Problems with house sparrows on the bluebird trail (Part 9)

Passive (Biological/Behavioral) Control
Factors that Encourage or Discourage HOSPs (House Sparrows)

Also see other HOSP information under Active Control, Philosophy, Lime, General, Disposal, etc.

In addition to Messages that have appeared in the Bluebird Mailing Lists on this topic, the following are on the Audubon Society of Omaha website: 

• Minimum diameter for House Sparrow entry by Frank Navratil
• House Sparrows by Steve Eno
• The Active and Passive Bluebirders by Bluebird Bob Walshaw and Jim McLochlin

From: "Kellams, Dina M" dmkellam"at"indiana.edu
Subject: HOSP have taken over
Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 10:50:24 -0500

After a successful brood of 6 EABL with no problems whatsoever, I now have a HOSP problem. The EABLs fledged about 2 weeks ago. Over the past couple of weeks I saw quite a bit of interest in the box from some TRES, but papa Blue kept hanging around and chasing them off. I've NEVER seen HOSP in my yard (I'm in the country) but yesterday I discovered some HOSP working on a nest in the box! I stomped out there and removed it. They just went right back to work, so I remembered I read about others letting them nest, lay eggs and then poke holes in the eggs, so I believe that's what I'll do (I'm not quite to the point where I am ready to kill them straight out. I'm hoping they will be discouraged by the non-hatching eggs). I just can't believe they've shown up! Dirty birds....

Dina
Lawrence Co, Ind.

From: chicker"at"snet.net
Date: Wed, 29 May 2002 19:03:38 -0400
Subject: Sparrow eggs/Invasion

I know people here will kill sparrows etc, but i wont. I will remove eggs. The HOSP has hit a chicadee(which was my fault) which i took care of with a smaller hole and they are renesting.. For some reason a male sparrow went right into a Swallows house and destroyed the eggs and decided to live which was way out in a field.. I did feel i chased it away so it took what was available? Swallows renested in another box all seems well.. Question being if i let the sparrows lay the eggs then remove the eggs will that do??? I do not want to make them mad which could cause them to venture into other houses??? I mean how many times can the female sparrow lay eggs????What happens after i remove the eggs do they freak out or try again! or go away???I have alot of land and i think people think removing nests/nest sites from the sparrow that they won't go and retaliate against other birds???? I feel if i let them have their area then remove the nest/eggs they are more likely to "mellow" Will they rebuild or will they go invade has anyone investigated that end??? DO THEY GET MAD???? Thanks Bea In Bethel Connecticut

From: "Keith & Sandy Kridler" kridler"at"1starnet.com
Subject: Re:sparrow eggs/invasion
Date: Thu, 30 May 2002 07:40:28 -0500

Behavior of the House Sparrows only!
Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas
The most powerful urge birds have during the summer is to breed and raise young. Sparrows are very much like bluebirds that if something steals their eggs they simply move to another location to attempt again or may use the same site. Historically sparrows have been reported to successfully fledge EIGHT broods in a 12 month period. Modern days (the last 20 years or so) they seem to try to fledge about 34 broods per summer laying up to 10 eggs per clutch but may attempt 20+ nestings in the same general area if they constantly have their nests/eggs removed.

People must understand that when you remove their eggs and or nest that these birds ARE going to find another nest site VERY close to their home roost area and WILL be strong enough to take it away from ALL of the smaller native cavity nesters! This will happen within hours or even minutes of removal of the eggs or nesting material. This is a "natural" response with nearly all living creatures that can control ovulation! "Very close" means about 35 minutes of flight time or about a 5 mile circle!

IF you want to practice "passive" House Sparrow control then you MUST leave the eggs in the nest and render them infertile to help keep the population down on your trail. Applying mineral oil or vegetable oil once or twice a week to the sparrow eggs for the first two weeks should smother the developing embryo. This may or may not fool the female and the male as he also "sits" on the eggs to guard and keep them warm while the female is off the nest.

People ALSO must realize that after nest building and incubation starts the male House Sparrow continues to look and call for other females to breed with! Most birds are polygamists when it comes to breeding even if they stay with one mate for life! A male House Sparrow can feed twice a day at a bird feeder for 5 minutes and then have 1216 hours of daylight to visit other nestboxes and try to breed with other female House Sparrows. THIS IS ALL HIS HORMONES ALLOW HIM TO DO FOR THE ENTIRE SUMMER! The more empty nestboxes he can keep open near him the better his chances of attracting other females in the area. This means that periodically he will remove other nesting birds "nearby" anytime during the breeding season. DO NOT be surprised when this happens!

Even with a female patiently sitting on eggs that will not hatch the male will continue these "college Toga" party habits that have allowed them to become the most numerous bird on nearly every temperate continent! They did not explode across the continent and the world by being content with one nestbox and one female! When a female House Sparrow is about to lay eggs she will mate with EVERY available male House Sparrow in the area! This encourages the males to always be on the look out for nest sites and keep up their calling for mates (singing) all summer!

We should NEVER be surprised when a House Sparrow "suddenly and out of the blue" appears and takes over a nestbox in our yard. THIS IS what they DO! They are constantly EXPANDING their territory into your yard where you have now created the needed nest sites in an area where there were none before you placed the boxes. KK

From: chicker"at"snet.net
Date: Thu, 30 May 2002 18:30:57 -0400
Subject: Removing nests

If you remove a sparrows nest or any other for that matter after they are done with it is there still anger.. I assume not with BB which you are supposed to do.. If a sparrow leaves whether from fledging or no good eggs is he less prone to be angry as when you remove an active nest.. I know its a stupid question but i asked it..
Bea in Bethel CT

From: "jodyrose" jodyrose"at"bright.net
Subject: Sorry wrong subject.
Date: Thu, 30 May 2002 20:57:13 -0400

I'm sorry. I got my subjects mixed up. If I'm going to respond on this list, I better get my subjects straight.

I was also wondering about clipping wings on HOSP. I've seen that suggested on this list in the past. What does that do to the HOSP, to help keep them out of the bluebird boxes?

Jodyrose
Mt. Gilead, Ohio (60 miles N. of Columbus)

From: "Glenn Williams" glenwill"at"chilitech.net
Cc: "Glenn Williams" glenwill"at"chilitech.net
Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2002 1:09 PM
Subject: Fawzi-Please explain!

" HOSP, whose wings I trim and let them loose in our yard. I see these HOSP all summer long... "

Is this to make them easy targets for predators? I assume it makes them unable to fly.
...

From: "Fawzi P. Emad femad <at> fpemad <dot> com
Subject: Re: Fawzi-Please explain!
Date: Thu, 30 May 2002 21:48:18 -0400

The HOSP can fly well and they eat at the feeders and do fairly well. They can no longer fight well, and are no longer able to take over nestboxes. Most our predators (hawks for example) are not interested in HOSP. They prefer four legged critters and perhaps bigger, slower birds like mourning doves. It is also possible they can get these HOSP, but they could have done so anyway (before the wing trim.) EABL are good flyers, and I have not seen any taken by a hawk. [This does not mean hawks don't take HOSP and EABL, I just never saw it happen.]

Fawzi

Fawzi Emad in Laytonsville, Maryland
femad"at"comcast.net

Date: Thu, 30 May 2002 22:18:55 -0700
From: Michael Barratt cantona"at"optonline.net
Subject: Re:sparrow eggs/invasion

Dear Keith, all,

To back up your point about HOSP being such a successful species, I have to say that they are among the most intelligent birds I have come across. In my experience they are extremely observant of the smallest changes to their nest boxes or feeding sites - it has taken me a great deal of determination and patience to finally coax them into box traps. One nest was recently started close to one of my active bluebird nests, & to prevent the seek and destroy urge that could be stimulated by nest removal or capture of one of the HOSP pair, I decided to try pricking the end of the eggs as they appeared in the sparrows nest. I did the first egg late the evening it was laid,after the pair had left for the day & left everything else as it was. To my surprise I have seen neither male nor female since and the chirping has noticebly stopped around my yard. I am not complaining about this obviously, but to Keith's point, I know they have likely only relocated down the road out of earshot. (Fortunately, the monofilament I have put on my EABL occupied box seems to be keeping the HOSP away for now). Bottom line is that I suspect somehow, the HOSP knew their egg had been tampered with, despite the hole being barely visible - has anyone else observed this?

Mike Baratt,
NW NJ

From: chicker"at"snet.net
Date: Fri, 31 May 2002 08:21:34 -0400
Subject: Fledgings and destruction

If HOSP happen to fledge at some houses or areas around are the young as destructive to other birds as the elders?? Bea in Bethel CT

From: hubertrap"at"webtv.net (Joe Huber)
Date: Fri, 31 May 2002 11:04:38 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: Removing nests

HI Bea, It is safe to remove a HOSP nest after they are done with it, but most of us don't let them go that far. We usually intervene during the nesting by trapping them or making eggs infertile The rule is don't mess with eggs or nest when they are actively involved with nest. I always made it a point to rid the box of them or at least the male before cleaning out their nest. If the HOSP have vacated the area you can remove nest and contents anytime. Joe Huber venice, Fl.

Charter member NABS, Charter member OBS, Life member OBS Joe Huber ...

Date: Sat, 01 Jun 2002 21:15:05 -0700
From: Linda Violett lviolett"at"earthlink.net
Subject: May 2002 Updates

Linda Violett - Yorba Linda, Calif.

