cavity nesting birds. In other words, not dispatching house sparrows and starlings is the same as to eliminating native birds. You are correct in that it's better to not have the boxes up if you aren't going to keep the exotic, invasive species out of them. Otherwise, you would just be subsidizing/promiting birds that harm our native cavity nesting song birds.
I see red bellied woodpecker trying to nest on the blue bird box I have out for them as well. Blue birds are very territorial from what I see. They attack the woodpeckers
The woodpeckers would likely need a hole larger than the 1 and 1/2" hole of an eastern bluebird box. If they have pecked the hole out larger, you may want to resize it back to the original size.
I got one of those sparrow traps and i have "removed" over 250 sparrows in the past 8 months
Wow
@@MarksBackyardBirds and the native birds in my area are more plentiful now :)
Good job Joe👍
We just had sparrows kick out our nesting bluebirds in smithville, mo
That is so sad. They are a horrible problem for bluebirds and other cavity nesters.
@@MarksBackyardBirds I need to stop by your store too. We are low on food and need another house
Please say hi when you’re in!
My first year with blue birds. Blue bird lay around 3 to 4 eggs they have hatch. The male and female are feeding the bluebirds babies.
However, my yard is over run with House barrels and they are continually trying to get in the blue bird box and are fighting the male and female blue birds. What can I do?
Would you do the same for starlings? I just ended up removing the nests with the eggs till they gave uo,but they will be back next year.
If you reduce the hols size to 1&1/2 inches, the starlings shouldn’t be able to get into the box.
I am going to try multi walled polycarbonate (the material they use for Green Houses) not just plexiglass that would heat up the nest
Drill 2 1/2” hole in the top and cover the hole up with the poly…
I have read this on the internet it makes sense the poly won’t heat up as much
I will let you know with my results….
Please do. Good luck!
how did it go, I thought of using HDPE cutting board material, just need to do one side panel.
Can you show the difference in bluebird nests and materials they use and a sparrows nests and materials if you can't see them doing it so you can determine whats building it without actually seeing them. Picture would be very helpfull!
a bluebird nest will be about 5 inches tall with grasses, pine needles with a little cup to lay eggs... house sparrow builds a big nest with a tunnel that will take up the whole compartment using grass's,trash, paper, cigarette butts, plastic.
3 nest boxes on my lot 2 usually taken over by HSP. 1 box always with BB 2 or 3 broods a year.
Just have been watching and epic battle between HSP and wrens fighting for a box. 2 days of conflict and watched yesterday as the wren emptied out the HSP nest, it’s quite entertaining. Today I decided to give a look and found the HSP had won as the male wren had been killed inside the box and the HSP had started making their nest over the body. Pellet gun ready to eliminate Mr Sparrow
So sad.
We’ve 2 nesting bluebirds and house sparrows have come in and killed both families as they were fledglings… pecking their eyes out!!! It broke our hearts!!!!
That is awful
Totally agree about Starlings as well as House Sparrows😡 Thank you for all the ideas🌞 How do you think putting a short piece of PCV tubing works to keep the sparrows out?
I'm afraid not but worth a try.
We have just added 2 bluebird houses. We have a lot to learn
Hopefully we can help you out!
After trying all the techniques you have mentioned and actively trapping and dispatching HOS's, Ive had multiple successful Bluebirds nestings only to be destroyed after the 4 or 5th egg has been layed. I think i might have the wrong culprits pegged in my past failures to protect the Bluebirds. Just like before Ive woke up to the Bluebird eggs cracked on the ground. This time however, I witnessed a Wren entering the box and removing some of the nest to carry off. Does destruction of eggs sound like the work of a wren instead of the HOS's and what can I do if it is a Wren?
House Wrens in particular are well known for punching other bird's egg that are nesting close to their box. Do you have a wren house close by? They could be nesting in a knot hole. If the nest is greatly disturbed, I would suspect raccoons at night, especially with egg fragments on the ground. Do you have a baffle on the pole? I would consider moving the box in either case.
thanks
You're welcome!
