House SparrowsManaging House Sparrows (Control)

Managing House Sparrows (Control)

“Without question, the most deplorable event in the history of American ornithology
was the introduction of the English Sparrow
.”
-W.L. Dawson, The Birds of Ohio, 1903

Warning: This webpage deals with both active and
passive means of managing House Sparrow (HOSP) populations. House Sparrows are deadly and difficult, but there are ways to manage them.
Male House Sparrow. Photo by Bet Zimmerman.
Male House Sparrow. Photo by Bet Zimmerman Smit

QUICK TIPS: Successful bluebird landlords do not tolerate House Sparrows (HOSP), which are non-native nest site competitors. In my opinion, it is better to have no nestbox at all than to allow House Sparrows to breed in one. The combination of methods I recommend most highly are:

  1. Do not feed cracked corn, millet or bread. Switch to black oil sunflower, thistle and safflower instead.
  2. Use a Magic Halo at feeders.
  3. Try Gilbertson PVC nestboxes, as they are least preferred by HOSP. Troyer style boxes may also not be preferred.
  4. Hang monofilament on nestboxes early in the season (carefully).
  5. *For backyard boxes or small trails: if you do nothing else, put a sparrow spooker on top of the box after the first bluebird egg is laid (provides 24/7 protection for eggs, nestlings and adults.) Remove it after fledging so House Sparrows don’t get accustomed to it.
  6. Systematically remove nests and eggs that you are sure are House Sparrow nests every 10-12 days, or addle eggs.
  7. Trap early and often.
    Although trapping is not for everyone, it is the most effective long term solution.

  8. Adult HOSP, nests, eggs and young may be destroyed under U.S. federal law. Humanely euthanize trapped birds. Relocating them only relocates the problem, and in some states a permit is required. If you cannot bring yourself to euthanize (see accounts of HOSP attacks before deciding – warning, graphic photos), at least trim their wings.
  9. Consider not putting boxes up at all in HOSP territory – try other areas instead.

After using these methods over a three year period, HOSP are no longer a serious issue on my trail.

WEBL killed by HOSP. Photo by Claudia Daigle.
A male Western Bluebird that was trapped inside a nestbox and killed by a House Sparrow. Photo by Claudia Daigle.

CONTENTS:

Also see: HOSP Photos of adults youg and eggs, HOSP egg photos, HOSP nest photos, History, Attacks (warning: graphic photos), photos and descriptions of other brown birds that look like HOSP, Behavior, Biology, Population Proliferation, Video Clip of HOSP Attack, information on euthanizing captured birds, HOSP advisory handout for people with boxes used by HOSP and one for commercial facilities allowing HOSP to breed/roost/feed, trap review, and essay “Are HOSP Evil?” Separate webpages with drawings and photos on sparrow spookers, Magic Halo, and How to Trim Wings and Links for more information and DIY drawings. Also see ongoing experiments to deter HOSP and Bluebird Widows/Widowers/Orphans.

THE PROBLEM

Webcam captures a HOSP attacking a pecan it believes is a bluebird egg. Photo by John C.
Webcam captures a HOSP attacking a pecan it believes is a bluebird egg. Photo by John C.

If you want to attract bluebirds, you will have to deal
with House Sparrows (HOSP) if they are common in your area.
HOSP are probably the number one enemy of bluebirds and purple martins. Unlike starlings, they are capable of entering the 1.5″ round hole of a nestbox. HOSP have been observed threatening and attacking 70 species of birds that have come into their nesting territory. One study showed HOSP reduced reproductive output of a barn swallow colony in MD by 44.7% over a four year period. (Weisheit and Creighton, 1989). They may also steal nesting material, slowing down breeding.

You might think they’re cute (some bluebirders refer to them as “rats with wings”), but they attack and kill
adult bluebirds
(warning: graphic photos), sometimes
trapping and decapitating them in the nestbox and building their own nest on top of their victim’s corpse. They destroy eggs and young. At a minimum, they often harass native birds (especially more timid species like
chickadees) into abandoning nestboxes. A HOSP flock near a nestbox can also cause premature fledging. In addition, they overwhelm bird feeders, driving other species away. (They are also voracious. Ben Lincoln reported that 16 HOSP went through 3 lbs. of birdseed over a two day period.)

If you are serious about bluebirding, you should be serious about HOSP control. Please do not put up a nestbox if you are unable or unwilling to monitor it and prevent HOSP from nesting.

For those who find it hard to deal with HOSP, here are some accounts of experiences repeated all too often:

  • I pray that you never have to experience the shock of opening a nestbox to find a nest full of babies, mutilated and dying, or on the ground, covered with ants, or broken eggs, or a blood-covered mother bluebird who fatally tried to protect her young.
  • “I had bluebird pair nest in my purple martin house. Given 11 other compartments to choose from, the House Sparrows still killed the nestlings.”
  • “If you ever happen to see a bluebird enter a nestbox, followed by a “Passer domesticus” or
    House Sparrow, you might experience what I did minutes later–holding a beautiful male bluebird in your hands, bloodied and blinded by the attack, taking his last dying breaths.”
  • More quotes (Warning: includes graphic photos)
Tufted Titmouse egg probably pecked by HOSP. Photo by EA Zimmerman
Tufted Titmouse egg probably pecked by HOSP. Photo by Bet Zimmerman Smith

I have heard reports that in some areas HOSP and native cavity nesters appear to peacefully coexist. This may be due to a less aggressive HOSP population. It may also be because these HOSP have not become accustomed to using nestboxes, as they do not require cavities to successfully nest. I wonder whether this situation would change as local HOSP populations increase or when HOSP learn that nestboxes offer better protection from weather and predators. I often see reports of people who say they have had HOSP for years, and then suddenly start seeing attacks. It is usually just a matter of time. Regular trapping makes it easier to get younger birds before they get “educated.”

House Sparrows cause other damage: to crops (esp. grains) and gardens (eating seed, seedlings, buds, flowers, young vegetables [such as peas and lettuce], maturing fruit (such as cherries, pears and peaches but not grapes). They eat stored grain, and consume and spoil livestock food and water. They may spread other agricultural pests (such as nematodes and weed seeds). In exceptional cases (e.g., consumption of alfalfa weevil and cutworms), HOSP have been somewhat useful during nesting season as a consumer of insect pests, however under normal circumstances its choice of insects is often unfavorable (Birds of America, 1917).

HOSP droppings and feathers create janitorial problems as well as hazardous, unsanitary, and odoriferous situations inside and outside of buildings and sidewalks under roosting areas. They can contaminate and deface buildings with their nests and acidic droppings, which can damage the finish on automobiles, block gutters (with nests), and create fire hazards (e.g., when nesting around power lines, lighted signs or electrical substations, in dryer vents.) HOSP may peck rigid foam insulation inside buildings. (Fitzwater)

Last, but not least, they are also a factor in dissemination of about 29 human and livestock diseases and internal parasites (Weber 1979) such as equine encephalitis, West Nile (they are carriers, but it usually does not kill them), vibriosis, and yersinosis, chlamydiosis, coccidiosis, erysipeloid, Newcastle’s, parathypoid, pullorum, salmonellosis, transmissible gastroenteritis, tuberculosis, acariasis, schistosomiasis, taeniasis, toxoplasmosis, and trichomoniasis; and household pests such as fleas, lice, mites, and ticks. Note that other wild birds may also have these diseases and parasites, but because of numbers and typical nesting locations in close association with people, HOSP may be more likely to transmit them to humans and livestock.

PROLIFERATION: House Sparrows may raise 2-5 (average of 3) clutches of 3-7 chicks each breeding season, (averaging 20 chicks per season) which fledge in 14-16 days. They start claiming nestboxes early in the season (February and March). One male may “claim” three or more nestboxes if they are clustered. Since they are relatively long lived (up to 13 years), one pair can at potentially quintuple the population in one year. “If unchecked, a breeding pair can grow to over 2,000 birds in two to three years.” (Bird Barrier America, Inc.) (Using some conservative assumptions, I calculated one pair could theoretically increase to 1,250 birds in 5 years.)


RECOGNIZING A HOSP ATTACK – also see photo of dead nestlings and more descriptions of attacks

  • Head injuries are typical.
    House sparrow attack. Photo by Bet Zimmerman
    House sparrow attack. Photo by Bet Zimmerman Smith

    Adults or nestlings attacked by HOSP usually (but not always) have visible evidence of pecking/hematomas on the top of the head (sometimes leaving a featherless crown or back) and in the eyes. Victims of an attack may be found dead inside the box.

  • Eggs may be pecked in the nestbox (but usually not a pinhole like a House Wren piercing); or removed from the box, and found nearby or underneath it – usually within about 23 feet (Weisheit 1989), with contents (unless they are later eaten by something else like ants.) Eggs may disappear one by one, during daytime.
  • Small nestlings may be removed from the box and found nearby, dead or dying (note that predators will generally pick them up if on the ground for any length of time so they no corpses may be found). The young may have a broken neck only, or pecked heads/eyes.
  • HOSP may harass parents so they are unable to feed young, which then starve. They will be seen driving the parents from the box.
  • Afterwards, if the HOSP elect to use the box (which does not always happen), they may be seen perching on top of it, or going in and out. However, sometimes they do not use a box after an attack.
  • HOSP may build their own nest on top of a corpse. See photos of nests and eggs.
  • Their poop kind of looks like a noodle – white and gray in color.
  • Both males and female HOSP will attack, sometimes teaming up. See more photos (warning: graphic) and accounts of HOSP attacks.
  • NOTE: Another small brown bird, the House Wren will also peck eggs (usually two small holes), remove eggs from a nestbox and may remove very young nestlings. Shortly thereafter sticks usually appear. See info on how to deter House Wrens.

IDENTIFICATION OF HOUSE SPARROWS

The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is sometimes referred to as the English sparrow. HOSP are not native to the U.S. They were deliberately introduced in multiple locations in the late 1800’s, and are
now established throughout the lower 48 states. See HOSP History for information on their introduction and why they have proliferated, and HOSP photos for pictures of nest, fledglings and adults.

Adults are short, stocky birds, 5.75-6.25 inches long (smaller than a bluebird, larger than a chipping sparrow/House Wren) with thick bills. The back is brown with black streaks. Both males and females have a dingy grayish/buff breast without stripes. The tail is short compared to other sparrows. The song is an boisterous, non-musical, monotonous single-note chirp. (Listen.)