Last month I provided a comparison for La Mirada Park showing year-to-year HOSP changes during the month of April. It seems that sparrows were initially wary of the new boxes, watched bluebirds use them in 1998 and early 1999, then started their takeovers.

QUICK OVERVIEW:

1998:
One box available and used by bluebirds.
No house sparrow problems.

1999: 12 new sites were added to La Mirada. Most were snapped up by bluebirds. No house sparrow problems during April or May of 1999.

THEN . . .

2000: House sparrows were a problem at the majority of sites; 8 sites impacted by HOSP during May (takeovers, takedowns, pairing) 5 sites were controlled by bluebirds during May.

2001 - Logs too incomplete (boxes being removed); only 13 fledge

2002 (2-holed conversion test site): http://home.earthlink.net/~lviolett/test2002.html
4 sites impacted by HOSP (ongoing battles!)
5 sites controlled by bluebirds during May
2 vacant

------------------------------------------------

VAQUEROS SITE: one test box was in the midst of fledging this afternoon, one box is controlled by bluebirds but the female has an injured foot and isn't nesting, the other was recently taken by a honeybee swarm.

------------------------------------------------

YORBA LINDA GOLF COURSE:
(2001 Conversion to 2-holed mansions)
As of the end of May, the house sparrow problem sites seem to be
(finally!) cleared of house sparrows. http://home.earthlink.net/~lviolett/conversion.html

Fawzi, what's happening at your paired sites?

Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2002 07:11:18 -0500
From: "Keith & Sandy Kridler" kridler"at"1starnet.com
Subject: Texas report

Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas
OK I drove a little over 100 miles of my trails this weekend getting ready to leave for Penticton. I am usually limited by the number of sparrow traps I have as to how many roads I can check because I can only trap out about 25 boxes used by sparrows in day or so. I checked my worst trails for sparrows and only found 7 nests of them, trapped "at" 6 of the boxes and removed 10 adult sparrows and may have the 11th this morning. I did not trap out the sparrows in one of the two holed boxes.

My two holed box report.
Tennison road where the House Sparrow built a nest laid one egg and the bluebirds built on top of the nest and laid one egg, only nests remain no eggs and I never saw another egg by either species and never saw them back on the box in the last week so I cleaned it out. Three pairs of bluebirds, four empty boxes within a mile of this site, no sparrows. (These are only "my" box numbers as other people have up boxes.)

Kirk box has another clutch of five bluebird eggs and there is no sparrow competition in this area this year except for those passing through. The sparrows are still around like most areas of my trail.(There are at least 6 Purple martin houses up in this area and I know of five of these martin boxes between this box and the Parker Trailer box only about 1/2 to 7/8 mile distance between boxes.)

Pilgrim Street: Five new eggs back in the box. Five of six boxes in this "pod" now have bluebirds again with one loss of eggs to a flying squirrel. Remember this was the "pod" that had 5 out of 6 boxes with House Sparrows this spring.

Parker Trailer box: This one once again had bluebirds and house sparrows trying for the box 2 weeks ago. I removed the sparrow nest & contents yesterday. Once you go beyond this box and head out into the country There were nothing but native cavity nesters. I am testing a liquid snake repellant for a man and installed this on 25 ACTIVE bluebird nests (eggs or young birds) on the 12 mile loop going back into town. We are using the Krueger trap above the liquid and an equal number of boxes only have the trap to create a control to see IF we are having a problem.

By trapping and trimming the wings on House Sparrows I have gone from trapping in 25 boxes once a week on part of the trail down to 7 boxes in the last THREE weeks on all of the sparrow "problem" trails.

I have spent more time installing data loggers this year for Cornell than I have spent trapping sparrows. I spend more time treating for fire ants than I do for trapping sparrows. Applying the snake repellent is very time consuming and documenting the type mounting poles dates and times applied and making new traps and moving old snake traps to active nests is VERY time consuming.

To me trapping and trimming sparrows is just one more nuisance I put up with to fledge the most birds. I only trapped one snake all year so far and only lost one nest of baby birds (house sparrows) to fire ants in a box that is not "mine" but is along a road near Shawn's school which I monitored about once a month but did not treat with Amdro.

It is now June and there are 3&1/2 more months of bluebird nesting to go and only 2% of the sparrows remain to be trapped. I am seeing no advantage this year to larger, deeper two holed nestboxes on my trail when comparing them to larger deeper one holed nestboxes and also to all of the various other styles I test.

If Fawzi would copy paste Steve Kronke's sparrow post from the Purple Martin list that was copied to the Bluebird-L this weekend it would be a good addition to the archives of this list. I don't think Linda has seen that post yet. Steve is considered the #1 sparrow/starling/snake expert in the US for the 1 million plus Purple Martin landlords. KK

Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2002 08:50:38 -0400
From: "Fawzi P. Emad femad <at> fpemad <dot> com
Subject: Steve Kroenke's article

Thanks Keith for a great report. The article you mentioned is attached below. It is from Steve Kroenke about Purple Martins and HOSP. Like you, I see the HOSP as a nuisance, and I take care of them by trimming their wings and letting them go. It is amazing how friendly they become with the EABL. They even "eat" from the same dish! In time I get fewer and fewer HOSP to deal with. It is now stable at home, about six HOSP per year (compared with about 36 the first year.)

Fawzi

Fawzi Emad in Laytonsville, Maryland
femad"at"comcast.net
-----------------------------------------------------

House Sparrow Revenge Syndrome

From: Steven Kroenke, DNASRK28"at" aol.com, Tallahassee, Florida
Date: 11/11/99

We all know house sparrows are mean. But we can make them even meaner. They don't "turn the other cheek"; they get even. We can unknowingly create "vindictive" sparrows.

I studied interspecific competition between purple martins and house sparrows for about 18 years at my Grandparents' martin colony in Havana, Florida. "Way back then", house sparrows were plentiful and tried to take over every martin house/gourd cluster and other bird houses I had erected. It was a constant battle to control them. Fortunately, houses sparrows appear to be on the decline and many martin colonies in my current area of Tallahassee, Florida and in Havana no longer have to deal with them.

I made careful observations and kept detailed records of my observations of behavioral interactions between martins and sparrows. I learned about the physiological and behavioral differences between the two species, particularly how the sparrow's crushing finch beak was far superior to the martin's wide, but weak bill. I also learned that the martin's larger size and aggressive behavior often prevailed over the smaller, but better armed sparrow in battles over nest sites; house sparrows are often intimidated by the martin's larger size and aggressive behavior, particularly early in the season. I learned how the sparrow's tightly built nest was often "martin-proof" and prevented martins from entering house compartments or gourds. I also learned that martins do NOT guard their nests continuously until all the eggs are laid and that sparrows readily entered unguarded martin nests and destroyed incomplete and complete clutches of eggs and built their nest right over the martin's nest. And finally, I learned that simple nest removal will NOT cause a male sparrow to abandon his territory; it just eventually made him meaner and "vindictive". The only effective solutions to house sparrow control were trapping and, when possible, shooting. The sparrows, particularly the males, must be permanently eliminated.

It is important to understand that house sparrows, particularly the males, have an almost unbelievable instinctive drive to procreate. The male house sparrow selects the territory. When their hormones are raging, they go into maximum breeding overdrive and nothing, short of death will deter them from trying to procreate. Also, male sparrows tenaciously hold on to their territory. They do not give up easily.

At first, I used the frequent nest removal method to "control" house sparrows. At that time, I did not have a suitable trapping device and shooting was not always possible. It made no difference how many times I cleaned out the nests as the sparrows would continue to rebuild. The males would NOT abandon the house or gourd cluster. I sometimes waited until the sparrows had eggs and then I cleaned out the nest. Did it work? NO, it did not. But it did do something else.

Remember, the male house sparrow during the breeding season has only one thing on his mind: procreation. So after I had continuously destroyed his nest, he became increasingly "frustrated", aggressive, and began seeking other nest sites within the houses or gourd clusters. Think about this. His present compartment/gourd is not producing young. The site is unproductive. However, he still tenaciously holds on to the "territory" and he still must breed. This territory could include the entire martin house or gourd cluster.

So what does he do? He starts exploring other compartments and gourds for possible nest sites. He starts looking in unguarded martin nests and that is where the trouble begins. He and his mate will readily start building their own "martin-proof" nest over an unguarded martin nest. The martins are often away from their nests for hours until all eggs have been laid, so the sparrows can really pack in the nest material during that time. When the martins return, they will visciously attack and drive the sparrows away temporarily, but the sparrows will be back. All it takes is a few days and the sparrows will have crammed the martin's compartment/gourd full, thereby making it almost impossible for the martins to regain the nest. The house sparrow builds a typical weaver finch nest containing a narrow entrance tunnel that leads to a nest chamber. Such a nest will usually exclude the larger martin from entering. At this point, the martins have lost the battle.

If the martins have started laying eggs, then the sparrows will destroy the eggs and start cramming the compartment/gourd full of nesting material. Though most martins do continuously guard their nests once all the eggs are laid, other martins are not that attentive. The most important role of the male martin during this time is to guard the eggs while his mate leaves to feed; he does not incubate, but serves as a guardian. As long as he is there, the eggs are safe from house sparrows. But I observed many times where males would not remain until their mates returned or would be absent for several hours during the day. Other times, martin pairs were not reliably synchronized in their egg guarding duties. All it took was just a few minutes of unguarded time and a male sparrow could slip in and destroy the eggs.

