Hello All,
	I posted this a couple weeks ago, but I will post it again as appropriate to this thread.  I have my bluebird box plan available in pdf to anyone interested.  Please send me a request offlist.


A bluebird box with a 1.5" hole in the roof will do wonders at keeping the House Sparrow away.  Not 100%, but 90% in my experience.  Cover the inside with rat wire to keep raccoon paws out.

The House Sparrows want a confined space with only one opening and dislike the 2nd hole.  The Bluebirds (and anything else) no not seem to mind as it mimics some more natural nest cavities such as one near the top of a decaying tree or an old fencepost.

Good Birding,
Glen Lovelace III
Seaford, DE

-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Kathy Woods
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:26 AM
To: 
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] bluebirds and house sparrows


I need to post here.
One can put a tube on the front of the hole of the bluebird box AFTER THE 
EGGS have been laid and the birds have nest fidelity.  House sparrows will 
generally not go into a tube.
One can use something easy to make called a sparrow spooker (strips of Mylar 
on a halo over the box)
And finally, perhaps a bit one sided, KNOW WHO TO CALL IN YOUR AREA in case 
you have an accident and need a wildlife rehabilitator; I raised over 30 
baby bluebirds in the past two years and about 5 adults.  If they are caught 
in time, we can help.  Most of the responsible nature centers have a name of 
an experienced rehabilitator (they have to have a federal permit).
kathy woods  410-628-WREN  
www.mwra.org for a listing by county
PS  Those tree tubes you see everywhere with no tops on them?  DEATH FOR 
BLUEBIRDS and other cavity nesting birds.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "j. d. newman" <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:06 AM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] bluebirds and house sparrows


> Thanks to all for their responses to my posting.
> There is no doubt that bluebirds need our help.  House sparrows are a 
> scourge, and the only
> recourse that I see is to eradicate them.  There is a need for a 
> grass-roots movement to make this
> happen.  As with all grass-roots movements, the first step is to educate. 
> The Web site
> http://www.sialis.org/ has basic information that everyone interested in 
> this issue should read,
> including sample letters to circulate to neighbors and stores and 
> organizations that might be
> selling houses or plans. I plan on ordering a DRST trap and put it to use. 
> The movement deserves
> a name.  How about 'House Sparrow Eradication Movement' or HOSEM.
>
> John Newman
> Kensington, Maryland
>
> --- Gerald & Laura Tarbell <> wrote:
>
>>  Danny Poet said - So unless  folks are willing to  do a proper job  Do 
>> Not
>> but up nesting boxes  for any species that house sparrows can use.
>>
>> Danny and all,
>>
>> Just a comment. In traveling around the country I am surprised at how 
>> often
>> we see "bluebird trails" at nature centers, wildlife refuges, parks and
>> other similar public facilities. When we ask the staff about what kind of
>> results they are seeing, we often get an answer that the boxes are either
>> not monitored or are not done so regularly.
>>
>> Clearly the facility means well or the boxes wouldn't be there. However 
>> they
>> seem to think it's enough just to put up the boxes and let them be- sort 
>> of
>> a display of good will toward nature. Then they drop the ball.
>>
>> Anybody who has ever read what I consider to be the instruction manual 
>> for
>> bluebirding  - namely Lawrence Zeleny's classic "The Bluebird" - he 
>> leaves
>> no doubt that boxes need to be monitored. If you don't intend to do that
>> then you're better off not putting one or more up.
>>     I am amazed at how often I see boxes that have no means of monitoring
>> them. All sides are solidly nailed shut and you have no easy way of 
>> checking
>> them. There are several ways of designing them so that they can be 
>> monitored
>> by just pulling out a loose nail or something. I also recommend cleaning
>> them (I hose mine out thoroughly) after each brood has fledged. This 
>> helps
>> cut down on evil little wormy predators. However, please get the box back 
>> up
>> quickly. Brood number two is often only a week behind.
>>
>>     If you are reluctant to open the boxes in fear of disturbing the 
>> adults,
>> many times I have had the female just sit there calmly staring up at me 
>> when
>> I open a box. They seem to have varying personalities when it comes to 
>> the
>> amount of alarm they display when you check a box. Some will get hyper 
>> and
>> almost do the Tree Swallow "dive bomb". Others sit quietly in a nearby 
>> tree
>> and just watch. Most importantly I have never walked away and looked back
>> without seeing them fly immediately to the hole and check the status of 
>> the
>> brood. Often they'll resume the feeding forays within minutes. So don't 
>> be
>> shy- check the boxes! And don't be shy about dispatching sparrows. My 
>> method
>> is somewhat abrupt.
>>
>>     Jerry Tarbell
>> Who will be glad to give lessons to anybody that thinks they need them.
>> However I recommend just getting Zeleny's book and following it to the
>> letter. It is still around some 30 years later.
>>
>>
>