  • Adult males have a black, v-shaped bib on the breast under the beak (darkest during breeding season, lacking in juveniles),
    male and female HOSP - drawing
    male and female HOSP – drawing grayish-brown feathers with a white horizontal bar on the wing,

    and gray on the top of their head with chestnut below(not a chestnut cap like the chipping sparrow.) The beak may be pink/yellow/brownish or even dark black.

  • Adult females are much harder to identify, but are dull gray with a light streak at and behind the eye. They can be easily confused with other sparrows and brown birds.
  • Juveniles: Young look like females but are more brown above and more buff-colored below, with pinkish bills, legs and feet.

Before using any active management methods, you
must be able to positively identify a House Sparrow!
A
good bird book like Sibley’s is invaluable in this regard. Some other “brown birds” (SEE PHOTOS) sometimes confused with the House Sparrow are listed below. Of these, only House Wrens and rarely House Finches will use a nestbox. When in doubt, let it out!

  • House Wren and Carolina Wren – smaller, long pointy beak, tail often held upright
  • Chipping Sparrow – smaller, mature adults during breeding season have a chestnut cap, strong dark eyeline. Not a cavity nester.
  • House Finch – plain head, striped/streaked breast. Rarely uses nestboxes.
  • Eurasian Tree Sparrow – brown crown instead of the HOSPs’ gray crown, and a black spot on its cheek that the HOSP doesn’t have. Also non-native, will use a nestbox, slightly smaller than a HOSP.
  • other song sparrows (e.g., white throated).
  • Harris’s Sparrow – male has a black bib, but the head is black, and it is about 1″ larger than a HOSP, longer tail. Not a cavity nester.
  • Brown-headed cowbird (female) – larger, legs are gray-black (not pinkish like a House Sparrow), with fine streaks on breast.

None of these birds (except the House Wren, which is native) will bother other cavity nesters. Generally only the House Wren and occasionally the Carolina Wren will utilize nestboxes with a 1.5″ entrance hole. Many, but not all, true sparrows have markedly striped breasts – HOSP do not.

House Sparrow nest
House Sparrow nest

A HOSP nest is a loose jumble of odds and ends, including coarse grass (with seed heads), cloth, feathers, twigs and sometimes litter, and occasionally a sprig of green vegetation or roots. It is often tall (arcing up the back of the nestbox) with a tunnel-like entrance. Eggs are cream, white, gray or greenish, with irregular brown speckles. IMPORTANT: SOME NATIVE BIRDS also lay speckled eggs. CHECK FIRST before removing nests! See EGG ID Matrix.

Droppings: HOSP may roost in nestboxes outside of nesting season. (If you have paired boxes, the male may roost in one box and the female in the other.) It may be difficult to tell what species is roosting from droppings. Keith Kridler says bluebirds normally have seeds from fruits or berries in their droppings. Chickadees and titmice and even HOSP normally have droppings without large seeds. Normally the House Sparrow male will have firm droppings or tiny noodle-shaped feces often deposited right below the entrance hole on the floor of the box. Also, the roof of the box may serve as a place for him to spend a lot of time singing and watching for a female, so he leaves a lot of droppings there. (A Mockingbird perching there will also do this but a Mockingbird at this time of the year is feeding on fruits and berries.)


Male house sparrow. Photo by
Male house sparrow.

MIGRATION: The HOSP is an intelligent, hardy bird with no recognized migration pattern. Although they are widely distributed as a species, adults generally remain within 2 to 6 km (1.24 – 3.8 miles) of where they hatched. Flocks of juveniles and non-breeding adults may move 6 to 8 km (3.8 – 5 miles overall)to new feeding areas.

My husband noticed that new HOSP seem to “appear” after a storm like a Nor’Easter – perhaps they get blown into new areas. They are common in agricultural, suburban, and urban areas. The only areas they tend to avoid are woodlands, forests, large grasslands, and deserts.


MANAGEMENT CHOICES

It is better to have no box at all than to allow House Sparrows to reproduce in one.

One bluebirder said “If one won’t – or can’t (totally understandable) – try to protect blues from HOSP, possibly a greater disservice is being done to offer boxes to blues in which they are near-certain to die than to offer no boxes at all….unprotected boxes often become HOSP factories.

I do not believe that HOSP are evil (see discussion). However, I do believe they need to be managed to enable bluebirds and other native cavity nesters to survive and thrive. Unfortunately, most passive methods are limited in their effectiveness. If House Sparrows
are in your area, and you do not take steps to manage the population, the likelihood of successful nesting by native cavity nesters birds will be reduced or even eliminated.

House Sparrows are non-native invasive birds that are not protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act or Canadian federal, state and provincial regulations. U.S. federal law permits removing or destroying HOSP nests, eggs, young, and adults. Generally, they may be removed by individuals using any method except poison, or at night with guns with lights. Be aware that some states and municipalities have issued statutes/ordinances that protect all birds, both exotic and native, and also may require a permit to trap or euthanize HOSP, or have other applicable requirements.

Some people feel that no animal should be physically harmed and will prefer passive management, and I respect that. There are a number of options available. However, be forewarned that, sooner or later, many people who stop short of trapping will lose eggs, young and adults of native birds to a HOSP attack.

Some people want to “let nature take its course.” However, as noted above, House Sparrows are not naturally occurring in the U.S., and were introduced by humans. If you allow HOSP to breed in any location, you will be increasing future competition for nest sites.

Some passive methods still allow sparrows to harass birds nesting in natural cavities, to harass and evict bluebirds as they are selecting nestboxes, building nests, and mating, and
to destroy eggs and nestlings. Therefore, a combination of both passive and active methods will be most effective. I am not insisting that you choose management method over the other – I can only share with you what works and what doesn’t. You must make your own personal choices.

Personally, I have not found that large HOSP populations can be successfully controlled without employing active methods. Initially, it may feel like sticking your finger in a dike, but you can get the population under control with courage, persistence and time. HOSP can be virtually eliminated in the area of a small trail using a combination of passive and active methods. You can create an almost sparrow-free zone or oasis locally. However, vigilance (maintenance trapping when new HOSP show up) is required. Because they are so prolific, skipping even a year can allow HOSP populations to rebound to problem levels.

In the meantime, find out the name and number of your closest licensed wildlife rehabber, as you may need their help when HOSP attack.


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).

It is possible neophobia (fear of novel objects) may be a factor with HOSP being deterred by sparrow spookers, monofilament, magic halos, and different box styles. However, a HOSP will readily investigate a new wooden box that is put up.

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. See the House Sparrow advisory you can give to people with neglected nestboxes where HOSP are allowed to breed, or who are feeding millet/cracked corn birdseed that attracts HOSP.

Typical sparrow spooker design. Drawing by Bet Zimmerman
Typical sparrow spooker design. Drawing by Bet Zimmerman Smith

Note that some passive methods (monofilament, sparrow spooker) still allow HOSP to harass native birds as they are selecting nestboxes, building nests, and mating.


SPARROW SPOOKER

After a bluebird has claimed a box and laid its first egg, immediately install a sparrow spooker. When properly used, these are extremely effective, protecting the nest 24/7, 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. See instructions and drawings. If properly constructed, a sparrow spooker is a life saver.

Several weather-resistant, ready-made versions are available commercially. See more info and instructions.

A Wren Guard (designed to deter House Wrens) may also reduce HOSP interest in a box (especially if they are harassing nesting bluebirds), as it obscures the entrance hole and may make entering the box more difficult. See more info and instructions. It too should also be put up after the first egg and removed right before fledging.


FEEDING

  • Note that in some areas, HOSP will eat anything including suet, from any style feeder. Do not offer seed that contains white proso
    millet (the little round seeds that come in many mixtures) or milo 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.
  • Safflower seeds, nuts, and thistle (niger/nyger/nyjer), and sometimes black oil sunflower seeds, may not be preferred by House Sparrows, but may be eaten if food is scarce, so selective feeding is not an effective deterrent. (Brad from Wisconsin reported that HOSP in his area prefer black oil sunflower to striped).
  • If feeding thistle, choose a goldfinch style feeder that requires birds to hang upside down to feed (with the feeding port below the perch.)
  • Put a hoop device such as the Magic Halo on your bird feeder, which repels an estimated 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. See more info on the Magic Halo.
  • If other people in your neighborhood are feeding HOSP, talk with them and give them a copy of a HOSP advisory to explain the impact to bluebirds.
  • Try feeding black oil sunflower seeds (which HOSP may eat) in Duncraft’s smallest “satellite globe” feeder (one portal) hung from a wire or string, so it swings in the breeze.
  • 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.
  • Trim wooden/plastic perches back to less than 5/8″ to deter HOSP, grackles and starlings.
  • Use plastic mesh cut to fit in the bottom of a hopper type/trough feeders.
  • At feeding sites, fishing lines spaced 2 feet apart should repel 89-98% of HOSP.
  • For suet feeders, try feeding suet in a hanging cage, but only fill the cage half way so to force birds to cling to the bottom of the cage to feed. Neither starlings nor HOSP like to do this.
  • Remove bird feeders altogether. After about two weeks or more, the HOSP may move on, and you can put the feeders back up. Start with a suet or peanut feeder, or a thistle sock.
  • For agricultural operations, avoid careless feeding or grain handling that offers HOSP a lavish supply of food.

Nestbox Location, etc.

  • Avoid placing nestboxes near farmsteads, feedlots and barns (which offer plenty of food, shelter and nesting sites), and human occupation (e.g., buildings or areas where people are feeding cheap birdseed).
  • Place nestboxes 0.07 to 0.5 miles or more from buildings and farms, since HOSP are usually associated with human activity
  • Timing: Since HOSP start claiming nestboxes early in the season (February/March) leave boxes closed until April 1 in northern states. You can stuff crumpled up newspaper in the holes or plug them with a bathtub drain plug.
    • Leave boxes plugged (e.g. with a rubber drain plug available at the hardware store), until the desired occupant is ready to
      move into the area (to prevent HOSP roosting and claiming boxes early in the season.)
  • Try relocating boxes that have been claimed by HOSP in previous seasons.
  • For a box claimed by a HOSP: Generally nothing will stop them from nesting except making the box unusable, which may encourage them to move elsewhere. You can:
    • remove the box
    • plug the entrance hole ($1.79 rubber drain plug from a hardware store fits in the 1.5″ hole or crumpled up newspaper)
    • leave the door/roof open
    • remove the door
    • Some people suggest 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.) A HOSP may proceed to build its nest on top of the snake.
    • Placing a cat food can/tub constantly filled with water on the nestbox floor may also deter HOSP from nest building.
  • Height: Boxes 3 feet off the ground MAY not be preferred by House Sparrows, but should not be used for native birds where there are climbing predators (cats, raccoons). Note that some HOSP will nest near the ground, even 24″ high, especially if nest sites are in short supply.
    • HOSP will nest in hanging boxes. Hanging the nestbox from a wire has been suggested as a deterrent, but HOSP will nest in a hanging/swinging box or gourd.
    • If a HOSP shows an interest in a box that bluebirds have claimed, immediately lower the height (temporarily) of the bluebird house to about 4 feet. Put up another house a few feet away at a much higher height (around 7-9 feet) and if possible closer to a nearby house or other man-made building. The House Sparrow will often move
      to the new, higher house. This can facilitate inbox trapping.
  • HOSP apparently do not “imprint” on the nest site where they were born, but they may nest in a site where they roosted during the winter, so it is important to deal with roosting birds also.
  • NOTE: In lieu of spending time on trapping, some people choose not to put boxes up at all in areas where HOSP exist, especially if they are not willing or able to actively manage HOSP populations. An option is to try boxes on a golf course or park far from residences and farms instead.

