Mama Blue, Papa Blue and a Predator - Eastern Bluebirds/House Sparrow

05-21-13 After seeing the House Sparrow (HOSP) in the video, I decided to attach a sparrow spooker to the nesting box. I watched for two hours to be sure the parents would not be bothered by it but they would not approach the box with the spooker attached. So, I removed it.
I seldom see HOSP in my yard and I'm hoping he will not stick around. I hate these pests. Last year one of them killed my nesting female Bluebird and destroyed her 4 eggs. Perhaps I should start using a trap or buy an air rifle then learn how to use it.

[@bv6086]

I have Bluebirds too...For 12 years now. Its so much fun.....Every year a pair has 3 broods..:)

[@kittenkorleone2918]

I loved hearing the oriole in the background because I didn't see a single one this spring in my neighborhood. Great audio!

[@sherireuther9678]

This just came across my feed and I really appreciate you posting. A bluebird had a nest with 4 eggs in a newspaper box attached under the mailbox. One day I noticed the nesting materials were kind of pulled out however when I returned that evening I decided not to bother them but to push back the materials the next day. When I got up in the AM I went to the mailbox and everything was torn out, 1 of the chicks was dead on the ground in front of the mailbox and I found the mother bluebird on the front porch steps several yards away, dead. I was really broken hearted but now I at least have an idea who the criminal was-a house sparrow.

[@bernkondret9981]

Racoon or Possum most likely.

[@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane]

It's very important to provide a nestbox that is at least 10 ft off the ground, on a pole, and put a squirrel guard on the pole. A "sparrow spooker" works well too, but you must wait to put it on after the bluebirds lay their first egg. The female won't abandon the nest after that. Any nest that's low to the ground like the one you saw has about a 99% chance of failing... they are a magnet for cats as well. So sorry you had to experience that... very sad. =(

[@marlenalinne6100]

@@bernkondret9981 No. Study after study has proven that the house sparrow is the single most reason for the decline in the Eastern Bluebird population.

[@agile1111]

Would be a good idea to also outfit your setup with a predator baffle.

[@birdbrain56]

Thanks, I put one up after this video was taken.

[@toddshiverdecker5500]

I thought that must be an Interstate in the background, but in Twin Lakes, MN I guess not. Certainly a busy road that day. Neat video. We have a box and family here, just looking at how others do there's. Thanks for posting.

[@threeofhardts]

It's actually Twin Lake, MI. It's a two-lane highway that has constant traffic. But this nesting box is nearly 400' from the road.

[@Bradyvilleboy]

Wonderful vid. Thank you for posting.

[@alasanonimo8303]

Excellent video, thanks for sharing..... I will love to attract blue bird to my backyard I’m wondering when is the best time to place a bluebird nesting box? I already have a great variety of wild birds visiting my feeders.... if I just can have some bluebirds in my backyard will be amazing.... greetings.

[@marlenalinne6100]

Attracting the bluebirds isn't that hard. The hard part (and it will be HARD) will be keeping the sparrows away because they are aggressive, persistent and determined to take over the box. They are more deadly to the bluebirds than a cat or hawk and you'll have to monitor the boxes CONSTANTLY. If you don't, you'll just be setting the bluebirds up for a certain death. Good luck.

[@barrysperonello5822]

We just had a sparrow kill a nest of 3 swallow young. Don't know why other than competition. Tremendous resolve. Swallows would fight it off. It would fly to a tree 30 meters away, and return to the box as soon as both swallows were gone (witin 10 seconds). Swallows stayed around, but after 2 days with no sign of them feeding young I checked the box to find the dead birds. Sad. Cleaned it out, swallows left...and so did the sparrow.

[@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane]

Sparrows are a-holes. We had them show up for the first time last summer and they were harassing our nesting bluebirds. We put up a homemade sparrow spooker and it worked great! Not sure how it works with swallows, but it's worth a try if you have this happen again. We also got this trap and used corn and suet as bait. We caught several house sparrows and they are "no longer with us" I'm happy to say! www.sparrowtraps.net/ If you get one, just read the directions carefully. Good luck!

[@bernkondret9981]

There is a simple way to assure the House Sparrow doesn't return. Do your Bluebirds a favor.

[@TimTools99]

Thanks for the video!

[@simonriss2834]

TimTools99 r

[@ronlestikow619]

A male house sparrow killed a mother Bluebird and her 4 babies years ago..since then whenever I see a sparrow near the bluebirds nest I shoot them 12 gage shotgun #8 shot..no dead bluebirds since.

[@mra2957]

Need a Van Ert trap. But it requires monitoring and ability to destroy the trapped sparrow.

