Thanks Mark! I had house sparrows making nests in my bluebird box so I got rid of the partial nest and used the fishing line technique you explained..I now have a pair of bluebirds making a nest..appreciare the advice!
We have 4 bluebird nest boxes on our land that we monitor very closely. Every pole has a stove pipe baffle and each house has a predator guard on the entry hole. Once the first egg is laid we put up a sparrow spooker then take it down once the babies fledge. We have had great success with no fatalities for 5 seasons using these methods. My opinion is don't put up a bluebird house if you're not going to take the time and necessary measures to help protect them. Unrelated question: what type of feeder do you sell that would allow pretty much any bird species access to seed/nuts (other than a tray feeder) that can be hung on a feeding station? Thank you
Congrats on the bluebird success. Your dedication is exemplary. As for the feeder question. I would recommend a hopper type feeder such as a Hilltop Oasis or a Multi-seed Tube style feeder with a tray. Aspects are my favorite tube feeders. Both of these are made in the USA.
Mark, My Bird Group here in Pa. was desperate to make our ten bluebird boxes safe for bluebirds. In April, we cleaned out every box, and every box was filled with nests of house sparrows (or mice). Once clean, we applied the fishing line EXACTLY as suggested, and it works in deterring the invasive, aggressive sparrows! We were thrilled. One theory is the sparrow must spread wings as he enters the hole, so line stops it. Bluebirds, on the other hand, dive right into the entrance, wings folded. One of my group actually saw a bluebird enter a newly wired house in just this way. Thank you for spreading the word.
Sorry to bother you again Mark. But, hows the Oriole migration doing? I looked at a map for Oriole Migration and see it is spotty N, S, E & W but up to Sioux Falls, SD.
No problem at all. Orioles, grosbeaks and buntings have really just showed up here in the last couple of days. As long as we get more south winds, they should be up your ways and n the next week.
Watching my bluebird dive bomb two squirrels in my backyard trying to feed. I have four bluebird babies that just hatched in my bird box. The parents are doing remarkable. The squirrels..not so much. Lol
They are introduced species in this country and they negatively impact native bird populations. This video is intended to help people who try to help native birds use their nesting boxes.
Thanks Mark! I had house sparrows making nests in my bluebird box so I got rid of the partial nest and used the fishing line technique you explained..I now have a pair of bluebirds making a nest..appreciare the advice!
Thanks for the information, I was wondering if it was too late to place a new box and you answered me at the end !
Glad I was able to help.
My bluebirds are busy feeding their newly hatched babies but I watched papa fight off a sparrow for a period of time this morning
He is a good dad!
We have 4 bluebird nest boxes on our land that we monitor very closely. Every pole has a stove pipe baffle and each house has a predator guard on the entry hole. Once the first egg is laid we put up a sparrow spooker then take it down once the babies fledge. We have had great success with no fatalities for 5 seasons using these methods. My opinion is don't put up a bluebird house if you're not going to take the time and necessary measures to help protect them.
Unrelated question: what type of feeder do you sell that would allow pretty much any bird species access to seed/nuts (other than a tray feeder) that can be hung on a feeding station? Thank you
Congrats on the bluebird success. Your dedication is exemplary. As for the feeder question. I would recommend a hopper type feeder such as a Hilltop Oasis or a Multi-seed Tube style feeder with a tray. Aspects are my favorite tube feeders. Both of these are made in the USA.
@@MarksBackyardBirds thank you for the suggestions!!
Mark, My Bird Group here in Pa. was desperate to make our ten bluebird boxes safe for bluebirds. In April, we cleaned out every box, and every box was filled with nests of house sparrows (or mice). Once clean, we applied the fishing line EXACTLY as suggested, and it works in deterring the invasive, aggressive sparrows! We were thrilled. One theory is the sparrow must spread wings as he enters the hole, so line stops it. Bluebirds, on the other hand, dive right into the entrance, wings folded. One of my group actually saw a bluebird enter a newly wired house in just this way. Thank you for spreading the word.
That is awesome to hear. Thanks so much for sharing this!
Sorry to bother you again Mark. But, hows the Oriole migration doing? I looked at a map for Oriole Migration and see it is spotty N, S, E & W but up to Sioux Falls, SD.
No problem at all. Orioles, grosbeaks and buntings have really just showed up here in the last couple of days. As long as we get more south winds, they should be up your ways and n the next week.
Will this work to keep sparrows out of Tree Swallow boxes?
I’ve never tested on a tree swallow box so I’m not sure.
Watching my bluebird dive bomb two squirrels in my backyard trying to feed. I have four bluebird babies that just hatched in my bird box. The parents are doing remarkable. The squirrels..not so much. Lol
Good for those bluebirds!
What do you have against house sparrows?? They have the same richts as any other bird!!!
They are introduced species in this country and they negatively impact native bird populations. This video is intended to help people who try to help native birds use their nesting boxes.