Clustering and Pairing Nestboxes

Putting up an additional box(es) does not DETER HOSP nesting. It is not possible to saturate an area with enough boxes so other species can safely nest. If you do use this method, monitor more frequently (e.g., 2-3 times per week, especially at the beginning of nesting season) and then trap HOSP attempting to use the extra boxes. If you do not, “House Sparrows will reward your kindness by killing your bluebirds….” – Bob Orthwein

Because HOSP are colonial nesters, they will nest in close proximity to other HOSP. HOSP have nested in boxes 10 feet apart (Daniel 1995.)

Also, perhaps out of an instinctive desire to reduce competition, HOSP may actually prefer a nestbox occupied by other birds even when it is surrounded by other empty boxes. They may also end up using or controlling both boxes.

As HOSP may actually be more attracted to boxes that have nesting material in them (?), remove HOSP nesting material after trapping, and clean boxes used by other birds after fledging. (See more reasons to periodically clean out boxes.)

If you only have one nestbox, HOSP may evict nesting bluebirds. If there is an empty box in reasonable proximity (e.g., one in front yard, one in back), the HOSP may choose the empty box, especially if the bluebirds are farther along in the nesting cycle. As noted above, in some instances, HOSP will still focus on the occupied box, but then perhaps the native birds will move to the empty box. This can give native birds a chance to start nesting, especially on a large trail.

On the other hand, a box may remain empty for weeks, and as soon as another native bird chooses it, HOSP move in.

However, providing additional boxes has the added benefits of providing additional houses for native species, and offers a choice to native birds (since there may be something about one nestbox they don’t like). If HOSP do start nesting in one of the boxes, they can be trapped during in the incubation stage and the other nestbox is not tied up while you are trapping.

Kate Arnold has noted that House Sparrows may settle down when tending to their nest, rather than rushing around to other nestboxes. She finds it is easier to catch both the male and female during the incubation stage, as their behavior is so predictable.

Orthwein reported good success with triple boxes (spaced 7 yards apart). He quickly trapped the male HOSP and cleaned out the box, and in 8 years did not have a bluebird or Tree Swallow killed or their nests usurped in these triple box sets.

With regard to pairing:

  • If bluebirds are in one of a pair of nestboxes, and Tree Swallows are in the other box, they may work together to defend the boxes against HOSP.
  • However, if there are no Tree Swallows, it’s POSSIBLE (pure speculation here) that pairing could distract the bluebirds (which may try to defend both boxes) and actually make defense efforts less effective.
  • If a HOSP is nesting in a paired box, any bird investigating or using the other box may risk attack before the HOSP can be trapped.

Removing Nestboxes

Some people recommend not putting up nestboxes if there are HOSP in the area, as it may invite catastrophe. However, if control methods are used, bluebirds may be able to successfully nest while you work on a longer term HOSP control program.

Sometimes people have problems with HOSP and give up immediately, and take their boxes down. Keith Kridler noted that if you do this, the next generation of bluebirds will probably move down the street, perhaps into a nestbox that no one monitors or cleans, and no one will ever report that House Sparrows or Starlings continued to evict or kill bluebirds year after year.


Nestbox Type (Also see Nestbox Styles, Pros and Cons | Nestbox suppliers

NOTE: No nestbox suitable for bluebirds is HOSP-proof. HOSP are smaller than bluebirds, and thus can enter any hole a bluebird can fit through.

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, and may use them if nesting cavities are limited or competition for sites is fierce. They may also enter them if they are being used by another bird, due to their competitive nature.

Monitors prepared to trap House Sparrows have the option of adding a HOSP-resistant box near a contested bluebird box. Bluebirds will usually move into the HOSP-resistant box. with House Sparrows taking the standard wooden box where they can then be trapped and euthanized.

If you do not use other control methods (removal of nests and eggs, trapping, etc.), you risk HOSP attacks and are enabling HOSP populations to explode.

Type of boxes HOSP MAY avoid or not prefer:
Again, despite claims you may read, so far, no one has invented a nestbox that HOSP will not use. One of the reasons HOSP are so widespread is that they are very adaptable. HOSP do tend to be wary of change, and may initially avoid a new type of box. But over time (or due to nest site competition) they may become accustomed to it, and use these boxes.

Unfortunately, some “HOSP-resistant” boxes are not ideal for bluebirds either in some way: e.g., too shallow for safety (allowing predator access), small interior space (especially a problem for Western Bluebirds), entrance hole is too big, or the experimental open top (Bauldry design) allows rain to enter and is not approved by NABS (and besides the open top does not deter HOSP over the long term). Thus, native birds using these types of boxes may have a greater chance of a failed nesting.

  • House Sparrows may be reluctant to use a Gilbertson PVC nestbox or other boxes made of PVC pipe. Purchase Gilbertson box on Amazon
  • HOSP may avoid a slot box (e.g., Efta or Hughes designs), perhaps preferring a circular hole and a deeper cavity. However, I have seen HOSP readily nest in a regular slot box. Loren Hughes has had few HOSP attempts in the Hughes slot box.
  • The TROYER box is a shallow slot box that HOSP MAY not prefer.
  • Shallow box: Put a block of wood on the floor of a nestbox to make it more shallow (3-5″ deep), and thus possibly less attractive to HOSP. Unfortunately, bluebirds are perhaps less likely to use a box that is less than 4″ deep, so you may wish to remove the block of wood if you are successful in having the HOSP abandon the box. There is some concern that starlings may be more likely to prey on eggs and young in a shallow box, however Davis (Bluebirds and Their Survival) indicated this seldom occurs.
  • In my experience, HOSP do not avoid Gilwood box (for plans see NestboxBuilder.com.) HOSP in my area seem to actually prefer the Gilwood over regular NABS boxes. The Gilwood box has a small interior than starlings prefer, and the wire across the large entrance hole actually makes the hole smaller. thus preventing starlings from entering.
  • In my experience, HOSP seem to be ATTRACTED to a Flying Nun box – perhaps the dome shaped roof reminds it of their nest construction.
  • See other experimental boxes.
  • See information on nestbox pros and cons.

Larger Entrance Facilitating Escape (two-hole box, Slot box, perhaps Peterson)

  • A larger entrance provides an avenue of escape in the event of an attack. While these boxes will not protect eggs/nestlings from attack, they may at least enable adults to survive. IF the HOSP moves on (they can be very persistent), the native birds can proceed to nest.
    • In this video clip of a HOSP attack, it looks to me like the elongated Peterson hole shape helped the second bird escape.
    • Some monitors expect that a male, or an incubating female may choose not to abandon the nest if a HOSP enters.
  • A two-hole box is not technically a HOSP-resistant box. House Sparrows will readily use them in the absence of bluebird competition. But Linda Violett of California has found that somehow Western bluebirds seem to learn to control the box, despite HOSP competition.
    The large interior may have something to do with it (maybe the bluebird can maneuver better?)

    • As noted above, the second hole provides an avenue of escape for adult birds in the event of an attack. Maynard Summer witnessed BOTH the male and female HOSP entering a two-hole box at once to attack and kill a nesting chickadee. But of dozens of HOSP/Western Bluebird battles in 2-holers over an eight-year period on Linda Violett’s trails, only a handful of adult bluebirds are reported to have been trapped and killed by HOSP in 2-holed boxes. Its use appears to have reduced HOSP problems on the Yorba Linda trail in CA, and no adult bluebirds have been killed in 2-holers by HOSP on an infested trail in La Mirada (see online log notes). Of course, eggs and younger nestlings cannot escape the box when under attack, regardless of how many holes it has.
  • Also see experiments with light

    LIGHT

Some speculate that HOSP prefer a dark, deep cavity. Others believe that light is not a significant factor, as HOSP will nest in the open (e.g., on top of a sign), although these nests tend to have a tunnel-like entrance. Varner (1964) felt that bluebirds also prefer darkness inside the box, so a design that lets light in might also deter bluebirds somewhat. The main concern is designs that let in so much light that the interior can overheat, or let in nasty weather.

  • Open-top “Bauldry” boxes are no longer recommended by NABS. They have a 3″ 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. These boxes may still be used by HOSP.
    • One birding store owner tried covering the 3″ hole with Plexiglas (on the theory that light deters HOSP), but the heat killed the eggs and nestlings. However, he did indicate that bluebirds appeared to prefer these boxes (Zimmerman personal communication, 2004)
  • Boxes with 1/2 of the roof made of Plexiglas (covered during warmer weather to prevent overheating) do not appear to deter HOSP long term.
  • Boxes built with extra light entering the box (vents, slots, two holes, Plexiglas) are all used by HOSP. HOSP have been known to use a nestbox that has no roof at all. I don’t know whether they are really not PREFERRED by HOSP.
  • Removing most of the wood bottom of the nestbox and covering it with circles of Plexiglas, or with 1/4″ hardware cloth so that the bottom looks open to a bird looking inside the nestbox does not work long-term (Kridler on Dick Walker experiment).

Experiments with light continue:

Loren Hughes slot box. Photo by Hughes.
Loren Hughes slot box. Photo by Hughes.

We know that HOSP WILL use a box that lets more light in (see above.) The question is, will they AVOID a box like this, or PREFER a box that is darker over a lighter one when given a choice? And will native cavity nesters use a box with a lighter interior?

