Place one 2-holer built to spec on two acres of forage and remove any House Sparrow nest/eggs each week.In a Nutshell:
—— That's it ——
Photos on this web page are courtesy of Debbie Highfill of Joshua, Texas, taken during March 2009
Theory: Bluebirds learn they can outcompete House Sparrows by escaping through the hole. If the battle takes place OUTSIDE the box, Bluebirds have the advantage over House Sparrows. Simple and elegant solution. Bluebirds need ample forage (two acres) around the nestbox so they don't have to leave the box undefended to find food. Any extra box Bluebird box within that territory is an invitation for House Sparrow problems.
What you can expect during the first "transition" year as problem 1-holers are replaced with 2-holers:
If house sparrows have been allowed to sit on eggs and/or young for any length of time during the previous season, you should expect house sparrow problems at that site for an entire subsequent nesting season.
Common house sparrow control recommendations may reduce, rather than increase, available nestboxes for bluebirds:
- Remove the Box—Counterproductive, bluebirds need a nestbox, house sparrows do not
- Move the box to better habitat—Impractical, habitat is getting worse, not better
The difference between what the most and the least learned people know is inexpressibly trivial in relation to that which is unknown." — Albert Einstein The above quote is a good description of where Bluebirders stand in relation to house sparrow control in spite of decades of trying.