Here is an example of what a particularly destructive rogue male sparrow did to many of the martin nests in an 18 room wooden house at my Grandparents' old colony site. I had erected the house, along with my gourds and aluminum houses, in mid-January, as the first martins typically arrived in Havana, Florida during the last week of January. Of course, hordes of house sparrows tried to take over and my time was consumed with removing their nests and trying shoot them when I could; I did not have a sparrow trap at that time, but would get one very soon.

The first ASY males began arriving and immediately took possession of their previous sites. As I had observed many times, martins usually prevail over house sparrows at established sites, particularly early in the nesting cycle. The male martins evicted any house sparrows that had taken up residence in the gourds/house compartments where the martins had nested the previous year. The only reason the martins were successful was because I had religiously removed the sparrows' nests so the martins could enter and defend their house compartments/gourds from the inside. But the sparrows did NOT vacate the area, they just moved into empty house compartments/gourds that were not being commandeered by the martins. One thing I did consistently observe was the martins were more successful in out competing sparrows in gourds than in houses. The gourds do not have porches so the sparrows had to battle the martins at close quarters in the gourds; this nearly always favors the martins as sparrows are reluctant to fight larger birds inside the nests. A martin's inter and intraspecific fighting behavior is largely centered in the nest cavity itself. In houses with porches, sparrows can sit on the porches and face martins in head on attacks and have room to maneuver. Martins are no match with sparrows in beak to beak confrontations; the sparrow's vise like beak has far more crushing power than the martin's weak, soft beak.

In the 18 room wooden house, there were 3 house sparrow pairs and all were evicted from their first nest sites by the returning martins. I managed to shoot 2 of the males and their mates abandon the site, but the remaining male sparrow was too cunning and I never could get him. He and his mate selected an empty compartment and started nesting. For weeks I cleaned out their nests and they continued their futile quest to breed. Finally, I let them lay eggs and then removed the nest again. By then there were 10 pairs of martins nesting in the house, 7 ASY and 3 SY pairs and most had complete clutches or were laying eggs.

The sparrows became increasingly "frustrated" and started flying to other sections of the house; they were looking for another more "productive" nest site. They battled with the martins on a number occasions, but the martins successfully repelled the sparrows. During this time, I managed to shoot the female sparrow, but the male was too smart and never allowed me to get close enough. At this point, the male sparrow started a one bird campaign to destroy as many of the martin nests as he could. I remember coming home from school and finding a number of white martin eggs, some with large embryos inside, scattered underneath the house. He had wiped out 2 nests that day. The next morning I saw him fly out of another martin nest with a white egg in his beak. For the next several weeks, that one male sparrow destroyed 8 martin nests and around 50 eggs! He even destroyed the eggs again of 2 pairs that had renested! He seemed to be possessed with a desire to eliminate all martin eggs in the house. I tried to shoot him and by then I had installed a Trio sparrow trap on the martin house pole. He was clever and never went near the trap, though I did catch several other sparrows that had shown an interest in the house. Only 2 pairs of martins in that 18 room house, ones where both male and female faithfully guarded their nests ALL the time, succeeded in raising young.

I experienced similar, though not as extreme, cases of "house sparrow revenge" where I had constantly removed their nests. The sparrows would not abandon the martin colony; they just looked elsewhere in the colony for another house compartment/gourd to continue their quest to procreate. And, unfortunately, many of those compartments/gourds already had an active martin. I was creating "vindictive"and frustrated house sparrows by frequently removing their nests. After these experiences, I still removed the house sparrows' nests, but also trapped and, when I could, shot intruding sparrows.

From my experiences, frequent house sparrow nest removal, without permanent removal of the house sparrows, is NOT a viable house sparrow control method. Such a method may create more aggressive, "vindictive" house sparrows because their nest cycle is broken and yet they still have a powerful desire to procreate. They will just look elsewhere in the martin house/gourd cluster for another nest site to breed. That nest site may just be an active martin nest. Remember: the male house sparrow selects the territory and nothing short of death will usually force to completely abandon the site. He just moves from one house compartment or gourd to another as he tries to set up territory and breed successfully; he will destroy any martin eggs he can. House sparrows must be PERMANENTLY REMOVED from the martin colony.

Steve Kroenke

Date: Mon, 03 Jun 2002 14:53:38 -0700
From: Linda Violett lviolett"at"earthlink.net
Subject: Re: Texas report

As mentioned before, urban monitors with boxes in public parks cannot trap/trim/kill. That is not a workable option.

I give thanks that my system, thus far, has kept house sparrows out of my established urban trail (all without trapping/trimming/killing).
That system is also working at Vaqueros and at the Yorba Linda Golf Course. La Mirada is still in progress. The detailed logs being compiled online will be kept for others, like me, who cannot trap, trim or kill house sparrows.

Linda Violett

Date: Mon, 03 Jun 2002 15:31:35 -0700
From: Linda Violett lviolett"at"earthlink.net
Subject: Re: Steve Kroenke's article

Fawzi,

You trapped and trimmed house sparrows last year--and, you trapped and trimmed house sparrows this year. But this year (with 2-holed mansions at each pair) 3 out of 4 box pairs have already finished successful first nestings and are now into their second nestings. Looks like you are having a banner year.

One of your successful 2-holed mansion sites had only house sparrows attempt to nest last year (2001) using standard boxes. Do you have any preliminary thoughts to share as to why you are experiencing such good results this year?

Linda Violett

Date: Mon, 03 Jun 2002 20:58:00 -0500
From: "Mary Beth Roen" mbroen"at"hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Texas report

Linda,

I have good news for you! The two hole mansion you sent me, has a nest of 2 Bluebird eggs in it! Yes, Wisconsin EABLs like your box, too.

Mary Roen, River Falls, WI ...

Date: Mon, 03 Jun 2002 20:59:03 -0700
From: Linda Violett lviolett"at"earthlink.net
Subject: Re: Wisconsin report

Thanks for the note! If I recall correctly, you are one of the lucky few without house sparrow problems but you can be watching for other pros and cons of the blues using the box. Keep us posted on what you observe with the box for the specific conditions in your area.

Linda V.

From: Keith & Sandy Kridler [kridler"at"1starnet.com]
Sent: Saturday, July 06, 2002 7:40 AM
Subject: Re: [nhsk] New Sites

Keith Kridler
I would say about 1/2 of the people "trapping" in this area do not kill the sparrows but carry them off and let them go at work if they live in town. Some "trap" them at night in the box and then simply shake them up and release them the next day. Most people will remove the sparrow nests even with eggs but a large percentage don't have a problem with the sparrows nesting.

At the two holed boxes this year I have let the birds work out which species will control the box and have let the sparrows lay eggs before trapping so I have passively allowed competition and the sparrows have pretty well dominated the sites. Thursday I drove up to the "Kirk" box and a female sparrow was looking out one of the holes and she allowed me to get out of the car walk up to the box and she backed into the box and allowed me to hand trap her.

Normally sparrows in this area are like bluebirds in that if they are successful they use the same nest site all summer. So by allowing the birds to lay eggs and then trapping I will remove a sparrow that would have prevented any bluebirds from nesting in this box all summer. At some of the sites I have trapped multiple pairs of sparrows using the two holed boxes after they have laid eggs so I am not seeing any advantage to larger and deeper two holed boxes when compared to house sparrow competition.
At some normal nestbox style locations I am finding a "dominant" pair of house sparrows or a "flock" of pairs and can trap multiple pairs of sparrows at the same box on the same day so it is impossible without trapping and banding these birds if it is possible to "teach" the sparrows to avoid a certain nestbox or distinct style.

I like the larger floor area boxes I am using due to the fact the young birds have more room and the bluebirds are building shorter nests or basically carrying the same amount (volume) of nesting material in a large box as they do in a small box.

Thursday I built 14 more of the "double wide" nestboxes with the entrance hole off set to one side in the extra wide front or simply deleted one of the entrance holes. These boxes are 4&1/4" front to back and 8" wide giving them 34 square inches of floor area but a "corner" to nest in closer to the nestcup diameter they normally use. Just about half of the bluebirds are nesting in the "back" corner away from the entrance hole and half are nesting right under the entrance hole in the few boxes similar to these I already have up.

Trapping and trimming feathers will only handicap the birds if you trim off an excessive amount of primaries. As Fawzi mentioned trimming only two or three even four will NOT prevent them from nesting again in your yard so by promoting trapping and trimming a couple primaries and releasing the birds people would be able to determine if the same birds are returning to nest in their yard. For ease in identification you could leave the primaries and trim off ALL of the tail feathers as very often predators end up pulling out all of the tail feathers and the birds get away. In this way you could see a sparrow blocks away and determine whether it came from your trail or not. Trimming all of the tail feathers does not seem to handicap them very much either.