The bigger entrance hole in the Gilwood (which HOSP tend not to prefer) or a 2-hole box does let in more light.

Loren Hughes experimented with drilling a 2″ hole in the side of the nestbox near the top. Then he stapled a 3″ square piece of plastic cut from a milk jug over the hole on the outside of the nestbox. Note that the plastic may become brittle over time, and need to be replaced. He tested coating it with KRYLON Crystal clear acrylic spray to see if it lasted longer. Initially, HOSP seem to lose interest in the box (possibly due to neophobia – fear of something new). Some HOSP packed grass against the acrylic to block out light. He discontinued this experiment.


Other Nestbox Design Issues

Do not include a perch on a bluebird nestbox.

House Sparrows find them useful in maintaining possession of boxes they have managed to occupy. (Zeleny, 1976). However, a HOSP can use a box without a perch.

Hole Reducers: For the smallest cavity nesters (e.g., chickadee,
titmice, nuthatch) use a hole reducer (smaller than 1.25“) to exclude almost all HOSP and protect eggs and birds in the nestbox. (Tree Swallows apparently require at least a 1 3/8″ hole.) HOSP tend to prefer a 1.5″ diameter hole. However, smaller HOSP may be able to enter smaller holes, and HOSP size depends on latitude and winter temperature, with smallest birds along the Louisiana and s. California coasts and in Mexico, and largest birds in Canada and the Rocky Mountain and plains region. Frank Navratil reported that for entrances (after HOSP were allowed to build nests, reducers were placed on boxes):

  • ROUND
    1 1/4″ diameter allows HOSP entry.
    1 1/8″ diameter stops entry. (NOTE: Keith Kridler of TX has had HOSP nest in boxes with an exact 1 3/16″ hole. Phil Berry of FL reported HOSP entering via a 7/8″ restrictor used on a box with Brown Headed Nuthatches nesting.)
  • HORIZONTAL SLOT
    1 1/2″ x 1″ slot allows entry.
    1 1/2″ x 7/8″ stops entry.
  • VERTICAL SLOT
    1″ x 1 1/2″ slot allows entry.
    7/8″ x 1 1/2″ slot stops entry

    • Note: Mike Donahue of Seattle had a HOSP build a nest in a Violet-green Swallow box with this slot size.
  • DIAMOND or SIDEWAYS OVAL HOLE

    • Oval hole for Violet-Green Swallows from Malcolm Rodin
      Oval hole for Violet-Green Swallows from Malcolm Rodin

      Malcolm Rodin has experimented with sideways oval holes for Violet-green Swallow boxes which he found deters adult HOSP if it is NO TALLER than 7/8″. He makes the hole using a 7/8″ and a 5/8″ Forstner wood bit. Drill three hole, using he 7/8″ bit for the center hole, and the 5/8″ bit for the holes on either side. Then file and sand to get a good oval shape, but do not exceed 7/8″ in height. The width will be between 1.5 to 1.75″ inches. See video on how to make.

    • Gene Derig of Washington makes a wide diamond hold and has found it deters HOSP but allows Violet-green Swallow and chickadees to nest. The diamond he uses is 3.00″ wide, and the height is EXACTLY 7/8″ (this measurement is crucial.) The cut is straight lines all the way from peak to corner, and you can make it with just a chisel and a hammer. Derig does not use wood thicker than 3/4″, and files down the inside of the entryway to make it easier on the swallows.
  • Note that as secondary cavity nesters, HOSP do NOT enlarge entrance holes – if this happens, the likely suspect is a woodpecker or squirrel.
  • If a sparrow spooker doesn’t work for some reason (rare) and the babies are under constant attack by HOSP but are close to fledging, you could install a 1″ hole restrictor, which allows the parents to continue feeding but they will not be able to remove fecal sacs, and may have trouble accessing weaker nestlings to feed them. Remove the restrictor when the babies are due to fledge.
  • Bob Orthwein noted “Even though house sparrows cannot enter the 1 & 1/8” entrance hole, these weird birds will often mercilessly harass nesting chickadees by hanging on the box, poking their heads in the entrance hole and attacking the chickadees entering and leaving the box. The sparrows will do this even with a nearby empty box that they can use. A wren guard stops this harassment.” See more information about how to make a wren guard.
  • On a HOSP-infested park trail in CA, Linda Violett found that while boxes with a 1.25″ hole face guard that was about 3/4″ thick did not stop all HOSP action, it significantly reduced HOSP activity/interest. This may (?) be why I rarely catch HOSP in Van Ert’s Urban Sparrow Trap, which has a 1.25″ reducer on it to prevent bluebird trapping.

Decorative nestboxes should either have a hole 1 1/8″ in diameter or smaller, or the hole should be plugged or painted on. (See handout on unmanaged nestboxes, which can become HOSP breeding grounds.)

Floor size: Some people (e.g. Varner 1964) speculate that HOSP may prefer boxes with a larger floor size to accommodate their bulky nest. Thus a floor size of 3.5 x 3.5″ or 4 x 4″ may be less attractive to HOSP. Note that a smaller floor size can result in crowding (impacting sanitation, vigor, and increasing the effect of excess heat.) I have had HOSP readily nest in smaller NABS style boxes.

Can Trick?: For a nestbox with repeated HOSP nesting attempts, create an illusion that the interior is very small and cramped. The HOSP may then abandon the box. Take an empty small (e.g., 8 oz.) clean, dry tin can, and place it inside the box so that when the bird enters the entrance hole
they end up in the can. You can wedge the can in place with a small block of wood between the bottom of the can and the rear panel of the box. Leave it in place for about 2 weeks.
Once the HOSP abandon, perhaps a native bird will find and use the box.
(Thanks Rudy from Maryland).


Monofilament

Monofilament set up

Use clear fishing line. (The color in the photo is just so you can see where the fishing line goes.)

DO NOT leave loose (unweighted)
line next to entrance as it could be pulled into entrance and tangle around nestlings!

Fishing line on roof to deter House Sparrows D Cass suggestion: Place fishing line on all roof surface(s) so it makes a perimeter around edges, as well as an “x” across the plane of the roof. For a gabled roof, also put a line parallel to peak to prevent landing (click on drawing for larger version)
Monofilament to deter HOSP. Drawing by E Zimmerman

For some reason, HOSP (but NOT bluebirds, Tree Swallows or chickadees) tend to be spooked by monofilament (fishing line)/hobby
wire. They will fly towards it, flutter in place, and then fly away. It may be due to their eyesight (since they are primarily seed eaters vs. aerial feeders) and flight pattern (approaching with wings spread.) Placing line on the roof may prevent HOSP from perching on it (which they tend to do when claiming/defending a box.) It is cheap, easy and quick.

HOWEVER, this effect often wears off over time, or when nest site competition is fierce. While not 100% effective, HOSP do appear to prefer nestboxes without monofilament over those that have it. This works better with adults, as juveniles are less fearful.

Put up the monofilament BEFORE the male HOSP starts looking for nesting sites and “bonds” with a box. Once he has bonded, he may tolerate it.

  • String 6-20 lb. clear fishing line (pulled tight) on either side of the entrance hole (parallel). Fine fishing line may work better than thicker line, as it is “spookier.”
  • The Bluebird Society of PA recommends spacing the line 1.75″ apart (on either side of the entrance hole.)
  • You can use push pins or eye hooks to guide line. Make sure you can still open the door for monitoring. I also put two screws in the side of the roof and hang fishing line from screws.
  • WARNING: To prevent the line from being pulled into the nestbox and tangling up nestlings, put a fishing weight or metal nut on the end of the dangling lines. Remove any fishing line that breaks or degrades over time. If loose monofilament ends up inside the box, it can kill a nestling or trap it so it cannot fledge. Dispose of line properly by cutting it up and throwing it in the trash.
  • You can also string fishing line in an X-shape across all roof surfaces (suggestion from D Cass) as HOSP males tend to perch on the roof of a box they have claimed.
  • Another layout shown in the drawing (which I haven’t used yet) involves four eye hooks surrounding the entrance hole, with the mono threaded through the eyes.
  • Joel suggests using two 18″ metal fishing leaders (for pike etc.), crimped on 2 split shot weights, on 4 staples.
  • Per the diagram to the right with fishing line set up shown in red, you can also stretch monofilament on either side of the entrance only. Lee Pauser did this, and did not have HOSP in such boxes for four years. The PA Bluebird Society recommends a space of just 1 3/4″ in between the parallel lines.
  • A commercial version using fishing line, called a Sparrow Shield, is made on the principal of the Magic Halo (designed to deter HOSP from bird feeders.) The Sparrow Shield (designed by Gene Wasserman) is available for nestboxes from the Michigan Bluebird Society. It is very easy to screw into the back of a nestbox, and comes pre-made with four weighted fishing lines that dangle from a metal hoop over the roof.

Exclusion (e.g., from roosts)

Most HOSP go to their main roost 15–30 minutes before sunset. Note: 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. Once their favorite spots (cavities in buildings) are gone, the HOSP are more likely to go into a trap box.

  • DO NOT PROVIDE ACCESS to bird seed, grain, or food waste. SCREEN poultry houses and livestock feeders to exclude sparrows. Seal or block all openings larger than 3/4.” CLOSE OFF ALL OPENINGS in warehouses, garages and farm buildings. Options include the following:
    • Put up plastic BIRD NETTING (attached with tacks or pieces of lath), or wood, metal, glass, bell towers, eaves, masonry, or 3/4″ rust-proofed wire mesh (hardware cloth) over upper structures where HOSP can roost or nest (like rafters and ventilator openings that provide access to buildings – see photo.) This can work on carports.
    • On ivy-covered walls, string green/black plastic netting, or remove vegetation.
    • REPLACE OR COVER BROKEN WINDOWS in upper stories with wire mesh, plastic, wood or sheet metal.
    • BLOCK OPEN DOORWAYS with full-length, hanging plastic strips (4 to 6 inches/10 to 15 cm wide)
    • SIGNS: Attach signs flat against buildings. Screen or block spaces between existing signs.
    • USE ‘GREAT STUFF’ EXPANDING FOAM to fill and/or seal up cavities in out-buildings and barns. Wad up scraps of chicken wire or window screening and stuff them into any place that you see HOSP trying to nest, then squirt in ‘Great Stuff.’ After it dries/hardens, shave off the excess that oozes out. You can paint right over the dried/hardened foam. The wire mesh/screening material deters persistent HOSP who can use their beaks to reopen holes that are only filled with foam.
    • Block the spaces between air conditioners and buildings.
    • If possible, place fine mesh over architectural decorations on older buildings.
    • Work with architects on building designs to eliminate ornamental patterns and holes that provide nest sites for sparrows.
  • ELIMINATE ROOSTING AND NESTING PLACES in new building design/alter older buildings
  • ELIMINATE PERCH SITES by fitting ledges and rafters with slanted boards (metal, Plexiglas or wooden)at a 45 degree angle, such as those under shopping mall overhangs or old buildings.
  • PUT PLASTIC BIRD NETTING over high-value crops such as experimental grains. Do not leave openings in the bottom.
  • MONOFILAMENT (fishing) line placed at 1 to 2 foot intervals may help repel HOSP from roosting sites. Place screws or nails to tightly wrap fishing line in place to create parallel lines.
  • Note: Sharp metal projects such as Nixalite or CatClaw are expensive and will not work unless they are less than 1.5″ wide, so ledges and other niches must be completely covered.

