Hi All -
This is my 1st spring with bird houses up and when I placed my bird house right next to our house, I did not realize I was putting out the welcome mat for the house sparrows. After doing research online and talking to local birders, they told me to NEVER let house sparrows nest in your houses. So I ran the fishing line on top of the house and around the entrance. And have been removing the nest when house sparrows still move in.... Then yesterday I was so thrilled to see a pair of Tree Swallows claiming the house as theirs. But after doing some research, I read that House Sparrows will actually go into the box and kill the Tree Swallow babies and maybe even trap and kill the adults in there. So my question is, has anyone had any problems with house sparrows doing this? I live in a small suburban yard and I am shocked at all to even see Tree Swallows here. If I leave the house up, am I just asking for trouble? Or would it be better to give the Tree Swallows a chance and keep the house where it is? Some of the web sites I saw even said to go as far as trapping and killing House Sparrows, do I really have to go that far???
Just as I was writing this the Tree Swallow flew into the bird house to check it out. They are so pretty!
This is my 1st spring with bird houses up and when I placed my bird house right next to our house, I did not realize I was putting out the welcome mat for the house sparrows. After doing research online and talking to local birders, they told me to NEVER let house sparrows nest in your houses. So I ran the fishing line on top of the house and around the entrance. And have been removing the nest when house sparrows still move in.... Then yesterday I was so thrilled to see a pair of Tree Swallows claiming the house as theirs. But after doing some research, I read that House Sparrows will actually go into the box and kill the Tree Swallow babies and maybe even trap and kill the adults in there. So my question is, has anyone had any problems with house sparrows doing this? I live in a small suburban yard and I am shocked at all to even see Tree Swallows here. If I leave the house up, am I just asking for trouble? Or would it be better to give the Tree Swallows a chance and keep the house where it is? Some of the web sites I saw even said to go as far as trapping and killing House Sparrows, do I really have to go that far???
Just as I was writing this the Tree Swallow flew into the bird house to check it out. They are so pretty!