What are your thoughts about using sky lights as a house sparrow deterrent? Great video by the way.
Sorry for the very long delay. This came in the week I broke my leg and missed it totally. I feel that a hole in the roof covered with wire mesh is something to try as a last result. I've seen it work but it is important to use a nest lift so that the moisture that does get into the box doesn't get absorbed by the nest material. I don't like plexiglass over the hole due to the "greenhouse effect" raising the temperature in the box.
@@MarksBackyardBirds I thought of a similar idea, not the roof but the door can be made from HDPE plastic (cutting board), it will let light in but also insulating and water resistant.
As long as it doesn’t create a green house effect in the box and raise the temperatures too high, it sounds good.
I HAVE had blue birds over many years but just a few days ago I checked my gas tank and a blue bird had built a nest in under the hood of the pig their was eggs in it but this is Nov so they are gone now in Michigan by lansing they will probably be back next year I hope!
Sounds like they gave it a shot but something happened. They can quickly lay another batch of eggs in another location.
I had a male house sparrow kill my female bluebird. She was so tame she would fly above my head and wait for me to feed her meal worms. I had the pair for several years and they would follow me in the yard when I saw the male sparrow sparrow kill her I was furious. They truly are rat birds
That is so sad. 😞
I just put up a new nesting box. It’s the Birds Choice Ultimate house for BBS.
I saw a pair of eastern bluebirds inspecting it today in the evening. I didn’t see them go in, but they were definitely trying to figure it out.
They hung out on the power lines, and even snagged a few bugs near the house.
Is it normal for them to inspect and not go in immediately? I hope they come back 🙏
Excellent
@@MarksBackyardBirds do they scope out houses before moving in? I can see them looking into the house, as they go to the opening, but they’re not going in, just clinging on at the hole.
They come by for a few minutes, land on the house, watch, grab a few bugs, and leave lol
@@davidbrachetto1420 Yes, they do try to scope out several potential nest sites and the female makes the final decision. Sounds familiar!
@@MarksBackyardBirds
"Sounds familiar"? Not around here.
Darn house sparrows. They moved in right as I put up my first box! I saw bluebirds checking out the box then so I ran out to remove the sparrow nest, only to find their nest was completely gone then! Something took it! I’ve since added predator guards to the box, hoping bluebirds move in….
You for the information. I want Bluebirds and the Sparrows chase them away.
It is a tough battle, but you just have to be persistent.
@@MarksBackyardBirds We will. We will make another birdhouse or two and put them up next Spring. May be too late for this summer. Sparrows have already taken over and chased all away. It seems a shame. I do enjoy watching the Eurasian Tree Sparrows. But we would like to see more bluebirds, wrens, chickadees and titmouse.
I had sparrows invade my box last year and I just let them stay through out the winter. But I’m wondering when would be the best time to get them out. I’m assuming now since winter is about done
I would get them out as soon as possible. Bluebirds are checking out boxes now.
@@MarksBackyardBirds ok thank you think I should move it to a more remote spot
@@garrettstraffon608 You can try that, but the sparrows are so persistent. You can try plugging hole for a week or so in hopes they will move on to another site. Depending where you are, the bluebirds will not start laying eggs for a couple of weeks in our area.
@@MarksBackyardBirds pa
@@garrettstraffon608 maybe a week or two later, just depends on the weather and insect availability.
Would like to have seen close up shots that were on your screen. Photos were hard to see on my IPad. Can’t you zoom in when showing pictures? Sure would help to visualize the things you’re talking about.
Let me know which image you would like and I can try to post the image.