Hironbec Pendulum on a Tree Swallow (TRES) box (Does not work with bluebirds, which are heavier than HOSP)

  • Rene Lepage of Quebec invented the Hironbec Pendulum. This weighted pendulum, invented by attaches to the front of a wooden box. It allows lighter weight Tree Swallows (which weigh about about 18-21 grams) to enter a wooden box, but NOT House Sparrows (which weigh about 28 grams).
  • See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQT0YnHIFhM video showing how to set it up and adjust it. Thanks to to the Salmon Creek Tree Swallow Project for posting this and providing the guidance summarized here..
  • It’s not a trap. It will even keep HOSP out of a box they are already using.
  • Wait until the Tree Swallows have started nest building.
    • If left alone, HOSP can figure out the pendulum. (If you want to keep HOSP out of the box until then, remove it, or cover it with a black plastic bag until TRES begin to nest.)
  • At first, move the weight on the pendulum to the left so it doesn’t wobble when the TRES first start using it. Gradually move it to the TRES balance point over a few hours.
  • Note that the male TRES may learn to navigate the pendulum later.
  • Periodically check to make sure the pendulum mechanism doesn’t get jammed with nesting material (you want it to keep wobbling.)
  • The Hironbec Pendulum can be purchased at www.hironbec.com (in French – see English version here: http://www.hironbec.com/hironbecE.html). A PDF instruction sheet can be downloaded at the website.

Plant Management

  • Remove vegetation they congregate in while resting (e.g., privet hedges or hedgerows, multiflora rose, thickets, brush piles, and ivy growing on walls which may also be used for nesting), or cover with bird netting (the same stuff used to prevent birds from eating fruit off of blueberries, etc.) However, note that other native birds may use this vegetation also. Some shrubs or trees can be pruned to open them up (which is usually good for the plant too) so they are not as useful as hiding places for HOSP.
  • Protect small crop areas with plastic bird netting in situations involving high-value crops, such as grape and berries. Do not leave any openings at the bottom of netted crop areas.
  • Severely prune trees and shrubs with thicket-like branches used by HOSP as cover. This will also enable predators like Cooper’s hawks to hunt HOSP more effectively.
  • Remove dead fronds from palm trees to eliminate roosting sites.

Chemical Repellents

Use of Bird-X “Bird-Proof Repellent Gel” is NOT recommended. Although it is advertised as “a non-toxic, sticky chemical that makes a surface tacky and uncomfortable to birds” it is, of course, not specific to House Sparrows. Any bird that lands on it may get it on their feathers, which can interfere with their ability to fly, resulting in death by falling/starvation.


Also see what doesn’t work


ACTIVE MANAGEMENT

Unfortunately passive methods have limited effectiveness. Active management includes rendering eggs infertile, egg and nest removal, HOSP trapping, shooting, etc. Since House Sparrows are classified as pests and are not protected by U.S. federal law, they may be quickly and humanely euthanized.

Trapping HOSP can dramatically increase successful nesting by native birds. After dedicated trapping, one trail monitor in California saw successful bluebird fledging almost double in the first year. Some monitors feel they would have nothing but HOSP on their trail if they did not trap.

Relocating a HOSP would be like trapping a rat and letting it loose in your neighbors yard. (A Purple Martin Conservation Association publication says “Some people choose to kill the birds, others transport them 10 to 20 miles away and release them. This latter option, while easier on some people’s conscience, really serves no purpose other than to waste fuel….House Sparrows may settle into the area where released, but they will cause others of their kind to disperse outwards. In other words, it’s analogous to trying to bail the water out of a boat by taking buckets of water from the back and dumping them in the front.”)

HOSP may need to be relocated 25 miles or more away. Relocating any wildlife without a permit is illegal in some states.

See Euthanizing HOSP for methods that have been used. Dead sparrows can be frozen immediately, and donated to raptor recovery centers to feed their injured birds. Contact the organization for details about what they will accept. They may also be suitable food for snakes.


PROVOKED HOSP AGGRESSION

The Potential for Increased Aggressive Behavior/HOSP Revenge Syndrome/Rampages in Response to Active Control Such as Removal of HOSP Nests/Eggs/Young

Steve Kroenke wrote an article on House Sparrow Revenge Syndrome. He posits that HOSP become even more aggressive in response to some active control measures, and may destroy and attack nests of other birds in the area. It is hard to know whether an attack would have occurred anyway, regardless of active management. It may not always happen, and it may not often happen. However, multiple people have reported HOSP taking over another box with an active nest when their own nest/eggs are removed, and in some cases attacking nests in one other box or multiple boxes but not subsequently using those boxes for their own nest.

Study of HOSP nest and egg removal on a trail (without trapping): Paula Ziebarth and Darlene Sillick conducted a study on this issue in Ohio. Based on results in the first year, it appears that HOSP nest removal, especially after eggs have been laid, is extremely dangerous for native cavity nesting birds. It may set up an “ecological trap” for native nesters that believe it is empty and available. Thus they enter to check it out, and may be attacked and killed. In a paired box situation, HOSP may abandon the box where they were unsuccessful (where the monitor just removed nest and eggs) and kill whatever they find in the adjacent box so they can use that one.

It is possible that loss of a nest/eggs may result in a spike in testosterone which triggers re-nesting, and/or more aggressive behavior. Although I’m not familiar with any scientific studies on this, Keith Kridler discussed a study where male HOSP injected with testosterone began vigorously defending their chosen nestbox and searched out and removed other cavity nesters using boxes close to their territory. It may also be a survival mechanism. (Note: the size of the black bib is an indicator of testosterone levels. Older males may have “learned” to be more aggressive than younger males.)

One trail monitor experienced an increase in HOSP attacks on trails in response to removing a nest, or all HOSP eggs prior to capturing the male; but NOT in response to egg piercing, or trapping and removing a male or female. Another experienced takeovers of other boxes upon removing a HOSP nest with eggs, but NOT in response to addling and replacing the eggs in the HOSP nest. On an experimental no-trap trail, a clutch of bluebird nestlings were killed after repeated HOSP nest/egg removal even though a sparrow spooker was on the box (a first for me.) Another bluebird landlord (AMP) had a similar experience after removing some (not all) HOSP eggs from an adjacent box.

Others believe the HOSP “rampage” concept is a myth. A trail monitor in California has destroyed dozens of HOSP nests and smashed hundreds of eggs inside and outside the nestbox, without witnessing any “HOSP rampages” or behavior that might be construed as retaliatory.

If your native chicks are close to fledging and you are concerned about the possibility of takeover/revenge/ rampage, I recommend that, to be on the safe side. it might be wise to wait to take certain active HOSP control measures such as removal of nests with eggs, or removal of the female only. (Trapping the pair eliminates that threat). In the meantime, I’d strongly recommend using a Sparrow Spooker on a nestbox being actively used by native birds if HOSP are in the area. Instead of removing nests and eggs, addle the HOSP eggs so they are nonviable and return them to the nest. (This will not help with single males which also build nests.) The safest, most effective solution is to trap both the male and the female to completely eliminate the possibility of an attack. Do not remove the entire nest until you trap the male. It is easier to trap HOSP with an active nest in the box. See inbox trapping.


Wing Trimming

After trapping a HOSP, you can trim both HOSP wings prior to release so they cannot attack bluebirds/enter nestboxes to reproduce. See photo demo and more info. Fawzi Emad reports that HOSP tend to become docile after trimming. This option is best in areas where the HOSP population is not huge. Using this technique, Emad reported that the population got under control in 2-3 years.

Trimmed feathers re-grow in about 6 months. (McLoughlin). It is important to trim both wings – if you only trim one, the bird will not be able to maneuver at all and will basically become cat food.


Driving Sparrows from Roosts

A 1912 Farm Bureau bulletin noted that sparrows frequently become a nuisance by roosting in ornamental vines and in crevices around buildings. If scared out late at night, several nights in succession, the may desert the roost. A stream of water from a garden hose is a potent ejector, particularly on frosty nights. This is a temporary measure.

Do not allow HOSP to become “bonded” to your nestboxes by allowing them to roost in them over the winter. Occasionally check the box during winter months, and use an inbox trap as needed, or plug up the entrance (e.g., with a piece of cardboard or a rubber bathtub drain stopper.)


Removal of Nests and Eggs

WARNING: Before interfering with any HOSP nest or eggs, you must first be SURE it really is from a HOSP! It is illegal to disturb the nest of any native bird. People have confused nests of nuthatches, Tree Swallows and Western Bluebirds with those of HOSP.) Birds other than HOSP occasionally use “trash” in their nests, or may build an untidy nest. See photos of HOSP eggs, HOSP nests, a description of a HOSP nest and nest and egg ID. It takes about 27 days for HOSP to lay eggs and fledge young, so you have time to be sure of the ID.

You can try removing HOSP nests and eggs. On some trails this is enough to control HOSP populations. Occasionally birds take off after one or a few removals. However, since the male bonds with the box, they generally immediately rebuild, and drive off other native birds that might want to use the box.

Unfortunately with this method, the box is unavailable for use by native birds, or native birds may assume that the box is empty after nests are removed, enter, and be attacked by HOSP. HOSP may also come back and attack eggs/nestlings.

If you do remove nests, be prepared to do regularly (at least every 10-12 days), as HOSP rapidly rebuild.

If you have extra boxes, you can wait until the nest has been there for a couple of weeks (and has eggs in it) to cause the HOSP to “waste” more time and effort before removing the nest.