Without trapping and marking the birds in some fashion we cannot tell if we are training the birds to avoid a trail of nestboxes or we are being "lucky" this year. I have been watching the inter actions between sparrows and Purple Martins and other cavity nesters since 1964 and have spent thousands of hours in my younger years studying these birds through the cross hairs of a rifle scope. They are so adaptable in their choice of nesting sites and there have been so many different designs of nestboxes built and promoted over the years I find it hard to think without some form of intervention we will ever keep them out of the boxes totally passively, that is place a box and not interfere at all except to clean out bluebird nests. KK

Date: Sun, 7 Jul 2002 08:35:31 -0600
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: Sparrow Spooker

My name is Steve and I live in the mountains
west of Fort Collins, Colorado. I am new to
nestboxing...
a HOSP killed the female bluebird while she
was on the nest.....saw a "Sparrow Spooker"
on the MBA site. It uses mylar strip streamers
mounted on the nestbox to frighten away the
sparrows.....anyone used this before?

UPDATE:  Installed the "spooker" on nesting mountain bluebirds and successfully fledged six with no more sparrow problems.  However, I also took down my bird feeder (learned from my reading this was attracting HOSP).  So don't know if the spooker worked or if the HOSP didn't have any reason to come around anymore.  Have also fledged mountain chickadees and have violet green swallows ready to hatch any day now.  A good year for a novice.  Thanks for the advice and support!.....Steve ...

Date: Mon, 8 Jul 2002 05:49:38 -0500
From: "Keith & Sandy Kridler" kridler"at"1starnet.com
Subject: two holed boxes

Due to the convention and a few emergencies I am still running on about a 30 day between box checks right now. At the Kirk two holed box where I had 8 day old bluebirds on June 3 and then trapped the female sparrow on about July 4, After inspecting the nest thoroughly the bluebirds have appeared to fledge and then the sparrows entered, built a nest and laid two eggs. So once again the two species seemed to wait on the other to build a nest and fledge their young in this area. It will be interesting to see if bluebirds now move in and attempt their third nesting. At the Parker Trailer two holed box a pair of bluebirds has young finally after about their third attempt at nest building in this box.

Further back down the road I removed a sparrow nest from a box between two non monitored purple martin colonies. There are about 9 martin houses at two neighbors and these are the main sparrow factory in the area. This box without trapping has been house sparrows for the entire year every time I have checked the box.

I am collecting about 30 bluebird nests now to every sparrow nest along the trails and so far the largest losses are occurring from flying squirrels. I am busy adding nestboxes to metal poles away from large trees and adding them to hang from the barbed wire. I will attempt to return the trails to the bluebirds in several areas by placing special designed flying squirrel boxes in the few woods that are being left due to development.

I may end up creating a worse problem in the long run but feel like I need to make an effort to save the flying squirrels also. They are getting squeezed to the fence lines by roads due to the hardwood logging and our "new" airport taking up over 1,000 acres and clearing of about 1,200 acres of woods around it for "development". Another 400 acres was "cleared" to create a "scenic drive" into the back of the airport!

This cut right through our one road trail that has been listed for driving tours since the early 1980's and I "lost" about 9 nest sites which are under the runway now. The new hangers going up and the new terminal will be perfect building sites for house Sparrows, starlings and barn swallows. The terminal is terrible in design for keeping birds nesting to a minimum....KK

Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 09:58:00 -0400
From: dottyrogers"at"netscape.net
Subject: Re: new HOSP-spooker?

We have a bluebird pair with 4 eggs in a HOSP-trap box surrounded by a sparrow flock. We'd Van Erted out 9 females, 9 males and smuggly thought we'd won the skirmish. Then the 4-6 sparrow nests in a huge bush nearby fledged and we now have clouds of new little brown jobs with-parents threatening these blues.

There's monofilament on the EABL box, but in spite of this,we saw a HOSP land on the box roof. PANIC. Raced home, grabbed a box of multi-colored pushpins, returned and stabbed a dozen-plus into the roof plus a series running down the front-sides. Blues acted as though we'd done nothing; went right back to box -- but the HOSPs haven't gone near it so far. It looks wonderfully weird; dazzling colors and goofy as all get-out.
--We'll report back if the blues fledge!

Fingers crossed!

Dot; eastern MAss

From: "Fawzi P. Emad femad <at> fpemad <dot> com
Subject: Trimming HOSP wings...
Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2003 19:50:37 -0500

Many have written asking me for details on trimming the wings of captured HOSP (House SParrow.) Our friend Jim McLochlin has been very kind and helpful by allowing me to list this information on his web site. Since the information I have needs a diagram, I am not allowed to mail it using Bluebird-L (due to the need to use HTML.) So, please chose one of the two links below to see the details:

PDF format (requires Acrobat reader:) http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/Trimming%20HOSP%20Wing%20Feathers.pdf
NOTE: The web address above and below must be in one line. If not, please paste it into one line in the address of your web browser.

HTML format: http://audubon-omaha.org/trimming_hosp_wing_feathers.htm

If anyone has more questions, please write to me privately. Thank you.

Fawzi

Fawzi Emad in Laytonsville, Maryland
femad"at"comcast.net

From: "Jenni Sofjan" jennisof"at"houston.rr.com
Subject: ideas?
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2003 21:38:57 -0600

Howdy from Texas,

Hi, have two boxes approx. 12' apart, one east facing, one sw facing, suburban backyard. One clutch was raised in each box last year, so the site is reasonably conducive.

This year, the bluebirds have left claimstraws in one of my two boxes, and started a nest in the other. Unhappily, some small bird is very interested in the blues' choice of box. Not postitive, but believe it's sparrow. (Ack.) Still trying to get a positive ID against the glare.

As of today, the blues are still hanging around. Would happily entertain passive methods to encourage the blues, and discourage the sparrows--or whatever they are. Would prefer other options than trap-n-kill, as I'm rather squeamish. Would dump a HOSP nest (eggs) without a second thought, but outright killing even pest creatures...I don't care to do that.

Thanks,
Jennifer

From: hubertrap"at"webtv.net (Joe Huber)
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2003 23:56:10 -0500 (EST)
To: jennisof"at"houston.rr.com, BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: ideas?

Hi Jennifer, You should be able to identify the other bird using one of your boxes. If it's a HOSP you don't need to see it because it's constant chirping can be heard all day long. Since you can't see the box good because of glare it could be a chickadee,which you would want to use your box. No one said you need to killl a trapped sparrow, as there are other ways to deal with them that some people use. I don't know of any easy way out of your situation but you may get suggestions.
I am a believer that a dead HOSP causes no more problem's Joe Huber,
Venice Fl.

Charter member NABS, Charter member OBS, Life member OBS Joe Huber ...

From: "Keith & Sandy Kridler" kridler"at"1starnet.com
Subject: Re:ideas?
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 07:57:49 -0600

Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas
In Texas Jenni should split up the boxes and move them further apart. The only bird in Texas that can keep a bluebird from nesting in a box with a 1&1/2" hole is the House Sparrow. All the other birds will get the eviction notice from the blues when they get serious. Once again in Texas I would recommend adding three or four MORE nestboxes.....I just had a couple drive 70 miles yesterday from Golden, Texas to see MY bluebirds...His wife saw my cavity nester program about 3 weeks ago down in Quitman TX and bought one house...They immediately got bluebirds inspecting and followed my advice on MULTIPLE nestboxes in a yard and he build a SECOND nestbox and installed in on the other side of the yard and got ANOTHER pair.... He immediately built 9 more boxes and said that in just 2 weeks they have SIX pairs of nesting bluebirds on a couple of acres and more pairs looking and fighting....IF they followed MOST of the written advice on only placing nestboxes every 300 feet they said they would only have ONE nestbox.....

You can always trap the house sparrow with a Van Ert trap and drop it off in town or about 30 miles away.....There are about 100 million house sparrows and killing it really won't make any more difference than hauling it far enough away it cannot find it's way home. Experience over the years allows me to take more permanent measures with House Sparrows....The University of Texas is STILL hunting for a lot more male house sparrows for their behavioral studies on them. KK

From: "Karen Louise Lippy" brdbrain"at"superpa.net
To: "Bernie Daniel" bdaniel"at"cinci.rr.com, BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: Semi-successful attempt to trap HOuse SParrows -- another idea!!
Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 06:16:23 -0400

Bernie,
I''m not trying to discourage you. But putting the boiled/fake egg back in the nest is the same as addling them or coating them with oil. The hen will sit for a while, some will sit for a long while, but eventually they dump the egg, lay a new clutch and begin again. Just as with people, some birds are not quite as bright as others. A bird that sits on infertile eggs for 1 - 2 months deserves to have its genes removed from the gene pool, and that is what it is doing.
If a person substitutes another object (marbles are easier to detect if removed) or addled/oiled/reproduced eggs and they see the hen sitting on it, they may get complacent and quit monitoring the box. There will be a point where she will dump them and start again. If you are unable to recognize that your substitute eggs have been replaced, you will find yourself raising house sparrows.

Yes, there are birds that will sit on eggs for long periods of time. This MAY be inexperienced hens. There is also a wonderful adaptation which allows birds to delay incubation of the eggs during inclement weather. This can occur even after development has begun, but fails after the chicks have developed to a certain point. Such an adaptation may result in a hen delaying abandonment a clutch for a few days longer than hatch date shoud have occured. But if they sit much longer, they aren't the brightest tool in the shed.

Swans and geese have only one hatching a season. A few extra weeks of devotion to their eggs will result in no hatch for the season. With few exceptions, it is too late for them to begin again.

I have suggested several times addling'oiling eggs of sparrows to people who did not want to kill the birds. In almost every instance, the birds removed the eggs and began again within 1 - 2 weeks.