[@shirleymarston3420]

I have the same Robles help please

[@jeanniejohns54]

Watching bluebirds now. 2/22/18 jax. Fl

[@carvinlambert6899]

Hi Jeannie I'm in Jacksonville Florida also, just off Bch Blvd.. Got my boxes ready this year and ready. Got a Male looking around one of them, hope you have lots of luck this year!

[@nightlightabcd]

Nice vid. Thanks for sharing it with us! I would not think that a house sparrow would be near the threat as a bluejay or others. The house sparrow did not look like it was really wanted to rob the nest, for it was unguarded and if it wanted to it could have got in! I have never heard of a house sparrow robbing a nest, but we have certainly seen videos of other birds robbing nest!

[@barbbirdyard]

House sparrows will kill bluebirds. Goggle it.

[@scottlykens5652]

Also, install a “sparrow spooker”. House sparrows hate this device and it doesn’t bother bluebirds in the least. I have 4 nest boxes and have 4 “sparrow spookers”. As soon as the first egg is laid, attach this device. 99% effective. I fledged 22 bluebirds and 10 tree swallows last year. So far this year, I’m at 16 fledged bluebirds and 9 tree swallows. I wouldn’t be a bluebird landlord without one. House sparrows are killing machines.

[@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane]

@@scottlykens5652 I can attest sparrow spookers work as well. We had house sparrows show up for the first time on our property last summer and they were harassing our nesting bluebirds. We whipped up a homemade version of the sparrow spooker and it worked! We also used this trap: www.sparrowtraps.net/ And my husband bought me a pellet gun I will be using if needed!

[@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane]

Go to sialis.org to educate yourself on how NON-NATIVE house sparrows are killing our NATIVE cavity nesting birds like bluebirds, chickadees, tree swallows, etc. House sparrows will peck the heads of other birds until they are dead, pull the babies out of the nest and kill them, or kill them in the nest box and put their nests on top of the dead bodies! They're disgusting and should be killed at any opportunity!

[@marlenalinne6100]

@@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane I have two of these traps and they're absolutely wonderful. Some days, I catch 10 or 12 sparrows and I love it. The only good sparrow is a dead sparrow and this trap gets the job done beautifully.

[@wilsonblauheuer6544]

if bluebirds are twice the size of sparrows, why can't they defend their nest ?

[@leoguajardo3560]

Plese read up on this! predator birds, animals do not need size to win/kill, non predator birds were not meant o fight for their life by god

[@jackdupp2047]

The beak.

[@scottlykens5652]

House sparrows are extremely aggressive. It is the male that you have to be concerned about. If he decides that he wants a nest box, he takes it. Even if it’s occupied.

[@kathygeenen9294]

Can I ask what the spooker was? I live in IN and we have a blue bird box we have set up the last 2 yrs, first year we had a family in the box the next year we ended up with house sparrows, I put up a wire with something hanging from it, it kept the sparrows away for a period, not long and they over took the house again, do you have any suggestions on what else I could try? I see the bluebirds around the house now any suggestions I am all ears, I know not to put the box up yet, read online early April so going to wait a little bit longer but there is a female and male around my house now. Love the video by the way!

[@threeofhardts]

The spooker was a home-made version of this www.sialis.org/sparrowspooker.htm but unfortunately, the adult Bluebirds wouldn't accept it. If I have a big problem with House Sparrows, I trap them in a home-made version of a repeating sparrow trap. I watched this series of videos to see how to make it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3OzoquCoaiaqKs

[@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane]

I know this is an old post, but maybe this will help others... make sure you put a "sparrow spooker" up AFTER the female bluebird has laid at least one egg in the nestbox. 99.9% of the time bluebirds WIIL NOT abandon their nest with eggs or young in it. I wouldn't wait to put up your nest box either... your bluebirds were looking for it! =)

[@herbsu4330]

@Kathy Geenan I heard that if you put a second bluebird house next to the sparrow inhabited one that the sparrows will attack other sparrows and the bluebirds can live in peace.

[@OnDRoad]

Looks like they like your perch, albeit others say not to have it. Ask the bluebirds

[@shanemarcotte2062]

Number one, dont have a perch on top of an eastern bluebird nestbox.

[@birdbrain56]

You shouldn't have a perch at the hole. A perch on top is fine. As a matter of fact, the Bluebirds love it.

[@shanemarcotte2062]

@@birdbrain56 Yeah you see how that worked out for them right?

[@malarai2369]

Not certain about the points made but ,if anyone else wants to learn about bird aviary design plans try Stiklind Aviary Plans Fixer (should be on google have a look ) ? Ive heard some interesting things about it and my colleague got great success with it.