WARNING: Some people claim that males get enraged by repeated removal of nests or destruction of eggs, and will go on a rampage. Others feel this is a myth. I have had it happen.

If you are also ground trapping, save nests for use as lures.

Linda Violett has successfully controlled HOSP populations on a trail in California without trapping. She uses large two-hole boxes and removes nests and eggs. See her keys to success summary

Some (e.g., Fawzi Emad) indicate they have had success pairing a nestbox for HOSP with a bluebird box, letting the HOSP lay eggs and then rendering them infertile, keeping the HOSP occupied without allowing them to reproduce. I would still be concerned about the potential for territorial aggression by the male HOSP against birds in the paired box, and the loss of an available nest site for native cavity-nesters.

Use a long INSULATED pole with an iron hook on one end to remove nests located in high places like shopping malls and buildings. Try exclusion to prevent re-nesting.

If a male HOSP (or HOSP that nested previously in a box) bonds with a box, moving the box might help temporarily BUT HOSP usually quickly find the new location, and for some reason (competition?) HOSP are even more interested in a box being used by other species (vs. an empty box.)

Another option is to remove all eggs but leave one and allow HOSP to raise one chick to keep them occupied and to reduce attacks on other boxes. THIS IS NOT A PREFERRED OPTION as this nestling will grow up and cause the same problems that adult HOSP cause. The grown up may bond with the box and the territory.


Rendering Eggs Infertile

NOTE: If you use any of these methods, it’s important to visit nestboxes frequently to prevent re-nesting.

If eggs are rendered infertile, the female will generally continue to incubate them for some time (2-4 weeks, after which she will abandon the nest), keeping her from reproducing or competing with other nesting sites. IF NOT DONE PROPERLY EGGS WILL HATCH. The most humane approach is to render the eggs infertile as soon as laying has ceased and incubation begins. Incorrect or incomplete piercing and shaking can leave the embryo alive but deformed.

Mark treated eggs with a magic marker if the female is still laying. Also, sometimes birds realize the eggs are not viable, and remove them and lay new eggs, and you won’t be able to tell which are treated. Monitor weekly and remove unmarked eggs and either discard them or also render them infertile.

Addling is a good choice if the nest is not in a nestbox, which makes it harder to trap. However, it allows the HOSP to survive and breed elsewhere. Shake eggs vigorously. These eggs sometimes still hatch, so not the best method!

Refrigerating: (Recommended method.) Refrigerate and mark half of the eggs at least 24 hours; the next day do the second half. (If you put them in the freezer they will probably break. Coolling for 4 hours at 40 degrees F will render eggs infertile.) Let them warm to room temperature (e.g., in your hands) before replacing them – otherwise the HOSP may remove them. You might keep a supply of sparrow eggs in the refrigerator. Store them in a small craft “organizer”/bead holder with small compartments that protect each sparrow egg from damage (buy in the Wal-Mart craft section,) or in a container used for small Cadbury candy eggs or bubble gum eggs that are sold at Easter-time. This is especially useful when HOSP build nests in evergreens, etc., since they are harder to trap than HOSP who nest in a box.

Oiling: (Best choice after refrigerating) Dipping or rubbing eggs with 100% food grade corn oil keeps air from passing through the shell so the embryo cannot develop. Oiling is reported to be highly effective (between 95-100%). Coat the entire egg, and allow it to air dry before returning it to the nest. If you try to wipe the oil off, you might break the eggs. Do not wet the entire nest with oil, as it will get on the nestbox.

Piercing: Prick eggs so they will not hatch, and return them to the nest. You must break through the membrane that surrounds the egg white – a shallow prick is not sufficient to prevent hatching. Push a small-size needle or lance (used by diabetics to test blood – available at drug stores) into the large end of the egg. (A pin is generally not sharp enough.) The hole should be small enough so that the contents will not run out and alert the mother that the egg is damaged (at which point she may lay more). Be careful not to break the egg while holding it. Occasionally pierced eggs will hatch, so you might want to addle them first. Store the needle with the sharp point embedded in a cork.

Cooking: Boil them, microwave them (a few seconds on low or they will explode).

Dummy Egg Replacements: Replace (swap)the real eggs with fake speckled eggs (about 0.9″ long) available at craft stores such as Michaels. This may not work as well as real eggs that have been rendered infertile.

The Sparrow Swap project found that swapping real eggs with replicas delayed HOSP from starting a new nest attempt, but it might encourage more frequent nesting compared to no management at all. However, it still has the potential to reduce the number of broods. HOSP do tend to lay another clutch more quickly after a removal versus after a swap.


LIVE TRAPS

There are several advantages to live traps. Sometimes neither law nor public sentiment will allow the use of firearms or poison. Traps are safe to employ. They also permit the use of sparrows for food (by humans, or by wildlife), as they leave the flesh uninjured. In addition, native birds can be liberated unharmed.

The two main types of traps are ground traps (baited and placed on the ground) and nestbox or inbox traps (used to catch a single HOSP entering or claiming a nestbox.) There are other types (mist net, bottomless pit, tipping can, etc.) that I am less familiar with. They are all live traps, which means they are not designed to kill the captured bird.

See review of various types by Paula Ziebarth.

If you only have a few HOSP, go with a nestbox trap, as they are less expensive, effective, and directly address the issue of proliferation and nestbox competition. They may also be more likely to catch the older aggressive male. My personal favorite is the Van Ert.

If populations are higher, get a ground trap. These may be more likely to catch juveniles and first year males. My personal favorite is an escape proof repeating trap like the Deluxe Repeating Sparrow Trap.

NOTE: Some states or localities may require a license or permit for any type of trap, even for non-native birds. CHECK! (E.g., in TX, a state-issued trapper’s license is required.)


To decrease the chances of catching or killing non-target native birds:

All traps must be checked frequently to ensure that only target birds are trapped. Release native birds immediately. They are not as hardy as HOSP. They may also be killed in a ground trap by other birds trapped with them, as aggression may increase due to stress and close quarters.

For ground traps, to reduce the likelihood of catching native birds:

  • Use bait types not preferred by native birds, such as bread and millet.
  • Use HOSP decoys. It won’t prevent other bird species from entering a trap, but it may deter them somewhat.
  • Use traps designed for HOSP (elevator trap weighted specifically for HOSP, or trap with a tunnel like entrance vs. a Hav-a-Hart). Native birds are more likely to be caught in a funnel trap than in a weighted elevator trap.
  • Elevate the trap off the ground (e.g., on a picnic table, milk crate, yew bush – if it’s on a shrub you won’t have to clean up underneath. Even a foot or two up will attract more HOSP.)
  • To prevent mourning doves (which like cracked corn) from entering the DRST (they jam themselves into the elevator sometimes and can be seriously injured in the process) try putting two nails/screws on either side of the platform (to leave about a 2″ space in the middle leading to the elevator entrance), so only smaller birds can enter.
  • WARNING: If you cannot monitor a trap for some length of time, or when storing the trap in an outdoor shed etc., do not leave any food in it, and disable it (e.g., use a twist tie or cable tie to wire it open, or turn it upside down). That way if a creature (mouse, native bird) goes in it, it will not die inside.

For inbox traps:

  • Always check hourly during the daytime. Immediately release a non-target bird. No matter what anyone tells you, some native birds WILL go inside a box that HOSP are using, or an empty box when they are using another nearby. If you leave inbox trap up for a day or more without checking it, ANY bird trapped inside (including a bluebird) for too long WILL DIE.
  • If it does not endanger a native cavity-nester using the box, wait until the HOSP have clearly claimed the box and begun building a nest.
  • If you are using inbox traps on a trail, here is the technique P. Ziebarth uses: “I always make little trail notes on a small note pad and write “SET” (trap set) and circle it whenever I set a Van Ert [inbox trap]. Then I cross out the “SET” with a big X when I remove it. This way I never forget which box I have one in.”
  • Use a 1.25″ hole reducer to exclude most bluebirds. However, monitor carefully: Small male bluebirds can squeeze in a 1 3/8″ hole. One monitor lost a Western Bluebird that went into a box with a 1.25″ hole restrictor on the outside, and lost a battle with a HOSP inside the box. Bluebirds (especially males) have a tendency to check out local real estate. This works better on a box where HOSP have already started a nest/have eggs and thus are motivated, as otherwise HOSP may avoid a smaller hole.

Removing Trapped Birds: Birds trapped in an inbox trap need to be removed immediately. HOSP in an ground trap should be okay for several hours. Here are some tips on how to remove birds quickly from traps without injury or escape. To transport a bird, place it in the cut off toe of a pair of panty hose, which still enables it to breathe but keeps it from escaping, or struggling and potentially injuring itself.

Inbox Trap:

  • Get a mesh laundry bag with a drawstring- the kind used for laundering delicates – found in Wal-Mart with ironing board covers etc. Don’t use regular mesh as the birds can get tangled in it. A strong clear garbage bag may be used. A dry cleaning bag is not strong enough. A cloth laundry bag with a drawstring can also be used, and may be less scary for the bird, but you will not be able to immediately determine whether it is a HOSP.
  • Remove birds as soon as the trap is tripped.
    • When removing birds from nestbox traps, cover the nestbox with a mesh bag, pulling the drawstring tight at the bottom, cinch it, or tie it closed with a pipe cleaner.
    • Open the the box and HOSP will often (but NOT always) fly out into the bag. (Note: Some birds will stay inside the box and not immediately fly out into the bag, especially if there are live young inside.)
    • Scrunch the bag closed underneath or around the bird when taking it off the box so it doesn’t escape.
    • Remove the trap (unless you are going to try to catch the mate.)
  • I don’t recommend trying to remove the birds by opening the nestbox door–you are too likely to lose them. Once a male has escaped a nestbox trap, he will be very difficult to recapture.
  • Night Sneak: If you have a top opening box and good reflexes, or it is night time, you may be able to quickly slip your hand in while the bird hunkers down and grab it. I’ve had too many escapes with this approach. I wouldn’t want to end up with a snake (or a flying squirrel) in my hand either.
    • When birds occupy barns or other enclosures at night, some people can catch them by hand by shingin a flashlight at them, which temporarily blinds them.
  • If a bluebird or other non-target bird is trapped, they generally will not fly into the net. Instead they stay on the nestbox floor. Prop the door open and leave the area so the bluebird can exit.

