Sparrow Terrace

[Lizzybif]

Has anyone any experience of these?

I was thinking of getting one but they are about £20 which is quite a lot of money if they won't use it.

If they are ok is it too late to put one up and, if not, is a sheltered east facing wall ok?

I did try a couple of 'teardrop' nest boxes a couple of years ago and nothing used it hence the reluctance to put a lot of money on nestboxes. Well I am a canny Scot! :-O

Liz

[timmyjones]

i think that he sparrows would use it unless you have seen them using a building roof or something and its not to late to put one up also i tink that these terardrop nestboxes arent actually used for nesting in but for roosting in thi is if they are made of wicker material

[saluki]

Has anyone any experience of these?

I was thinking of getting one but they are about £20 which is quite a lot of money if they won't use it.

If they are ok is it too late to put one up and, if not, is a sheltered east facing wall ok?

I did try a couple of 'teardrop' nest boxes a couple of years ago and nothing used it hence the reluctance to put a lot of money on nestboxes. Well I am a canny Scot! :-O

Liz

Hi Liz,

Don't know how good your DIY skills are but here's a few sites that have plans for sparrow terraces:

http://www.dt4u.com/dtsystems/bbsparrow.php

http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/factsheets/nestbox/housesparrow.php

http://www.beautifulbritain.co.uk/htm/wildlife_gardening/sparrow_terrace.htm

saluki

[Lizzybif]

Thanks both!

Knowing my DIY I better buy a ready made one or all the birdies will end up on the ground! :C

[Nightranger]

Has anyone any experience of these?

I was thinking of getting one but they are about £20 which is quite a lot of money if they won't use it.

If they are ok is it too late to put one up and, if not, is a sheltered east facing wall ok?

I did try a couple of 'teardrop' nest boxes a couple of years ago and nothing used it hence the reluctance to put a lot of money on nestboxes. Well I am a canny Scot! :-O

Liz

Hi Liz,

The sparrow terraces work very well if (like all nest boxes) they are placed in the correct position. Up under the eaves between east and north is ideal or in dense cover at a more modest height. However, never forget individual nest boxes as an alternative (32mm hole) because sparrows have a dominance hierarchy and the terraces are sometimes occupied by a single pair that simply move next door for each brood. There is no question about terraces being used but under some circumstances, they may not attract seperate pairs.

Ian

[Wildlife Ranger]

I've found that these boxes can be very successful, provided there is a shortage of suitable nesting sites, and they are sited correctly, under the eaves. The ones we sell are well-made, and when you think they are basically 3 boxes for the price of 2 (ish), they're not too bad!!

It's never too late to put up nestboxes, as even if you miss this season (only if you wait until September!!), you'll be nice and early for the next one.

[edrick owl]

Hi lizzy

Go for it! Save up all your Scottish groats and get a sparrow terrace. Everyone has some good advice, but the best is "you will never know until you try it!"

My boxes face directly east, up under the eaves (leaving room for painting etc), are on the side of our bungalow, and have a privet hedge about 3 feet directly in front of them. This gives the parents cover and a rest position before entering the nest box, and a place of refuge and security for the fledgelings once they pluck up enough courage to leave.

Try one of your local wildlife groups, if there are any, who will sell you a box for a very modest sum. They almost give some of them away simply to help improve local wildlife. Or, you could try a local disability type workshop, who make things for people to help the disabled with work projects etc.

Hope it's been of some help,

regards,

[edrick owl]

Hi lizzy

Forget to mention that it is never too late to install a nest box, simply because if it is too late for nesting, it coul well be used for over-winter roosting. This gives the potential parents the opportunity to test the place out as a potential breeding spot for the following year.

regards,

[david2004]

Everyone's advice is good. I bought a House Sparrow Terrace, but the Sparrows ignored it! There is a huge flock around, so I suppose there must be plenty of nesting sites.

Having said that, it is being used - by Blue Tits!

[Yve]

We put a sparrow terrace under the eaves, lots of interest throughout winter, but now it's come to nesting time - not a sole!

[edrick owl]

Hi David & Yve

Interesting to hear that you have both erected terraces, and after initial inspections, nothing more has come of it. It does seems so strange that no other species have moved in and nested. There are quite a few threads and postings revealing that the terraces have been used by others - especially Blue Tits, and even Robins who are supposed to like an open fronted box!