Egg replacement is a temporary solution and should not be considered the final one to the sparrow problem. The effort required to simulate an egg is difficult. If the hen carries the egg from the nest for dumping, you will have to start over unless you are fortunate enough to recover the simulated egg. This is much more labor intensive than addling/oiling the egg which will give you the same results. Even placing marbles in the nest will at times fool a hen for a few days.

There are several good books on birds. A good one is A Guide to Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of NA Birds. This has lots of good information on birds and their nests.

Getting out and getting hands-on information first hand is great, but noone can cover every fascet of birds single handidly. We can read and learn from the experiences of those who have and are kind enough to share that information with us.

I'm not stopping you from making your fake eggs, just trying to point out that there is little difference between oiling/addling and creating a fake except the labor involved in creating the egg. While birds do it easily, it is a little harder for us.

Karen from South Central PA

From: "Bruce Burdett" blueburd"at"tds.net
To: brdbrain"at"superpa.net, "Bernie Daniel" bdaniel"at"cinci.rr.com,
BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: The Big Glass Egg Theory
Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 07:51:39 -0400

Bernie, Karen, et al,
I really wish that some of you "passive-control" folks who have House Sparrow problems would try my Big Glass Egg Theory. (These are the eggs that chicken farmers use to fool the hens.) This egg would take up most of the space in the cup, and is far too heavy for the sparrows to remove. And, as an added bonus, these huge eggs might cause the HOSP to have nervous breakdowns and consult their psychiatrists.

I have no HOSP problem here where I am.

But if I did, I'd sure give the Big Glass Egg technique an honest try. It might also provide you with a little amusement, just watching their antics.

The flip side, of course, is that the thwarted nesters would live to go on and pester other people, but that's part of every "passive-control" method. Bruce Burdett, SW NH...

From: "Bernie Daniel" bdaniel"at"cinci.rr.com
To: "Karen Louise Lippy" brdbrain"at"superpa.net
Subject: Re: Semi-successful attempt to trap HOuse SParrows -- another idea!!
Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 08:14:31 -0400

Karen,

Thanks for the notes. But I am not interested in debating and idea before I've even gathered the data. This is a no-risk idea that needs to be tried and I hope other give is a go.

I have been Bluebirding for over 25 years and conducting research on other avian species as well. So I'm well aware of potential "problems".
They are nothing to worry about here.

As I pointed out. I have no interest in conjecture. Unless you have done the field work you do not know what will happen. Speculation is not what is needed -- but research is and that is what I am suggesting.

I think others should try it to. Apparently you do not think so. I think bluebirders most are intelligent enough to handle a simple experiment like this and then share their results. That is what I suggest and it will not result in HOSP taking over the world.

Of course the sparrow will eliminate a egg covered with oil -- that is a known thing actually. Several I know have tried it (or similar egg inactivations) over the years. If you poke a hole in the end they will also remove it. 

That is why I noted in my original post that the eggs should be visually intact and apparently undamaged. That is the critical part of this hard boiling idea,.

You state that: "The effort required to simulate an egg is difficult."

Not true! The hard boiling took all of 10 minutes --merely placing an egg in hot water. 

In fact you can buy clay-painted sparrow eggs-- I'm looking into the price now. It would be reasonably cheap in bulk. Fake bird eggs of all kinds are widely available for ecological studies. I working on a Brown-headed Cowbird deception idea right now.

You note: " Egg replacement is a temporary solution and should not be considered the final one to the sparrow problem." 

I did not say that it was -- I noted that it might have very specific applications particularly when you have other nearby and vulnerable nests of native species.   You write: "Yes, there are birds that will sit on eggs for long periods of time. This MAY be inexperienced hens. There is also a wonderful adaptation which allows birds to delay incubation of the eggs during inclement weather. This can occur even after development has begun, but fails after the chicks have developed to a certain point. Such an adaptation may result in a hen delaying abandonment a clutch for a few days longer than hatch date should have occurred. But if they sit much longer, they aren't the brightest tool in the shed." 

All of this generally true but in this case it is still just speculation. From years of field work I know that all species respond differently and you are conjecturing here. Conjecture does not solve ecological problems in my experience.

You write: "If you are unable to recognize that your substitute eggs have been replaced, you will find yourself raising house sparrows"

I think that we can deal with that and it is a unwarranted concern

You write: "There are several good books on birds. A good one is A Guide to Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of NA Birds. This has lots of good information on birds and their nests. 

I have several ornithological books on my selves -- including that one -- actually, but why would I use it here? I'm interested in HOSP nests and eggs both of which I see every day. What is to look up?

You further state: "Getting out and getting hands-on information first hand is great, but noone can cover every fascet of birds single handidly. We can read and learn from the experiences of those who have and are kind enough to share that information with us" 

This is the whole point of doing this. But why would someone want to share their results or ideas only to be subject to negative reactions -- before it is even started no less? 

New ideas should be tried not pooh-poohed. I have been doing scientific research at a professional level for over 30 years and I find that the best scientists are the ones who actually do the field research not try to second guess it before the work starts.

Just my (perhaps not so humble! -- sorry about that-- opinions)

Bernie Daniel. Ph.D.
Senior Environmental Scientist ...

From: "Bruce Burdett" blueburd"at"tds.net
To: KCBSP"at"aol.com
Cc: "BLUEBIRD-L" BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: The Big Glass Egg Theory
Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 11:12:42 -0400

Kathy, et al,
Back in the days when I kept chickens, I used to get these big glass eggs at the local feed/farming/agricultural outlet, usually Agway. No; they weren't expensive at all.

But as I explained, I hardly ever see a House Sparrow where I have my houses, so they're not really a concern for me, and my theory is just a theory, nothing more. I've never field-tested it.

If I were doing it, I'd remove the HOSP eggs and subsititute the big glass one.

Obviously, all these "passive-control" methods have one crowning disadvantage, i.e. they just pass the problem along to someone else in some other venue. Bruce Burdett, SW NH.

...

Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 09:24:24 -0700
From: Linda Violett lviolett"at"earthlink.net
To: Bluebird-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: The Big Glass Egg Theory

Linda Violett - Yorba Linda, Calif.

Bruce, you keep mentioning the Big Glass Egg for House Sparrow control and I've already responded a couple of times that Big Eggs do not work against HOSP from my experiments. It doesn't matter whether the Big Eggs are Big Boiled Chicken Eggs or clear Big Plastic Easter Eggs filled with House Sparrow Eggs where the incubating hen can SEE her eggs through the Big Plastic Egg on the bare floor but not incubate her own little eggs inside the Big Plastic Egg.

Big Eggs don't fool the HOSP in my area. Big Eggs don't frighten HOSP in my area.

If you leave the HOSP nest material in the box and place a Big Hard Boiled Egg in it, the House Sparrows will lay more eggs beside the Big Hard Boiled Egg and will commence incubating. But if you remove the HOSP nesting material and place the Big Egg on a bare floor, a fresh House Sparrow nest will be built on top on the object(s).

You mentioned you do not have House Sparrows . . . and it is obvious by the contents of your post that you have not observed House Sparrow behavior. Therefore, you do not have good recommendations on House Sparrow control whether it is active or passive.

And you ended your post by stating, "The flip side, of course, is that the thwarted [House Sparrow] nesters would live to go on and pester other people, but that's part of every "passive-control" method."

Bruce, that statement revealed that, in addition to your lack of experience with House Sparrows, you are wholly unaware of urban trail conditions . . . House Sparrows don't "pester" people around my urban trail. Every House Sparrow that doesn't nest on my urban trail, is a welcomed guest in a homeowner nestbox.

...

From: "Bill Darnell" bdarnel3"at"bellsouth.net
To: blueburd"at"tds.net, brdbrain"at"superpa.net,
"Bernie Daniel" bdaniel"at"cinci.rr.com, BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: The Big Glass Egg Theory
Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 11:41:33 -0500

Some may not be old enough to have seen one, but I have seen our family use the white glass or porcelain door knobs from days past to bait a hen's nest, the thinking being this would induce her to lay more eggs. They seemed to work for the hens, Bruce, and I like your idea of putting something like this in the sparrow nest. Even better, laying it on top of the little devil. Bill TN

From: "Bruce Burdett" blueburd"at"tds.net
Subject: Re: The Big Glass Egg Theory
Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 12:44:14 -0400

Linda, et al,
You are absolutely right about my qualifications as a House Sparrow-control expert. I have NO qualifications, and little or no experience. I simply expressed curiosity about how such a ploy as the Big Glass Egg might work.

Further, I accept without reservation your statement that the Big Egg theory does not work out there where you are. I have just one question:

Did you use big hen-size GLASS eggs in your tests, or some other kind. I have been impressed, however, by the testimony, on this List and from many other sources, that House Sparrows do great damage to nesting Bluebirds, to their eggs, and to their young. I can understand why folks whose Bluebirds had suffered such damage would become determined to find solutions, active or passive. If I were in their place, I would be very determined myself, and I would welcome every kind of suggestion.
Bruce Burdett, SW NH ...

From: "emcooper" emcooper"at"bayou.com
Subject: Re: The Big Glass Egg Theory
Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 12:16:32 -0500

I don't have House Sparrows either, so that disqualifies me, I suppose.  But, I am in a position to where people contact me about the problem. I try to do my homework. I tell them everything I have read and where they can read about it. Also, we must all remember, what works for you may not work for the other person. I have my own personal feelings about re-location. They would grow even stronger if someone re-located some on me.