Ground Trap:

  • When you put your hand in the ground trap to remove birds or refresh food and water, they will flutter excitedly, and if you’re not careful, escape. Remove one bird at a time. If the door is small, cover it with your other hand while reaching in. Or hold a mesh laundry bag around the door such that any wayward bird would fly into it. Otherwise, you might devise some kind of plastic/rubber “guard” (flaps, or cut an X in it) that you can stick your hand through.
  • Don’t be afraid to grasp them firmly (without crushing) by the body. Put your hand behind the head, encircling and holding their wings close to the body so they will not struggle. They may latch onto your hand with their beak, but it’s just a pinch–not painful. However, you may wish to use a pair of gloves. Do not attempt to grab them by the tail as the feathers will come out.
  • Do NOT open up a trap inside a large building – if the trapped bird gets out, it will be unlikely to enter the trap again.

For traps where you can lift the trap door from the outside, hold a soup can (with both ends removed, and a plastic bag held on one end with an elastic bag) over the entrance hole. The bird will fly towards the light. Slip a piece of cardboard over the open end before removing the can.


Dealing with a Wary Male or difficult to trap bird: Male HOSP in particular can be difficult to trap, especially if they were trapped and escaped once before, or are older and wiser. HOSP in general seem wary of change, which is why a new nestbox style, monofilament or Sparrow Spooker may freak them out. Here are some techniques you can try with inbox traps:

  • Try trapping overcast days with a light rain, when HOSP tend to sit tight on eggs/young.
  • Use lures such as feathers, nesting material, grass/stick hanging out of entrance hole, placed below the trap box, and put a fake/real HOSP egg inside the nestbox.
  • Reduce nest to 1 inch jumble and push it towards the back of box. Cover the trigger part with a bit of nesting material that doesn’t interfere with the tripping mechanism.  Scatter some of the nest material on ground in front of box and stick a strand in the hole. (Note: I have found that if I disturb the nest too much, it can spook the HOSP.)
    • Fake or Real Eggs as lures: Add real or plastic HOSP egg on top of nesting material, where they can see it.
      • Save HOSP eggs (in the refrigerator) and use them as lures in boxes where you want to trap.
      • Put one or two fake plastic eggs in the box. This works especially well if you can put a small amount of nest material on the trip “V” of the Van Ert trap, and put the egg on top of the nesting material. You can also glue the nest material with craft egg on top of it directly onto the trip “V.” This both disguises the trip mechanism and makes for almost certain capture when they try to wrestle that alien egg out of the box.
      • Fake plastic eggs can be purchased at Michael’s stores, usually near the artificial flower section. Use a spotted egg that looks like a HOSP egg- not a white egg which may attract Tree Swallows.
      • Note: Paula Ziebarth even saw a HOSP that had been trapped inside a box with a Van Ert trap pushing the little craft egg out through the breathing hole in the trap.
  • Avoid making eye contact with HOSP when approaching box to set trap.  Hide thetrap from his view.  Set it quickly and walk away, ignoring him entire time.
  • Set an old hinged compact make-up mirror on box floor so he will see himself with trap set, and in he goes.
  • Put a fake bird in the box so the HOSP will try to go in and attack it.
  • If you have an especially roomy nestbox and male HOSP is dancing around and not setting off the trap, place a dispatched male HOSP in back corner and prop him up outside of trap mechanism zone.  You will catch male quickly.
  • Temporarily disable the trap (use a paper clip or wire to keep it from tipping) until they become accustomed to it, and then remove the wire. If you are using a Van Ert, put it in upside down for a day or so, so they get used to stepping on the trigger.
  • If a HOSP has been trapped in a box and escaped (or even beforehand), tack a fake Black Paper Van Ert inside the nestbox after removing the HOSP nest. You can make one from felt paper used under roofing shingles. This gets them used to a black object under the entrance hole, and then you can catch them more quickly with a real trap. (Keith Kridler)
  • Kate Arnold had excellent success after spray painting her Van Ert inbox trap beige to match the interior better, and removing the red sticker.
  • Remove the trap for a few days. Let nesting material accumulate, or let an egg get laid, then reinstall the trap. (You may need to remove some nesting material from the bottom so it doesn’t interfere with trap trippage.)
  • Try a night sneak or try different timing.
  • Record the call of a HOSP off the web (use a double male mini plug cord to connect a laptop to a small cassette player/recorder and set Windows Media Player to Repeat and come back 15 minutes later) and then play the call through ear buds (in-ear headphones) inside the box, while the player stays outside. This technique can be also be used to lure a male in after the female has been trapped. (Paul Kilduff gets both the female and the male every time he does this.)
  • Try a different type of trap (e.g., a Huber instead of a Van Ert)
  • Another temporary nestbox with trap placed next to the box they are using may be attractive.
  • Try a two hole nestbox trap where the female is in one compartment with Plexiglas in between.
  • This is gruesome, but one person reported success by placing the deceased and frozen female mate (in a lifelike position) inside the nestbox. A HOSP will generally not enter a nestbox that contains a HOSP adult that is obviously dead.
  • If they escaped from an inbox trap, try a ground trap.
    • For ground traps, female decoys may work best. If you can use the mate, so much the better, although this does not always work. If nestlings are present, the entire nest can be place in the ground trap as the male will be highly motivated to feed his young.
    • A small mirror in the back of the bait tray on a ground trap may also help.
  • If it is not possible to trap them, you may need to resort to shooting. However, they also quickly learn to recognize a gun, so a blind may be needed. Do not look the bird in the eye. See more tips on the gun option.

TRAPPING ON A PUBLIC TRAIL

For monitors concerned about trapping on a trail frequented by people: active control is still
possible. Inbox traps are less noticeable than ground traps. If you don’t own the property the nestboxes are on, be sure to ask permission to trap.

During nestbox checks, make a note of which boxes have HOSP. Leave everything undisturbed at this point, except set up the screws for putting an inbox trap on the door later. Return at dusk or at night, approaching the box quietly from rear. Block hole with small rag or sock. Cover box with a mesh laundry bag and open the box, or open it just a crack while blocking all exits with other hand, and reach in and grab the HOSP.

You may wish to use the Mel Bolt inbox-trap, which catches the bird in a little cage so a bag is not needed.

If you catch a female, set the inbox trap (which no one can see externally) and check again about hour after sun up to get the male. Then remove everything (trap and nest material) from the box so it is ready for another bird.

You can also start your monitoring route at the nestboxes you know may have a HOSP problem. If you see HOSP nesting material, set the inbox trap and continue monitoring.
Then loop back around. Within 30-45 minutes you will usually capture the HOSP.

Ground trapping in public places or commercial establishments: is not recommended. The vast majority of people do not understand the threat posed by HOSP. They don’t know what you do about HOSP attacks. Even if they do, most do not think anything should be done about it.

Other people who accept passive controls or removal of nests or eggs will not tolerate live trapping. Even if you educate the owner, their employees, customers or visitors might not understand. It would place them in a difficult position to have to try to explain. Also, a permit might be required by some states or municipalities. Since some of these places may be the equivalent of a HOSP factory, you might choose to try this anyway.
If you do:

  • Either put the traps out after the establishment is closed (with permission of course – I strongly suggest you get it in writing to protect yourself) and retrieve them before they open, or place traps on the flat roofs of buildings (you will need a ladder) or another location where they are not visible to the public. Regularly empty the traps. Of course ALWAYS leave food and water inside any ground trap.
  • Use a bicycle lock to chain the trap to a fixed object. Tightly screw shut the door to the trap or put a lock on it also, so well meaning people do not release birds.
  • If people ask what I do with trapped birds, I tell them the truth – that they are donated to a local raptor recovery center to feed injured owls, hawks, falcons, etc. Some people find this easier to accept, as they recognize it as part of the circle of life. One bluebird trail monitor suggested telling people that you are doing research for a bluebirding group to see how long it takes HOSP safely live trapped in one location to return to their roosting areas when released in the city (at least 10 miles away). I don’t advocate releasing birds in another location, as it just relocates the problem. But it may be better than nothing, and some people argue there are no native birds left in cities anyway because of introduced birds like HOSP, starlings and pigeons. Relocating birds without a permit is illegal in some states like MA or CT.
  • Leave a laminated copy of information (like the Advisory on HOSP) cable-tied to the trap explaining that the non-native House Sparrows are being trapped to prevent them from killing native birds like bluebirds.
  • Give copies of the commercial establishment advisory to the owners, with copies for employees. Ask the owner to make it clear to employees/relatives etc. that trapping has been okayed, and that they should leave the trap alone or contact you if there is a problem (like a native bird trapped) so you can walk them through it or handle it yourself.
  • NEVER leave dead birds in a trap in a public place. People will absolutely freak out, you will never be able to trap there again, and they may report you.

If you euthanize House Sparrows, don’t do it in public. It can be too upsetting to people, especially if don’t understand what you are doing and why. Instead, put the captured bird in a mesh bag, wrapped tightly so the bird does not struggle, or put it in a bird cage in your vehicle to deal with it later.


Nestbox (Inbox) Traps

A good inbox trap is a must in HOSP management, because it enables you to capture the very bird that would destroy a native nester if it were in that box.

INBOX TRAPS Types:
The three commonly used types of in-box traps are: Huber-style, Gilbertson universal, and Van Ert. Most have a little metal arm that the bird lands on, which trips a lever that then covers the entrance hole. They are all inexpensive and very effective during nesting season. They are placed on or inside the nestbox entrance hole. Most have a bright orange spot that lets you see from a distance whether the trap has been tripped. It is best if no parts of the trap can be readily seen from outside the box–a savvy male might not enter otherwise. However, it is easier to catch a male in an inbox trap than a ground trap.

See Paula Z’s review of traps.

I prefer the Van Ert – it consistently works well; is durable; it snaps shut securely (can’t wiggle out); and is easy to place (ten second set up), remove and replace. It sits on two #10 (or #8) mounting screws you can leave in place. You will need a stubby Phillip’s head screwdriver (shortest one they make) to install the screws. The trap comes with a template, or you can take the trap itself and set it in the box where you can see it will spring shut freely and block the bird’s exit. For a side opening box, you can put the template on the front of the box and drill the screw holes right through the front. Screw it in so trap is flush with box front. The bottom mounting screw can be left sticking out a little as it is more of a guide to place the trap and hold it straight. (Note: in a Super Gourd, bend the plate [that the birds stand on] on the inside of the gourd, and then use a rubber band to hold the Van Ert to the plate.)

