Elaine,
The wire guard is sometimes called the Noel Coon Guard and its purpose
is to prevent four-legged predators from being able to reach inside the
box. It has no effect on House Sparrows and some even think it will
deter bluebirds from using a box. It's usually recommended to attach
this guard right after the eggs are laid rather than before a nest is built.
I agree with the post recommending that no bluebird boxes be put up
where there are already a number of House Sparrows unless the sparrows
are controlled. I speak from experience.
Arlene
Arlene Ripley
Calvert County, MD
http://nestbox.com
piwa99 at comcast dot net
Elaine Hendricks wrote:
> While walking at Lake Artemesia in College Park yesterday,
> I noticed that someone had attached small rectangular "cages"
> made of hardware cloth around the holes in the bluebird boxes.
> Are these devices meant to deter House Sparrows? If so, do
> they work?
>
> Elaine Hendricks
> Greenbelt, MD (PG County)
>
>
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