Evelyn Cooper
Delhi, La.
Louisiana Bayou Bluebird Society...

Date: Wed, 21 May 2003 13:03:42 -0400
From: Superdups lisab"at"superdups.com
To: bluebirds and cavity-nesting birds BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: I have failed!!!!

O.K. list, what did I do wrong? In one of my boxes with HOSP nests, I decided to needle the eggs last week. I checked them this week and I found babies? I am confused, How deep do I needle these eggs? Thank you, Lisa

Date: Wed, 21 May 2003 14:08:43 -0700
From: Linda Violett lviolett"at"earthlink.net
To: Bluebird-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: I have failed!!!!

Linda Violett - Yorba Linda, Calif.

Why did you "needle" the eggs when you could have easily smashed them on the roof of the nestbox?

From: Shane Marcotte marco50"at"bellsouth.net
To: bluebird-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: HOSP, Nasty HOSP
Date: Wed, 21 May 2003 21:15:22 -0400

All Concerned,
If I go out and find a HOSP nest and remove it and the very next day they make a complete new one and I remove it ect. ect . ect. at what point will they stop trying and leave? Also while this is going on they certainly cant have a nest or eggs then I am in fact keeping them from reproducing right? I find it hard to believe that they would continue to try over and over without leaving and tire before I would for like say 3 yrs. straight ? I am serious and I know there is some explanation for I shurly havnt completly solved the HOSP delimma so let me hear some thoughts on this one.
Shane LBBS Watson Louisiana

Date: Wed, 21 May 2003 19:52:43 -0700
From: John Schuster wildwingco"at"earthlink.net
To: hubertrap"at"webtv.net
CC: lisab"at"superdups.com, BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: I have failed!!!!

Dear Lisa,

I never have time to do things like egg piecing (seems like a waste of time to me), but if you must, simple poke the egg with a needle to the center of the egg, give it a circling turn to disrupt the egg mass and that should do the trick.

However, I agree with Joe Huber, that trapping solves the problem completely (until another HOSP comes along to disrupt your Bluebirding endeavors) because trapping is just another part of Bluebirding management, but what you do with trapped bird pest is up to you.

You can dispatch it, clip it's wings, drive it to a local city (a waste of gas, time and gives your problem to someone else) to be taken to a local raptor rehabber or left at your local Starbucks, where it will live happy ever after

Cheers and as always...

Happy Bluebird Trails To You,
John Schuster, conservationist and owner...

From: hubertrap"at"webtv.net (Joe Huber)
Date: Wed, 21 May 2003 23:31:56 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: HOSP, Nasty HOSP

Shane, The only sure way to stop the HOSP problem is to trap and destroy. If all you do is remove nest repeatedly they will wear you out. You can build your own trap from my pictures below in sparrow control. You may be delaying a nest but they are reproducing some where near by and will keep pestering you year after year leaving your boxes useless year after year. Joe Huber, Venice, Fl.

Charter member NABS, Charter member OBS, Life member OBS Joe Huber...

Date: Wed, 21 May 2003 22:42:37 -0700
From: Linda Violett lviolett"at"earthlink.net
Subject: Re: HOSP, Nasty HOSP

Linda Violett - Yorba Linda, Calif.

Shane, good question. Unfortunately, we have yet to determine whether the isolated act of removing nests has *any* value as a House Sparrow control. Even if nests are pulled out for an entire season, the average monitor would not know whether the first House Sparrow of the season gave up immediately after the first nest was pulled and another House Sparrow took its place, and so on during next nesting season. For example, those who trap House Sparrows from boxes along their trail often trap multiple House Sparrows in the same box during each season and must often trap again the following year. But if the only effective tool you have is a trap . . . then a trap will always be the answer.

There are answers to the House Sparrow problem. We just haven't identified the components.

But a good question is many times half the answer. Shane, you might want to count the number of House Sparrow nests which were pulled from one of my problem test areas on a golf course at Fairway #3 from March 2002 through May 2002.  http://home.earthlink.net/~lviolett/conversion.html  Then count the number of HOSP nests pulled from the same site from March 2003 through May 2003. Note that HOSP nests/eggs were pulled in quick succession and that I never flinched even though there were active nests in the immediate vicinity.

If you have any questions pertaining to the logs, write me offlist. ...

Date: Thu, 29 May 2003 17:04:37 -0400
From: "Fawzi P. Emad femad <at> fpemad <dot> com
Subject: Trimming HOSP wings

I have caught some HOSP today. I was surprised to catch the *same* males again! These males were already trimmed. So, I have modified my trimming plans. Those interested can see the details on the following web page on my website: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/femad/More%20pages/trimming_hosp.htm
Basically, the males are stronger and will manage well on 5 feathers trimmed on each wing while the females are fine with only 4 feathers trimmed on each wing.

As usual, I continue to learn as I go, and whenever I find something new, I'll report to you and document it on my website... Fawzi.

Fawzi Emad in Laytonsville, Maryland
femad"AT"comcast.net

From: "Zimmerman, Bet"
Subject: Update on magic halo
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2003 16:41:32 -0400

Am continuing my experiments with Magic Halo and variations (see http://www.elizaduck.com/halo.htm). Not one single HOSP has landed in my tube feeder since putting the purchased halo up. Not a single HOSP has attempted to nest in my Purple Martin house either since putting up the dowels with monofilment weighted with nuts. I HAVE had a pair of HOSP that don't mind my smaller homemade magic halo on the mealyworm feeder, and I'm still working on that....

Anyway, I'm encouraged, and am thinking of buying Magic Halos for my neighbors who use cheap birdseed....

Bet from CT

From: Bet from CT
Subject: hanging boxes on line
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 09:15:04 -0400

I read that HOSP will not use nestboxes hung on a wire. Anybody ever try this?

From: "Keith & Sandy Kridler"
Subject: Re:hanging boxes on a line
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 08:26:51 -0500
Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas

This is another myth concerning House Sparrows. These birds often nest in gourds or nestboxes intended for Purple Martins that are suspended from wires or lines. KK

From: "Dottie, Hickory Hollow, Brown County, Indiana"
Subject: Re:hanging boxes on a line
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 09:24:15 -0500

You are absolutely correct, Keith. I've found this out first hand this year. I did not have HOSP until this year. Now I'm looking for a HOSP trap.
Dottie, Hickory Hollow Brown County, Indiana

From: "Bill Darnell"
Subject: Re:hanging boxes on a line
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 09:40:05 -0500

It sure is a myth; HOSP have been known to nest in the rocking arm of oil field pumps. Nothing is off limits to these things. And it makes no difference if the hole is in the bottom of said nesting site, either, as some have found out.
Bill Darnell Savannah, TN

From: Maynard Summer
Subject: Re:hanging boxes on a line
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 09:40:05 -0500

Yes, I have had HOSP use nestboxes hung on a wire. At some time HOSP will use every nestbox you have. Some more then others.
Maynard Sumner Flint, MI

From: Keith & Sandy Kridler
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 7:07 AM
Re:Myths/ skunk story

...It is a "myth" that House Sparrows will only nest in boxes mounted above a height of 7 feet:-))) Anyone EVER see House sparrows nesting at or below eye level? ...

Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas

From: Evelyn Cooper, emcooper"at"bayou.com
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 9:17 AM
Subject: RE: Myths/ skunk story

I am with you, Keith, about House Sparrows will nest anywhere as I stated in my first post. However, I am holding a Fact Sheet put out by North American Bluebird Society entitled "House Sparrow Control" and it states that "House Sparrows MAY avoid a nesting site if the box is too low to the ground (3 to 5 ft.) That indicates a preference of higher nestboxes. It talks about the climbing predators of boxes these heights. I think the little buggers will nest any and everywhere! That's my opinion, not a fact.

Evelyn Cooper Delhi, LA. Louisiana Bayou Bluebird Society www.labayoubluebirdsociety.org Member NABS

From: Keith & Sandy Kridler, txbluebirder"at"sbcglobal.net
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2004 9:17 AM
Subject: about House Sparrows & Starlings Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas

English Sparrows in the USA were renamed House Sparrows to match what Europe called these birds. In England, Wales, Ireland and North Ireland they are the second most common bird right behind the European Starling in population. In England many of the Starlings actually only winter there and breed across the North Sea in the Scandinavian countries. England has been doing major winter bird counts for 25 years and have had as many as 300,000 people contributing to these counts. 25 years ago they estimated that the population of House Sparrows was at 24 million birds and this year they estimate that only 11 million House Sparrows make their home in the British Isles.

According to a researcher who placed 629 nestboxes for sparrows to count eggs, young and fledge rates she claims that the House Sparrows nest three times and a very large percentage of the second and third nesting attempts are ending up with the young birds dying in the nests. She claims the first nesting is the most successful but is not enough to maintain the House Sparrow population.

New buildings are not House Sparrow or Starling friendly anymore so they lose nesting sites. Grain farming is dwindling in England so they are losing rural feed sources. Remember they wiped out the British beef herds because of Mad Cow disease. They killed off their sheep because of Hoof and Mouth disease and many of these farmers simply quit. More research might be done to determine if pollution, pesticides, herbicides or disease is killing the young House Sparrows in their nests. India with a population of 1 billion people and 700 million farmers with an average income of $400 a year shows that their House Sparrow population has dropped 70% or more.

