Sparrow spooker question

[Michael N]

My female bluebird looks to have already completed egg laying. Is it too late for the sparrow spooker to go up? First timer here.

Thanks.

[BW Fowler]

I'm no BB expert, but I know that after martins lay eggs they will tolerate lots of changes to their house/gourd. I'd say go ahead and put it on. You definitely don't want a sparrow to come along and break those eggs.

Good luck,
BW

[JimW]

You should not put it up until the eggs have been laid anyway.....not before.

Now is the time!!!!

[tim414]

Bluebirds in this area are in/starting their SECOND nesting cycle. No, it's NOT to late to do sparrow spookers. I HIGHLY rec it. The sparrows were pressuring my BB's this year preventing them from nesting in the BB boxes because the sparrows were claiming ALL of them (5).

Use the fishing line. The spookers using mylar and dowels are only effective until the sparrows get use to them.

They cannot see the fishing line and it scares the hell out of them. They will not touch a box with those type spookers.

Add: The BB's pay NO ATTENTION to the spookers (fishing line) either.....

[Michael N]

Never heard of using fishing line...cool.

Did you make your own?

[Dan G]

Bluebirds in this area are in/starting their SECOND nesting cycle. No, it's NOT to late to do sparrow spookers. I HIGHLY rec it. The sparrows were pressuring my BB's this year preventing them from nesting in the BB boxes because the sparrows were claiming ALL of them (5).

Use the fishing line. The spookers using mylar and dowels are only effective until the sparrows get use to them.

They cannot see the fishing line and it scares the hell out of them. They will not touch a box with those type spookers.

Add: The BB's pay NO ATTENTION to the spookers (fishing line) either.....

Do you clean the nest out between broods or do they re-use the same nest?

[tim414]

Yes. It's VERY easy too.

Place four ss wood srew, about a 3/4-inch long, or galvanied nails w/a head.

Place the hardware in each corner of the BB box roof. Tie fishing around the tops of the hard ware.

Take two additional screw and place them into the BB box high up on each side of the box. Take a fishing weight or washer, ss if possible so it's shiny, and tie fishing line to the weight/washer and tie those to the side monted hardware on the BB box.

It's the side ones that get their attention. The HOSP will perch on the ground next to the box and stare at the side mounted portion. Then hover over and see the top. They will abandon the box and not touch it again.....I witnessed this year.

[tim414]

Bluebirds in this area are in/starting their SECOND nesting cycle. No, it's NOT to late to do sparrow spookers. I HIGHLY rec it. The sparrows were pressuring my BB's this year preventing them from nesting in the BB boxes because the sparrows were claiming ALL of them (5).

Use the fishing line. The spookers using mylar and dowels are only effective until the sparrows get use to them.

They cannot see the fishing line and it scares the hell out of them. They will not touch a box with those type spookers.

Add: The BB's pay NO ATTENTION to the spookers (fishing line) either.....

Do you clean the nest out between broods or do they re-use the same nest?

IMMEDIATELY, after fledging, REMOVE the old nest. They may reuse the same box. One pair of mine did.

ADD: They will NOT reuse the same nest....

[Fireflyfisherman]

It is NOT to late to put that spooker up. I put up the spooker as soon as the first egg is laid. The mother lays the egg and then leaves for the rest of the day and returns the next morning to lay another egg. This time is when the eggs are their most vulnerable. Get that spooker up. The mother has no problem accepting this but the dad tends to land on it and pick at the streamers for a few minutes. After a few minutes he will accept it also. Bluebird landlords take House Sparrows (HOSP) very seriously. They are such an awful and destructive bird.

Also remove the nest and clean the box out (with water and a scraper of sorts) after they fledge. My bluebirds usually start rebuilding a few weeks after fledging.

Below is the link to the bluebirder's version of PMCA and their Forum. Both are full of wonderful information and helpful tips about the HOSP and blue birding in general.

Good Luck

http://www.sialis.org

http://bluebirdnutcafe.yuku.com

[tim414]

It is NOT to late to put that spooker up. I put up the spooker as soon as the first egg is laid. The mother lays the egg and then leaves for the rest of the day and returns the next morning to lay another egg. This time is when the eggs are their most vulnerable. Get that spooker up. The mother has no problem accepting this but the dad tends to land on it and pick at the streamers for a few minutes. After a few minutes he will accept it also. Bluebird landlords take House Sparrows (HOSP) very seriously. They are such an awful and destructive bird.

Also remove the nest and clean the box out (with water and a scraper of sorts) after they fledge. My bluebirds usually start rebuilding a few weeks after fledging.

Below is the link to the bluebirder's version of PMCA and their Forum. Both are full of wonderful information and helpful tips about the HOSP and blue birding in general.

Good Luck

http://www.sialis.org

http://bluebirdnutcafe.yuku.com

Hey Flyfisherman,

Do you have a established colony?

BTW, my HOSP here got use to the streamers (mylar/dowel method) and started ignoring them when they wanted nesting sites). I changed over to the fishing line method and they left....totally, to find other nest sites.
Tim

Add: you are so RIGHT about HOSP. They ARE EXTREMELY DESTRUCTIVE and WILL KILL the BB's inside the box. This happened this year at another box I set up at my mothers house. When I put up the box, I was in a hurry and decided to wait to put up a spooker. They KILLED (the HOSP killed) the male BB defending the full nest. Two mistakes I made:
1) not installing a spooker
2) use SLOT boxes so the BB can escape when the HOSP attack. I witnessed 4-6 HOSP gang up on the BB this year and caused/prevent the BB from nesting in their own boxes.

