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.
> 
>