A researcher there blames the increased use of pesticides, herbicides and pollution as probable causes and is calling for the installation of more nestboxes for House Sparrows. There are many countries with bird populations that are getting squeezed out by humans. If these trends continue for the extremely hardy and adaptable Starlings and House Sparrows then many of the other birds especially the cavity nesters will be hard pressed to maintain their fragile hold on life.

They mention the Bali Starling in Asia as now being down to less than 50 adults in the wild. There are MANY species of starlings. In the USA there are an estimated 200 million European Starlings and House Sparrows are the second most numerous. It is interesting to note that the US government poisons about 1 million nuisance Starlings a year on average. They actually have live trapping operations on-going in some states (they use Troyer style big cage traps) and federal boys come around gather up the live starlings from the traps, place them in five gallon buckets seal the top and gas the birds with Carbon Dioxide to humanely put them to death.

One of the articles I read stated that House Sparrows are not "hardy" outside in cold weather and that 1 week of Temperatures at or below 10*F will decimate the sparrow population even if they have adequate food but cannot get into warm building to roost at night. They recommended that if you have large roosts of House Sparrows inside buildings and the temperatures plunge that simply driving these birds out of the buildings well after dark will wipe out most of these birds overnight if the temperature is below 10*F.

They are predicting that the mid-west and on across to the north-east might be as cold as the 1977 and 1978 record cold two week period while Texas is predicted to be warmer than usual.....

KK

From: Maynard R Sumner, m-r-sumner"at"juno.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2004 3:20 PM
Subject: Sparrow-proof nestbox

Hi All, I received my Birds & Blooms today and it had that so called sparrow-proof nestbox with the hole on the bottom. It said that if you put up a regular box within 15-20 feet the sparrows will take the regular box. Maybe in some locations it will work this way but at my location it is not working. Most of the time the sparrows try to get into the so called sparrow-proof box. I keep pulling the sparrow nest out. It has no way you can put a trap in the box. Maynard Sumner Flint, MI

[Note from webmaster: also see thread under Carrier Slant Box]

From: Bruce Burdett
Sent: March 27, 2004
RE: Bluebird Info Request

...An entrance block, so-called, is just a piece of white pine board 7/8" thick and about 3'' wide and 4" long. It has a 1 1/2" hole about 2/3 of the way up. The block is nailed over the front board so that the two holes coincide exactly forming a 1 3/4"tunnel." It's a type of predator guard.      In your Bluebird Monitor's Guide you can see houses with entrance blocks attached on pages 45 and 28. The theory is that nuisance critters have to reach in twice as far to get at the birds and eggs inside. (Some people think they work; some think they don't.) I like them also because when the hole gets enlarged by chewing or pecking, all I have to do is nail on a new block with its 1 1/2" hole, a 30-second repair job Bruce Burdett, SW NH .

From: Daniel Sparks, b4bluebirds"at"yahoo.com
Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2004 3:31 AM
Subject: Re: bluebird info request

Bruce, Diane, and all, While on this subject, some maintain that HOSP are more attracted to a tunnel or a thicker entrance hole. A line of thinking that Steve Gilbertson uses to support the sparrow resistance of his PVC box. I've never seen a study or research that supports this thinking. Dan Sparks Brown County Bluebird Society Nashville, IN  

From: Bet Zimmerman [mailto:ezdz"at"charter.net] Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2004 2:52 PM To: 'Blue Bird' Subject: Passive house sparrow management and sparrow spookers. While I advocate a combination of passive and active control techniques as the most effective means to manage problem house sparrow (HOSP) populations, I understand that this may not be acceptable to all bluebird landlords. Fawzi posted wing trimming as an alternative to dispatching HOSP. I thought I'd post the passive options I've compiled from the Best of Bluebird_L, other sources, and experience. These methods (along with active methods) are posted at http://www.sialis.org/hosp.htm. I've also just posted a page with drawings, photo and instructions on sparrow spookers at http://www.sialis.org/sparrowspooker.htm. Comments and corrections are always welcome! Bet from CT (PS I had to chuckle when I read Dan Sparks' post about agreeing on something! Probably the only thing everyone on the list will agree to is that we like bluebirds!)

PASSIVE MANAGEMENT Passive management involves discouraging HOSP feeding and nesting. With all deterrent methods, it is important to evaluate efficacy over time, as birds may become accustomed, or behavior may vary from season to season (e.g., breeding vs. fledging vs. roosting). Some of these methods may also deter desirable birds, but may be necessary until you get the HOSP population in your area under control. If you are in a suburban area, you will probably need to recruit neighbors into using the same methods.

NESTBOX LOCATION, etc. Avoid placing boxes near farmsteads, feedlots, barns, and human occupation. Leave boxes plugged until the desired occupant is ready to move into the area (to prevent HOSP roosting and claiming boxes early in the season.) For a box claimed by a HOSP: Remove the box, plug the entrance hole, leave the door/roof open, or try placing a rubber snake in a box claimed by HOSP to scare them off (with about a foot of the body and head sticking out of the box.) Boxes 3-5 feet off the ground MAY not be preferred by house sparrows, but should not be used when there are climbing predators (cats, raccoons). Because HOSP will nest in close proximity to other HOSP, it is not possible to saturate an area with enough boxes so other species can safely nest.

NESTBOX TYPE No nestbox suitable for bluebirds is HOSP-proof. House sparrows are reluctant to use a Gilbertson PVC box or other boxes made of PVC pipe. They may also avoid a slot box (for plans see Audubon Society of Omaha.) Be aware that even though HOSP may not "prefer" to nest in certain types of nestboxes, they may still enter them for the purposes of attack. Never include a perch on a bluebird nestbox. For the smallest cavity nesters (e.g., chickadees titmice, downy woodpecker) use a hole reducer (1.25 inch), which will exclude HOSP. Open-top "Bauldry" boxes are no longer recommended by NABS. They have a hole in the top, covered with hardware cloth. Supposedly HOSP don't like a wet nest--unfortunately, it is not healthy for bluebird nestlings either, and can increase the likelihood of fatal hypothermia. Thick wood block hole guards like the one shown on this box are not thought to deter house sparrows, but they MAY (according to one source) deter tree swallows.

MONOFILAMENT (foto on website) For some reason, HOSP (but not bluebirds) tend to be spooked by dangling monofilament/hobby wire. They will fly towards it, flutter in place, and then fly away. This effect may wear off over time, or when nest site competition is fierce. This works better with adults, as juveniles are less fearful. String 12-20 lb. clear fishing line (pulled tight) on either side of the entrance hole (parallel), and then put two screws in the side of the roof and hang fishing line from that. If you're concerned about the line getting pulled into the nestbox and tangling up nestlings, put a fishing weight or metal nut on the end of the dangling lines. At feeding sites, lines spaced 2 feet apart should repel 89-98% of HOSP.

FEEDING Do not offer seed that contains white proso millet or cracked corn (or offer seed mixes with less than 35% millet and 15% cracked corn if you want to attract juncos, native sparrows, and mourning doves). Do not feed bread. Black oil sunflower seeds, nuts, and thistle are not preferred by house sparrows (but may be eaten if food is scarce.) Put a hoop device such as the Magic Halo on your bird feeder, which repels 88-94% of HOSP in winter, 84% of summer. Other birds are not repelled. Hang hobby wire (28-30 gauge or the thinnest lightest weight you can find) from the hoop at 4 equidistant points, weighted with a fishing weight or metal nut so incoming birds do not get tangled in it. Use seed port wires. In open port tube feeders with perches, bend a 10" piece of flexible wire in half. Feed the wire through the port, loop it over one perch and pull it tight and tie it off around the other perch. The strands of wire make it harder for the sparrow to get seed out of the feeder, but do not affect finches, chickadees, nuthatches or other desirable songbirds. Use plastic mesh cut to fit in the bottom of a hopper type/trough feeders. Trim wooden/plastic perches back to less than 5/8" to deter HOSP, grackles and starlings. Remove bird feeders altogether.

SPARROW SPOOKER (drawings and photo at http://www.sialis.org/sparrowspooker.htm) After a bluebird has claimed a box and laid its first egg, immediately install a sparrow spooker. These are VERY effective, and nesting bluebirds will readily tolerate them. They can be made with one vertical dowel/stick that has two or three horizontal dowels/chopsticks extending out of the top, with 1/2" x 6" strips of mylar hot glued/duct taped onto them, hanging over the roof and near the entrance hole.

EXCLUSION Close off all openings (with plastic bird netting, wood, metal, glass, masonry, or 3/4" rust-proofed wire mesh) where HOSP can nest. For house sparrows in warehouses, garages and farm buildings: replace or cover broken windows in upper stories with wire mesh, plastic, wood or sheet metal; screen poultry houses and feeders to completely exclude sparrows; seal all openings larger than 0.75 in.; block open doorways with full-length, hanging plastic strips (10 - 15 cm wide). Some sources say that HOSP are not "hardy" outside in cold weather, and that one week of temperatures at or below 10*F will decimate the sparrow population (even if they have adequate food) if they cannot get into warm building to roost at night. In livestock shelters, attach netting with tacks or pieces of lath to the upper structures to prevent roosting. Eliminate perch sites by fitting ledges and rafters with slanted boards at a 45 degree angle. Remove vegetation they congregate in (e.g., multiflora rose.) Note that other desirable birds may use this vegetation also.

