what with bluebird boxes
Question:
I put up 4 bluebird boxes this Spring. One of them had a nesting pair up until a few days ago. The female had laid about 5 light blue eggs. Sparrows simply harrassed her until she abandoned the box. Two sparrows sat right by the box all day long. If the female left they wouldn't allow her back in. I interfered once and scared the sparrows off so the female bluebird could get back in the box, which she did. The male tried driving them off many times. At one time there were as many as 7 sparrows attacking him. The sparrows harrassed them constantly. I have seen no sign of bluebirds now for several days. I looked in the box. There was absolutely no sign of eggs, not even the tiniest piece of shell. The sparrows had built right on top of the bluebird nest. I guess the sparrows broke the eggs and removed the pieces. We're contemplating buying a pellet gun or sparrow trap. Ever since we built the boxes, the sparrows and starlings have taken over the back yard. I also put up 2 wood duck boxes by the pond. After constantly ripping out starling nests, I taped the holes hoping the starlings would go away. No such luck.he box which Had the bluebirds is about 250 - 300 ft from the house and 50 ft from our pond, and about 5 ft off the ground. Its on the fencepost at the corner of our mini orchard. I also have a box which is on the other side of our pond, at least 400 ft from the house and under some large oak trees. The sparrows also go for that one, but I haven't seen any bluebirds around that one. Yesterday a pair of bluebirds were back trying to build in a box that's only 50 ft. from the garage at the other corner of the orchard fence. They have been fighting with sparrows over the box. It seems like no matter where I put them, the sparrows try to use them. I must have ripped out sparrow nests at least 30 times, but they just don't give up. Would putting the boxes lower to the ground scare off the sparrows (3-4ft)? How tdo I get rid of the scum birds?
Answer:
_your problem with house sparrows (HOSP) and starlings (STAR), or as we
prefer (SLZO), is common to boxes that are emplaced too close to human
structures. The overnest building is a common inter-species predation
when they aren't enough natural cavities. We've observed similar predation
by Bluebirds on Chickadee nests; In that case it was a simple matter of
placing another box within a few feet as the species tolerate each other.
Same for Tree swallow and Titmouse although the latter is shy. Doesn't
work for House Wren as they build false nests in every cavity they find.
I'd like to help you but need to first know more about your box
placement and surrounding environment. Sparrow traps are commercially
available and I suppose you could go the airgun route as HOSP and STAR
are NOT protected species. Be advised that they are the ONLY ones
not protected by statute.
Either drop me a note on the group or send email so we don't bore others.
I'm a bander in the New York finger lakes region.
_
Bluebirds prefer a box in an as open location as possible. The height
of the cavity opening should be around four feet. This tends to deter
some other cavity nesting competition. If you're in Black snake country,
you should also use a predator guard. I don't think your five foot
box height is excessive but would certainly try moving the box a bit
lower and discoutage HOSP nesting attempts by cleaning out the box
whenever they start building.
We had a very successful trail in Maryland (over 400 boxes) and tried
all sorts of combinations. Where a HOSP population abounded we had no choice
but to discourage their building. Here in New York, I'm running into a
more frustrating problem as we have a small bluebird population and large
house wren population. To date, two nesting attempts have suffered
wren predation ( they enter the box and destroy the eggs). Although we
can thwart wren nesting attempts by removing the sticks, I know of no
solution to the egg predation as the wren is protected.
Sorry we can't solve your problem. Try the lower box and sparrow nest
removal. Let me know how you make out.
An informative book on blubirds was written by Larry Zeleny a few years
ago; believe it's called THE BLUEBIRD.
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