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.
>>
>>
>