From: Dottie Roseboom, rosedot"at"mtco.com
Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2004 3:22 PM
Subject: Re: Passive house sparrow management and sparrow spookers.

Bet, Thanks for all of your work!   I'm sure that this compilation will bring forth much thought & maybe a few posts.   I had not heard that sparrows cannot tolerate cold temps for any length of time.   We usually have 2 - 3 weeks of 0 to 10*F.    Now, if I could just get the absentee purple martin landlords to block-up their houses and the farmers to tighten up their barns.   :-)             Dottie Roseboom   

From: JoleenDavis [mailto:ds"at"comteck.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2004 10:04 AM
Subject: Update on HOSP Problem

Hello All... I wrote in ealier about my problem with a male HOSP... Well,update #1 is: Snoopy gave me the advice of putting up a Sparrow Spooker. Well, I got my sparrow spooker finished I used a wooden stake shaped down to fit inside the conduit pipe & I used a potatoe chip bag for my mylar. I made design #3 (wooden stake with 2 strips)...I hope that will keep the HOSP away, so I can breathe a little easier. Also, when I went out to make my spooker I noticed the Starling box trap was tripped, but no luck....I think it was the HOSP. I also noticed after I put the spooker up that I have atleast 2 male HOSP so, will put up my nestbox trap too. After I put my spooker up the male BB came to the box with no problem also they didn't mind me coming around their box to put up the spooker even though they are having HOSP problems. Last years male would bombard me everytime I would go check the box which was rarely. I don't check the box like I did my first year of Bluebirding. I also did notice a small bird go over to the BB box & tried to land on the roof, but it just sort of fluttered a bit then landed on the fence. I hope that is a good sign. Update #2 is: The HOSP still landed on the box, so I guess the strips (only used 2) were too short (there is a slight breeze, so they didn't stay touching the roof). So I just added 2 more strips that were a bit longer. Well, that seems to be working, cuz he hasn't landed on the roof, but sits on the fence below the box. And he is still going to the Starling box trap. Also, my male BB is not bombarding me....I understand why, but now that darn HOSP changed my male BB from the "I don't mind you coming around" to "GO AWAY LANDLORD". That is ok I understand. I still need to get my HOSP trap box up & hope he goes between the Starling one & the HOSP one & leave my BB's alone. Joleen in Indiana

From: Joe Baker [mailto:rok90"at"adelphia.net]
Sent: Friday, May 07, 2004 9:06 AM
Subject: Mirror as a HOSP deterrent?

Hi all, Has anyone ever experimented with using a mirror as a HOSP deterrent? Since bluebirds seem to be so tolerant of all kinds of gadgetry, i.e. Noel guards, sparrow spookers, etc. I can't help but wonder, what would happen if one mounted a mirror above or below, or along side and perpendicular, to the entrance hole? What about on the roof? Would the mirror mess with the mind of the HOSP, but be accepted by the bluebirds? Excuse the pun, but I am just trying to think "outside-the-box". There must be a way. Comments, anyone? Joe Baker SW VA

From: Dottie Roseboom [mailto:rosedot"at"mtco.com]
Sent: Friday, May 07, 2004 9:32 AM
Subject: Re: Mirror as a HOSP deterrent?

Joe, I'm not sure that a mirror would be a deterrent, as one of the tips for "baiting" sparrow traps is to place a small mirror inside the trap - so that the sparrow will hop in "to fight" with himself. Some of my traps have mirrors, some don't - and I haven't noticed any differences. Wouldn't hurt for you to experiment around with it - maybe the sparrow would wear himself out trying to chase away his reflection :-) And keep on thinking - that's the only way that better solutions are found. Dottie Roseboom Peoria IL (central - zone 5) NABS member

From: Bruce Burdett [mailto:blueburd"at"tds.net]
Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2004 9:09 AM
Subject: Re: Mirror as a HOSP deterrent?

       I wouldn't mess with this mirror idea. There's no way of knowing how it would affect the birds, either the House Sparrows or the Bluebirds. I have a gut feeling, nothing more, that introducing something as UN-NATURAL as a mirror might produce all kinds of unpredictable reactions, including some bad ones. And how could you restrict its effect to the HOSP only?          Our daughter currently has an injured (one-winged) HOSP in the cage with her Parokeet (sp?) They found the bird in the barn where it had been stepped on by one of the horses. The sparrow spends the entire day staring into the mirror and pecking at it. The bird has clearly gone wacko. (Our daughter can't kill ANYTHING.)           Mirrors are not a part of a wild bird's normal surroundings. Bruce Burdett, SW NH

From: Shane&Emily Marcotte [mailto:marco50"at"bellsouth.net]
Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2004 8:51 AM
Subject: Re: Mirror as a HOSP deterrent?

I would think that considering how territorial the male blue is he would be very unhappy about "another" on his nestbox!!     Shane Maqrcotte Member LBBS   Watson Louiaiana

From: JOHN & BARBARA SIBIO [mailto:jsibio"at"comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2004 10:24 AM
Subject: Mirrors and Bluebirds

A couple years ago I was on my way to Bryce Canyon National Park and spent the night in one of those old places that advertises "cabins", and was a gas station/restaurant/motel in the mountains.  In the morning we were having breakfast and watching the trucks pull into the gas station.  A pair of mountain bluebirds were hunting in the flower beds (first time I ever saw them!), and the male flew up to the side mirror on a big eighteen wheeler and started fighting with his reflection!  He was persistent, and very entertaining -- still doing it when we left.  I don't think a mirror on a nestbox would be such a good idea.   ...  Barbara in Cloverdale, CA

From: Phil Berry [mailto:mrtony8"at"mchsi.com]
Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2004 11:47 AM
Subject: Re: Mirrors and Bluebirds

I put a bluebird (wooden) cutout on a box just to see what would happen. A male was sitting near the box the next time I went to the box. He hollered his head off and flew around my head until I took the fake bird off the box. He immediately quieted down. He did not use the box, and still has not. He was happy to see me take the decoy away, however. Phil Berry

On Mon, 17 May 2004 13:58:16 -0400
From: "BluebirdNut.com"
RE: TRES and SPookers

With a number of HOSP kills at TRES boxes reported, a few people have been experimenting with installing Spookers on TRES boxes, and then monitoring carefully to see if they will accept them. A number of reports on the experiements can be found here: http://p202.ezboard.com/fbluebirdnutcafefrm2.showMessage?topicID=364.topic Has anyone here experimented with this in the past? Cher

From: rindfleisch12"at"elknet.net
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2004 10:26 AM
Re: Spooker on TRES box & EABL ratio

As a precaution, I did mount a sparrow spooker on a TRES box last summer when a nearby HOSP killed a wren in a box closest to the nesting TRES. TRES Hatchlings were already. TRES were not concerned with the "new addition" to their box and all TRES fledged successfully. I wish I had done it this year, as HOSP destroyed 2 TRES eggs. Fortunely, the parents were not harmed and there is still time and available boxes for the TRES to try again. Still disappointed with the failed nesting. Upon this discovery, added sparrow spooker to EABL house. 5 hatchlings due in one week. So far, so good. It will be a long 3.5 weeks. HOSP taking 4 boxes on my trail and seem to know when traps are set. They have been very persistent in irritating me and have been especially difficult to trap them this year. They seemed know when traps have been reset, just like they have with mono-line this year, which has also been unsuccessful in 2004. They learn too quickly. Cheryl R. - SE Wisconsin Box Occupation/Interests in 2004 to date: EABL - 1 , 2003: 2 boxes TRES - 6 (was 7), 2003: 2 boxes HOSP - 4, 2003: 1 box, 0 fledged WREN - 1, 2003: 3 boxes Open - 3

From: Carol Berrett [mailto:caroljea"at"athenet.net]
Sent: Saturday, May 29, 2004 8:51 AM
Subject: silvar mylar???

Can someone tell me just were I can get this material to use for a "sparrow spooker"? I have seen it described as birthday banners or balloons, but I have no idea what to look for at the store so I can get the proper material. I found some shiny green wrapping paper that I put up, but the house sparrow just ignored it and went right up to the entrance hole of some nesting tree swallows in a box with my improvised "sparrow spooker" atop it. Just how can I get this "silver mylar" for my "sparrow spookers"?

From: DeaneC3"at"aol.com [mailto:DeaneC3"at"aol.com]
Sent: Saturday, May 29, 2004 8:58 AM
Subject: Re: silvar mylar???

Hi,
I got mine at I Party. Any party supply store should have birthday or anniversary banners that you can cut into strips. 

Deane
Bellingham, MA

From: Joe Baker [mailto:rok90"at"adelphia.net]
Sent: Saturday, May 29, 2004 9:18 AM
Subject: RE: silvar mylar???

The Coleman Emergency Blanket, available in the Sporting Goods departments of WalMart/Target, is made of shiny aluminized Mylar.  The blanket is 53" X 83", enough to supply all the bluebirders on this list with sparrow spookers. :-)  I have forgotten the cost, but I believe it was $2-3.  I use it, and it is definitely the "right stuff".  Good luck with it. Joe Baker SW VA

Continued in Part 10