Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 17:58:38 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Greg Downing Subject: House Sparrows MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I currently have 5 bluebird nesting boxes on my property in Northern = Baltimore County. I have ideal habitat for bluebirds and have had one = nesting pair for several years. Last year they were kicked out of their = original box and taken over by house sparrows. The same pair took up = residence in a different box for their second brood of the year. This = year the house sparrows are back and have already laid eggs. I am = concerned that the population of house sparrows may once again threaten = my bluebirds. What is the ethical thing to do to get rid of them? I = considered trapping the female in the box with the eggs and re-locating = them to a remote area but am not sure if this is the right thing to do. = I don't mind them using one box but am afraid that as the population = grows (I never had *any* until last year) that they will begin to take = over other boxes and drive the bluebirds out entirely. Any advice is = appreciated! ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================