I've been using a 4 x 5 inch floor on some of my homemade boxes. The birds seem to prefer this to the 4 x 4 or 4 x 4.5 inch floors. I think the author of this video suggests 5 x 5 inch is best for tree swallows. Since I have both tree swallows and bluebirds in my boxes, I compromised with the 4 x 5 inch floor. I use a 5-inch peat pot inside the box (birds make their nest in the pot) so that it's easier to see the nestlings and re-nest them if an ant invasion occurs in the box. The 5-inch peat pot fits snuggly in the 4 x 5 inch box so that the young do not get trapped between wall of box and the peat pot. You can recycle it after fledge time.

Doubtful as bluebirds weigh about the same if not a few grams more then house sparrows

daviddexter: Did you get them recently? If so, where? 🤔

I got them from Canada you have to send them the money and they will send you the pendant they are very honest people you can get two for the same shipping price as one. 😊

House sparrow is not native and kills many native birds for nest sites. They are regarded as pests in the USA. There is no law here protecting them, starlings or pigeons. They can be killed at will. These gadgets are not cruel in any way.

I know - those people make me crazy. I beg people to take down their boxes if they aren't willing to keep the sparrows out, because they are simply aiding and abetting the extinction of our beautiful little native song birds.

Most birdhouses are death traps for chickadees and swallows. I agree and only put up houses 1/8 inch metal guards to keep the HOSP out. They are cheap on Amazon.

@@petersnka4743 thanks for the tip of Amazon .. I will order for next year

@@petersnka4743 Can you explain further what you mean by 1/8" metal guard?

I have lost chickadees swallows and bluebirds to these devil birds.

You have to use a Van Ert trap that goes on the inside, Google it and you can see who sells it for around $17.

Great move putting out the trap, you will be a hero to the native birds who stand little chance against the HOSP

@@petersnka4743 Thank you, we're trying! 😊

I use that entrance shape too for my Green backed swallows. No English sparrows in my immediate area so I don't know if the elliptical design would keep them out. The swallows do seem to have an easier time entering and exiting the box with elliptical entrance holes, something that helps them survive Coopers Hawk and Sharp shinned hawk attacks....which I have witnessed a few times. Another suggestion I have to all swallow enthusiasts is to keep all open buckets or any other type of trapping dangers closed during the time the young leave the nest. The young can sometimes fall to the ground and get trapped in these spots.

That's very interesting, do you have house sparrows on/around your property?

I agree , in my area Vancouver island , the 15/16 oval hole works well to keep house sparrows out but does allow Tree swallows in . Yes i agree , an oval hole larger than 1/5/16 will not keep house sparrows out.

I was pondering this hole shape and size for a solution. Thanks for sharing. ☺

@@ProtectSwallows: So your 1/5/16 refers to what? 🤔

My Gamo Swarm Maxxim G2 .22 works great, combined with a repeating sparrow trap and Van Ert birdhouse traps. Good to have options. I like the looks of this pendulum too. Retired engineers like gadgets.

David Spicer cardinals don’t use boxes or tree cavities

@@ESowash carolina wrens do

@@keltar4071 I just ordered one of these traps that was recommended by another commenter on another video: www.sparrowtraps.net/ It has great reviews! We had house sparrows show up on our property for the first time this year and they harassed our nesting bluebird pair relentlessly until we put up a sparrow spooker. I'm going to nip them in the bud before they become more of a problem. I think the only way to put a dent in their population is to "permanently" get rid of them. If we all buy one or more of these traps, think of all the house sparrows we could get rid of! They're not cheap, but I feel they're worth it to help our native songbirds, including cardinals and others that don't use nestboxes. Also, just wanted to say in our area (Michigan) we've had house wrens go into our bluebird house and peck holes in their eggs. But, at least it's native bird against native bird...

Cardinals nest in bushes.

@@uhill74 im not calling you a liar but here in baltimore maryland they like to nest in branches of tall trees usually about 15 to 20 foot up. Another odd thing they do in my area. I have a bike path and for some reason they like putting there nests on the branches directly above the path. Its right out in the open its weird because any other time they are trying to hide.