house sparrow resistant box for bluebirds
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-=DKC=-
- Posts: 356
- Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2017 2:26 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
- Martin Colony History: ................
2019: 11 pairs
2018: 11 pairs - 43 fledged
2017: 4 pairs - 17 fledged
sialis.org is a wealth of Bluebird info.
http://sialis.org/
Here's their page on hole reducers with measurements...
http://sialis.org/holereducer.htm
"If at first you don't succeed, keep on suckin' till you do succeed." - Curly Howard
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marcus
- Posts: 314
- Joined: Tue May 10, 2016 10:21 pm
- Location: Fairland OK
- Martin Colony History: Mom n Dad had a plastic 12 unit martin house with some martins as long as I can remember. In 2013 they had 1 pair. I don't think they fledged any. I then started learning how to take care of martins and in 2014 we took that house down and put up a Troyer 18 gourd rack. We had 7 pair with 28 fledged.That summer I built a T-14 (I was only 12). I was also given 4 natural gourds that I hung beneath the T-14. In 2015, we had 23 pair although only 22 pair fledged young. They fledged 88 young. In 2016, we had 36 pair, 210 eggs, 163 hatched, 149 fledge!! One pair fledged 2 broods. In 2017, I had 36 pair with 35 fledging young. They laid 204 eggs, hatched 155, and fledged 152.
You will not be able to stop sparrows from entering any hole that a bluebird can get through. Troyers have a bluebird house design that is smaller than most sparrows like but bluebirds don't mind. Usually the sparrows leave the babies alone once they see the house is too small for them to nest in. However, I have had sparrows nest in these bluebird houses already.
grayfox.............. I will suggest that you check out the Pa Bluebird website ( www.thebsp.org ). They explain one possible method using fishing line. This method has worked well for me at my location i.e., urban, large sparrow population neighbor feeding sparrows bread/milo etc. here in Western Pa. Nothing else worked or was as practical. Many years of trying.
I do use a variation of that shown but the 13/4" width is essential. My line is parallel to the front face of the box and extends from roof to the bottom.
Just this past week a pair fledged their second brood successfully.
Good Luck!
I do use a variation of that shown but the 13/4" width is essential. My line is parallel to the front face of the box and extends from roof to the bottom.
Just this past week a pair fledged their second brood successfully.
Good Luck!
I read in birds and bloom where they believe the house sparrow should be left alone.They said put up another box just for the h.s.There not the only one protecting the h.s.A lot of people feed them and want them protected.Do these people protect rats and mice in and around there house.If there was some way to get there numbers down as not to wipe them out completely and not hurt other birds.No perfect solution.
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John Miller
- Posts: 4867
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
I have pretty good luck using the Troyer sparrow resistant BB boxes...using 12 here and there. Have had a house sparrow pair build once, but usually leave alone. Chickadees and tree swallows build in them too. They are shallow and a wide open entrance. While a house sparrow may build in them occasionally, I'm hopeful the risk of house sparrows entering an active bluebird nest and doing damage is reduced.
One can cut a slot entrance into wood, or plastic or PVC type plate that's exactly 7/8 inch tall about 2 1/4 inch wide and restrict house sparrows but allow smaller birds like house wrens to enter. Unfortunately it would be too small for bluebirds.
One can cut a slot entrance into wood, or plastic or PVC type plate that's exactly 7/8 inch tall about 2 1/4 inch wide and restrict house sparrows but allow smaller birds like house wrens to enter. Unfortunately it would be too small for bluebirds.