It's a brutal 'wildlife'.....

[Fireflyfisherman]

Tim,

I hate the HOSP. I do have an established bluebird site and have set up a successful one out at my moms (in the country with little HOSP pressure) and at a neighbors a few houses down. Im no expert but just speak from what I have experienced. The first year I set up the bluebird house I learned so many things not to due and learned about the destructive HOSP first hand, losing 2 clutches to them (once as eggs and once as 2 day old nestlings). That is what began my war on the invasives. I will put up the spooker after the first egg is laid and then take it down immediately after they fledge. I also shoot every HOSP and starling I can. I have heard about the fishing line trick and want to set up the next house with that on it. I will use every trick out there to fight those bad birds.

I'm surprised people don't try these tricks on Martin houses. This is my first year trying become a landlord with Martins. I have one clutch laid by a pair so I am not about to try any experiments.

[tim414]

Hey,

I just saw your reply. The only problem with the dowel/mylar method is the HOSP become de-sensatized after they get use to seeing it for a while; that, and the urge to find suitable nesting sites.

I was using the dowel/mylar on my BB boxes. I had installed them during the late winter. The BB's start nesting in late Feb around here. Usually before the HOSP, so that makes it bad to lose a whole nest of BB's to the dam HOSP.

I hate them too, especially after I saw what they did at my mothers site; killed all the nestlings and killed the male BB trying to defend them.....they even plucked his feather off the back of his head/neck to line their nest with.

I guess that's why feathers work as bait in the traps when the HOSP are nesting.

[Fireflyfisherman]

I put the spooker up as soon as the first egg is laid and take it down the day they fledge in hopes that hey don't get used to it. I also shoot at every sparrow that I see land in my backyard. I will try the fishing line trick too. Do you have a photo of your setup you could post?

[tim414]

I put the spooker up as soon as the first egg is laid and take it down the day they fledge in hopes that hey don't get used to it. I also shoot at every sparrow that I see land in my backyard. I will try the fishing line trick too. Do you have a photo of your setup you could post?

No, not in my system, but I DO have a diagram on email. Send me your email [email protected]

[tim414]

Add: I rather do the fishing line method and be done with it. It's easy to maintain too. Only thing that can happen is the (I use SS washers because their shiny and that really gets the HOSP attention-helps scare them cause they can't see the fishing line) is the line the side weights (lead fishing weights or washers) hang on might tangle in very high wind. It's nothing to walk over to the box and free it.

When you see the diagram you'll know what I'm referring to.

[Matt@atx]

Hi Tim,

Thanks for the fishing line info. May I email you to get a copy of that diagram?


Answering the OP. yes, I would put up the spooker even after all eggs are in and in a heart beat. This is absolutely no problem to the BBs.

I add two pieces of milar tape to each side of the BB house attached to the roof ends as well which I attach with little flat headed wood screws and washers.

This gets that streamer movement above the entrance and on both sides. I add milar tape to the sides after the babies hatch and this is provided the spooker is working well for you.

You want to take down the spooker and any additional sparrow deterrents as soon as the BB babies fledge, remove the nest and clean out the box. The BB babies do not return to the box once they leave.

Fellow in SA attaches the guardian tunnel to his BB box which they use and like but I do not know if this deters Sparrows.

[Matt@atx]

Hi Tim,

DO Slot box have slot openings across the length of the top of the entrance panel instead of a round hole entrance and do Blue Birds take to them just as well as round hole entrances?

[tim414]

Hi Tim,

DO Slot box have slot openings across the length of the top of the entrance panel instead of a round hole entrance and do Blue Birds take to them just as well as round hole entrances?

Yes and Yes.

It allows the Bluebird to escape if more than one HOSP gets into the box to attack/kill the Bluebird. Their chance of surviving the attack is much greater than the round hole. The hosp cannot block the slot, where they can block the hole once inside w/the BB.

And it is a horrid site to see a Bluebird, DEAD inside their own box, after being killed by the HOSP ganging up on them the way they do.

[tim414]

Hi Tim,

Thanks for the fishing line info. May I email you to get a copy of that diagram?

yes....

Add: it is also posted online, but, I do not remember which site. It might be sialis site....but a mentor sent this to me and I'm most happy to share with anyone who wants it.

[Matt@atx]

Hi Tim,

DO Slot box have slot openings across the length of the top of the entrance panel instead of a round hole entrance and do Blue Birds take to them just as well as round hole entrances?

Yes and Yes.

It allows the Bluebird to escape if more than one HOSP gets into the box to attack/kill the Bluebird. Their chance of surviving the attack is much greater than the round hole. The hosp cannot block the slot, where they can block the hole once inside w/the BB.

And it is a horrid site to see a Bluebird, DEAD inside their own box, after being killed by the HOSP ganging up on them the way they do.

Thank you for that information Tim. I appreciate it. I have contemplated switching to slots but was always wondering if they would take to them.

I would think it is possible to change out the front panel to a slot entrance one self if one had the right slot entrance measurements.