Are House Finches a Threat to Bluebirds? Curious Connection Explored

[@M00Nature]

I observe this a lot in the winter when bluebirds and house finches arrive at about the same time at my feeders. They might not be eating the same foods or from the same feeder, but seem to travel together for protection from predators.

[@nesthollow5159]

That's really interesting. I haven't really seen this in the winter, but that might be partly due to what you mentioned - They don't usually eat the same food, and feeders are one area where birds will gather. I'll keep an eye out this winter. That would be interesting to see for sure.

[@marygray8294]

Thank you for your scholarly approach to investigating this topic and other concerns on your channel. It is refreshing to find someone who actually looks for peer reviewed studies which are published in journals for professional scientists. This type of research needs to guide those of us who are bird hobbyists, and I appreciate your efforts.

[@nesthollow5159]

Thank you so much. That means so much. I've worked in the sciences for 10 years, and I like to try to make the information more accessible to everyone.

[@elizabethhorn9861]

thanks for this video-just observed a finch on top of the nest box with week nestlings. Those finches are true groupies!

[@nesthollow5159]

Aren't they though! It's really adorable how curious and friendly they are with bluebirds.

[@williamjaeger5940]

Great video! Very informative! I had this recently! As you said after first fledge, I saw what I thought at a distance was a house sparrow harassing the bluebirds, but with binoculars discovered it was a house finch! It would follow bluebirds to and away from nestbox! Bizarre! Thanks for another great show!

[@nesthollow5159]

They are sooo funny! I haven't really observed house finches do this with other birds as much (maybe other finches) but they love hanging around blues! I did once spy 2 house finches inch closer to 2 red-tailed hawks on a telephone pole that were enjoying a rabbit or squirrel. But I cannot confirm if that was house finch hunger and curiosity or if they were nervous about the hawks being in their territory. Behavior suggested curiosity... but that behavior is also really risky on the finch part. Anyway, it's definitely a relief to have found yours were house finches and not house sparrows 😀

[@rayellebishop8168]

I Just found your channel and slightly upset because I see you reply to everyone's question. I rarely see them give a thanks or a thumbs up. That would make you feel like they didn't receive your reply. Many thanks for you sharing your info. New subscriber🙂🐦

[@nesthollow5159]

Thank you so much for the encouragement. I feel bad because I haven't replied to you. I have been on "youtube hibernation" due to the winter. Bird season is about to pick up very soon, and I'll be back at it again shortly. Sorry for the delay.

[@rayellebishop8168]

Thank you.@@nesthollow5159

[@SuperCmcgrath]

Great video - thank you!

[@nesthollow5159]

Thank you so much.

[@jameslomenzo1139]

You're right about that disease, house sparrows literally give me PTSD just thinking about them. Looks like a beautiful monarch butterfly behind you.

[@nesthollow5159]

Managing the house sparrows is just a never-ending job. While on vacation, one happened upon a decoy box. Thank goodness he went for that instead of the active bluebird box. But you can imagine how helpless it feels to be miles away, hoping for the best. With a wren guard and sparrow spooker on the active box, the house sparrow thankfully was content to investigate the decoy box and leave the blues alone. I know you've been caring for bluebirds and other native songbirds for a while now. Keep it up, and keep sharing your stories. I love seeing them.

[@jameslomenzo1139]

@nesthollow5159 never had this happen but this year I had a neighborhood cat reach in one of my Bluebird houses with 3- 8-9 day old babies taking them out, jumped up on the post,made me sick to see that. I can't stand when people let their cats run wild, I have two cats and they don't go out.

[@nesthollow5159]

Oof that's rough! My kitties are inside kitties only. For their safety and the safety of wild animals. I've had a few loose cats stroll into my yard though. The cameras pick them up at night. But with the baffle, I can breathe a little easier. That's not to say they're 100% effective. Anything can happen. But it certainly minimizes the risk. The downside is fledge day. I actually saw a rat snake out in the open on bluebird fledge day. Buut, I think it was more interested in yard bunnies rather than birds. While my heart raced, I had to keep reminding myself that the rat snake is native and has a role within the ecosystem. But it is very hard sometimes.

[@guillermoestengersr5791]

@@nesthollow5159