I honestly have very little sympathy for house sparrows. They’re very aggressive, and I understand it’s their nature, but they’re just very hard to like. I recently got into birding and I put up a bluebird house which a pair of chickadees (Salt and Pepper) nested in. One day, I come back to find house sparrows in the house and when I saw Salt and Pepper at the feeders, I see they heavily injured Salt’s wing and Pepper’s foot. Thank goodness it wasn’t worse, but these birds are just too detrimental for me to have sympathy for them.
I have knowledge of s many similar stories as this one. They are very aggressive and is how they spread so quickly across this country.
house sparrows are an endangered and protected species here in the Netherlands.... We almost dont see them anymore.... So over here you cant kill their nest (building) I guess
That is interesting. They were introduced here from Europe 80+ years ago. I am not aware of what has caused their decline there.
Mark, similar to other commenters I am thinking you could add a clear plastic (or thick glass) roof covered with a window film that reflects the heat but allows in sunlight. These films come in varying degrees of opacity and with a little experimenting you could discover which film worked the best.
Worth a try
Great 👍 video Mark! Thank you for your time and expertise! Happy 🐦 Birding!
Thanks for tuning in!
The biggest problem I used to have was Squirrels. Not so bad now .
Good that you solved that issue.
Yep , especially since Squirrels or tree rats love meal worms .
He means Fort Liberty
Hard to not call it Bragg, when you grew up next to it, worked there after college. I'll get it eventually.
I tend to disrespect traitors. @@MarksBackyardBirds
They're already trying to move into my bluebird nest boxes..just put them up yesterday. ..pests...
So true. You just have to be more determined than they are!
Within 30 minutes after my bluebird box was up I had a English sparrow building a nest! It has been a constant fight! This year I am trapping and killing every one of them that I can catch!
@@shellysipe6256 don't forget the van ert trap..... gets great results !!
My house sparrow is not afraid of the fishing line.
Unfortunately, it works for some but not for all
@@MarksBackyardBirds I noticed today blue birds are back on top of the nest box and the sparrows are gone. Maybe it took a little bit to get rid of them. I’m going to watch them. Make sure they don’t come back. I’ll put fishing line on top if they do or take the box out. Thank you.
Good luck 👍
i do know what a Sparrow look like , They killed 2 Family's of BlueBirds so a eye for a eye
They are aggressive
Starlings are considered pests in America
A house sparrow killed a house wren, caught the act on my bird house camera😪😪 😪
They are truly aggressive birds. Sad
Next option is just not to have boxes out at all
It is a last resort, but better than adding more house sparrows into the environment.
if you have house sparrows nesting close to Blue Birds that are nesting, never tear their nest out they will go on a rampage killing bluebirds and babies...use a Van ERT to trap these non-invasive birds in their house.
Lomenzo: non-invasive? They can be found in every low elevation city and village in the U.S. competing for nest sites. 🦜
Now I'm not sure how to remainly euthanize the nestlings or even if I should but if I don't I'm going to have about 25 because I have five boxes with about five babies each
This is a tough issue for many. It is really up to you. I know some who drown them.
I decided I couldn't stomach killing the adults so after the nest removal really wasn't enough I decided to addle and then pierce the eggs and lo and behold I have tons of sparrows
You mean "tons of Bluebirds?"
@@MrFishingtom no, sparrows. It didn't work
House sparrow is state bird of Delhi
How to attract them
Please make a video for Delhi, BIHAR 200 MILLION PEOPLE
ALL INDIA 1400 MILLION LOVE SPARROW.....
Really bad this year
I have two bird houses. One for sparrows and one for blue birds. My theory is that if the sparrows have a place to nest then they wont compete with the blue birds.
Unfortunately, that doesn't always work and you are helping the sparrows make more young to compete with bluebirds and other native cavity nesting birds.
@@MarksBackyardBirds Well it's currently working. The sparrows are supposedly aggressive but both species are keeping to themselves right now. I could try covering up the sparrow box to see if that increases competition for the blue bird house? It's not like taking down the sparrow house all-of-a-sudden erases them from my neighborhood. Like it or not, the sparrows aren't going anywhere.
None