It's the unpredictability that makes these things so interesting. But please, keep updating users etc.

Regards,

[gw4aurora]

In my garden I have found single nest boxes are more productive. I have 3 in the pyracanther together south facing and these are always full. There are a few more around the garden.
I started with 2 pairs of house sparrows and now there are nearly 50, not bad in just 4 years. They roost in pyracanther because they know they are safe because after numerous attempts the sparrowhawk cannot gain access to them.

Chris.

[david2004]

Edrick - it is interesting. My Blue Tits seem to nest anywhere - last year it was an artificial House Martin nestcup!

Well done Chris! My single boxes are being ignored, though there was some inspection - maybe there's still a chance. The birds seem to favour other places e.g. Blue Tits in terrace, last year Blue Tits in House Martin nestcup!!

[edrick owl]

Hi David and Chris

I have 3 nest boxes in place. Two are closed, Tit type boxes fixed to the outside walls facing east. One was used last year by Blue Tits, but this year the second one seems to be coming into use as well, not sure, but I think by more Tits. The third one is an open fronted box which was erected last year and ignored, though it has been used as a roost during the winter. Sunday I found it was being filled with nesting materials, and today (Monday) I found out the occupants are a pair of Robins. I also had a pair of Great Tits nest in the soffits (?) of the garage last year, but I am not quite sure if they are back this year.

The point to all this is that all three single boxes are now used, which raises the question of will a Sparrow Terrace be of any use? I would love to help the Sparrows, especially Tree Sparrows, but reading that seemingly everything but Sparrows use them, I was left in a quandry.

If I errect the terrace, it may have to be at the expense of one of the Tit boxes next year, but then again, if the terrace is used by Tits anyway, then what's my problem!!??

Confused regards,

[david2004]

True Edrick. Probably won't have a problem! Well done and hope everything goes goes Ok for your current nesters! I'm sure the House Sparrow terrace will be beneficial as an extra choice even if it isn't used.

[N.Grant]

Has anyone any experience of these?

I was thinking of getting one but they are about £20 which is quite a lot of money if they won't use it.

If they are ok is it too late to put one up and, if not, is a sheltered east facing wall ok?

I did try a couple of 'teardrop' nest boxes a couple of years ago and nothing used it hence the reluctance to put a lot of money on nestboxes. Well I am a canny Scot! :-O

Liz
Hi Liz, I made a Sparrow Terrace the back end of last year, three entrance holes of 32 mm, and I put it on the side of my Bungelow facing east, Height approx 2.2 meters above ground, No sparrows, But the Blue Tits are building in all three, so that is an added bonus.
Cheers
Nev

[edrick owl]

I think I will go for it and make myself a terrace, then attach it to the side of the bungalow towards the end of this year, at the expence of course of one of my Blut Tit boxes.

Seems by reading all these postings I can't loose!!!

But what of the originater of this thread - have you bought, made, borrowed a terrace or not lizzy????

Regards,

[edrick owl]

Hi all

Just got my latest edition of the RSPB magazine, and in it is a small piece about terraces.

A Dr DG Dawson from London writes that close-spaced boxes are less likely to be used than open spaced ones by Sparrows; and in fact Stefan Buczacki only had one pair of Sparrows use his terrace.

Seeing as plenty of thread contributors report having more Blue Tits than Sparrows in them, it seems like the name "Sparrow Terrace" is something of a misnomer. Perhaps the simple answer would be just to call them "nesting terraces" or "terraces", then whatever likes them can use them.

Regards,

[wildliferon]

Has anyone any experience of these?

I was thinking of getting one but they are about £20 which is quite a lot of money if they won't use it.

If they are ok is it too late to put one up and, if not, is a sheltered east facing wall ok?

I did try a couple of 'teardrop' nest boxes a couple of years ago and nothing used it hence the reluctance to put a lot of money on nestboxes. Well I am a canny Scot! :-O

Liz
I made one of these boxes towards the end of last year.It was placed on the side of a building where I used to work.I went back today to check the box and there was three pairs of birds useing the box.

[david2004]

Good news Wildliferon. Three pairs of H sparrows?