  • Van Ert is now making his next generation of traps with a removable trip wire, so you can leave it in “safe mode” when you are not able to check it, or to let HOSP get accustomed to it, and then reinstall the trip wire when you are ready to trap.
  • Floyd Van Ert was an amazing inventor, and created this trap which has helped thousands of bluebirders. He never patented it, but I refuse to buy knock-offs – I only get his. They are the best in my opinion! Floyd died in 2017, but had lined up another person to manfacture traps – see https://www.vanerttraps.com to buy the real thing.
  • On rare occasions, this trap will apparently either not trip until a second bird enters, or will be pushed open by a second bird and trap two birds (sometimes a male and a female HOSP). If a HOSP is trapped inside with another native bird, the native bird will probably be killed, which is another reason to check it frequently.

The Huber trap may work better with HOSPs who are spooked by seeing the trap mechanism (e.g., of a Van Ert trap, especially if they were previously trapped with one) and refuse to enter the
box. It’s a steel plate that drops down when the entering bird steps on a trigger rod. The one sold by the Martin marketplace has a single screw that stays with the trap. You reach inside the box with the trap, match the center hole up with the box entrance and screw the eye screw into the inside of the front of the box. It is a bit difficult the first time as you are making a new hole in the box, but after that it can be installed and set in a few seconds. Most Huber traps do not fit on a Peterson box, slot of PVC-pipe box. It is more likely to prematurely trip (e.g., in response to wind) than a Van Ert inbox trap. I have also had a bird in the box and it DIDN’T trip.

The Bolt “H” type trap works best with front opening nestboxes that are hinged at the bottom, or top opening boxes. It contains the trapped bird inside a little cage with a door on it. You open the box and can immediately see what you have in the trap. No bag is needed, so it makes for easy, quick removal. This is Maynard Summer’s favorite inbox trap.

Gilbertson makes a small hang-on “universal” trap that uses a piece of steel tape measure. It works on all box styles except a slot and Gilwood.

The Peterson sparrow trap fits a Peterson box.

Jack Finch makes another coil spring sparrow trap that pivots up to close off the entrance hole. This might work with House Sparrows scared of of the Van Ert trap.

  • DIY You can build your own inbox trap.
  • Bauldry Trap
  • Bolt Trap
  • Gilbertson Trap (screw or hang on any box style except slot – made with a tape measure.)
  • Gruenke 10 Minute Trap (This is a good emergency nestbox trap)
  • Huber Trap
  • Peterson Trap
  • Tipping Can Trap DIY instructions (similar to an S&S Starling Trap, but modified for HOSP) can be found at Chuck Abare’s A Birds Home website.
  • Slot boxes: A Van Ert trap will not contain a HOSP in a slot box – the entrance is too wide. You can deal with this by nailing a piece of wood of either side of the slot opening to narrow the entrance. A 6″ deep slot box with a 1″ entrance (to exclude bluebirds) can be used as a trap box, fitted with a Stutchbury trap that is 4″ wide. (Stutchbury and Robert 1986). Tilt the bottom of the nestbox forward if possible. Cut a piece of Plexiglas, sheet metal or plastic (even a trimmed credit card) 0.5″ narrower than the width of the slot entrance. This can be colored black with a permanent marker to blend in with box ceiling. Attach a large washer/quarter as a weight to the bottom edge of the trap. Using duct/masking tape stapled/tacked to the roof, hang the trap down just inside the entrance (blocking the entrance), with the weight on the side facing the box interior. Prop the trap up with a straw, which the HOSP should knock over when entering, releasing the trap.
  • Trigger traps: These traps use a prop, but because it is visible, some birds may not be willing to enter the box, or they may knock it out of place when leaning in, and thus would not be caught.
    • See Stutchbury trap above.
    • See trigger variation from S.L. Friedman et al, 2008. Friedman used a plastic drinking straw, colored black, attached by a small piece of tape to 4-6 lb. test fishing line strung down the back of the box and along the pole and twisted around vegetation (so it was invisible) and stood 30-100 m away to pull it when a bird entered the box. This worked even for wary bird. Harry Krueger did this, and used a fishing pole with reel. Also see fishing for HOSP.

MONITOR HOURLY, as wind or nestlings could move the prop and the closed door could prevent parents from feeding young if they are in the box.

For a two hole box, put tape/a cork/rubber stopper (can be painted to match the box – available at a hardware store) in one of the hole and use an inbox trap on the other hole. In wider boxes, you can mount two traps, and put a Plexiglas divider in the middle, which enables you to trap both the male and the female.

Box with large vents: If the nestbox has vents large enough for a trapped HOSP to exit, be sure to plug them up during trapping.

SD-1 Spare-O-Door for Trio or DuraCraft Purple Martin Houses only: HOSP-sized entrance door placed over entrance hole, special removal device used to get HOSP out. More info | Instructions from Nature House Inc (makers of ST-1 Sparrow Trap, which does not work as well as some other traps IMO).

Nestboxes with built-in traps: There are also several nestboxes made with built-in traps. These traps can be placed next to, or used to replace a box that HOSP have shown interest in.

You can drill a 1 1/8″ hole in the the box just in case a chickadee or wren goes inside, so it can escape. If HOSP are using another box and you place this one nearby, take the nesting material out of the other box and put it in the trap box. (Make sure it is shallow enough so it doesn’t interfere with the trigger mechanism.)

  • Van Ert makes a cedar nestbox “Urban sparrow trap” with a built in steel trap. The hole is 1 3/8 “, which allows HOSP, but not MOST bluebirds, to enter. You can buy a portable stand for it. It’s a neat concept, but I have not caught a lot of HOSP with it.
  • PMCA makes a nestbox that is a starling/HOSP trap. It is expensive and heavy, it is difficult to remove birds, and less effective than the Van Ert / Huber / Gilbertson traps, but it does have an escape hole for chickadees and wrens. (I’ve had wrens nest in mine even with the main entrance trap tripped closed.) There is a separate nest-trap box that can be placed over the entrance of a regular nestbox.
  • 2 Hole Huber Style: This nestbox has 2 holes, with 2 holding chambers inside, separated by Plexiglas for trapping both male and female HOSPs. The holes are 1 3/8″ to prevent bluebird entry. When one HOSP is trapped and the entrance hole blocked, the mate should come to investigate. To look inside, they go in the other entrance hole, and are trapped. Note: John Schuster, who sells a “Gable” version of this trap at Wild Wing Co., feels that replacing a regular box with this nestbox trap is most effective when the original box is also two-holed. His trap box also has a circular door (covered with 1/2″ wire attached to the main door) that slides up so you can look inside to see what has been captured.
  • If you use one of your own nestboxes as a trap box, you can use a removable roof with a piece of hardware cloth stapled underneath it (bend the sides of the cloth down over the box) so you can check to see what type of bird has been caught.

INBOX TRAPPING TIPS

Hole: If you have a box used exclusively for trapping HOSP, consider putting a plate over the hole to reduce the entrance to 1.25 inches. This will prevent most blues from entering.
Bluebirds – especially males – WILL check out other boxes, even when they have an active nest going elsewhere. You still need to monitor hourly, as Tree Swallows, chickadees and other smaller birds could still enter.

Timing: Begin trapping as soon as (but not before) a HOSP claims a box, or nest building begins. HOSP begin nesting early in the season, and may have 2-5 clutches per year. In the fall, juvenile or adults may investigate nestboxes, or they may use them for roosting in fall/winter, and can be trapped at that time.

  • If you see a lot of white HOSP droppings in a box outside of nesting season, you can set the trap at dusk (before the bird comes in to roost) and check it at first light.
  • If you let them build about 1″ of a nest, they may be easier to trap.
  • The female (and maybe the male) will stay in the box overnight once they have started nesting.
  • If you catch the female in the evening, re-set the inbox trap immediately in order to catch the male when he checks in the next morning. Arlene Ripley says the male sparrow may sit in the box between 10-12 in the morning, while the female takes a break from incubating. Paula Ziebarth has observed that males often come to check out the box in the early morning.
  • If you catch the male, and egg laying is still in progress, reset the trap to catch the female the next morning.
  • If you catch a dominant male, other males may move into his former territory, and you may need to continue trapping.
  • Trapping after nestlings hatch: If you wait until eggs hatch, it is much easier and faster to catch both the male and the female, as they will be feeding young every 15-30 minutes, and the female is unlikely to abandon the young even if you trap the male. (In a box without eggs/young, if you trap the male, the female usually abandons the box.) The problem with this approach is that the box is unavailable to native cavity nesters for a longer period of time.
    • As noted elsewhere be sure to remove enough nesting material so it does not interfere with the trap tripping. You can leave just a few blades of grass/feathers on the nestbox floor with the young on top.
    • Immediately after trapping one parent, re-set the trap to catch the other parent.
    • If you are not comfortable euthanizing the nestlings after trapping the adults, you could place the nest with the young on the ground in a wooded area away from the box (to avoid “teaching” predators that a nestbox equals lunch, and to avoid freaking out the public), and allow predators will deal with them.

Checking: You MUST check inbox traps every 1 -2 hours. You do NOT want to leave a non-target bird there too long, and have the experience of finding a dead bluebird/chickadee/Tree Swallow inside. Although they say that a HOSP will not allow another species to enter the box once it has claimed it, I have seen Tree Swallows, bluebirds and chickadees enter. Trip traps (to close them) or remove them if you will be away for longer than 2 hours. Another option is to leave them in the set position with a paper clip bent around the side of the trap to keep it from springing, but then it is possible for a native bird to get their leg caught in the mechanism.

You must always be 100% sure the captured bird is in fact a HOSP before taking any action towards disposal.

Many trappers have expressed an interest in a device that would alert them if an inbox trap was tripped, so they could immediately check it out. Two possibilities might include the Lazer Trip Wire, a mini-infrared security system that sounds an alarm if a beam is broken ($29.95, www.thinkgeek.com) or the MailboxCam Wireless Remote Camera, a portable, battery powered device that allows you to monitor via a TV screen, and carries the video signal 300 feet (unfortunately it’s $179.95 from www.wirelessimaging.com/(651) 470-9507.)

Placement: You can put an inbox trap in any existing nestbox. You can also put trap nestboxes on tree trunks, near shrubs where HOSP congregate, or on the side of a building (shed, garage, barn) under the eaves where you normally wouldn’t put a bluebird nestbox. You can put it at eye height to facilitate checking and removal of captured birds, or 8-12 feet off the ground. Some people have had good success placing the nestbox near a light that is on all night. It can also be placed next to a box bluebirds are starting to nest in (pre-egg laying – after first egg use sparrow spooker) to lure HOSP. Some people pair a trap box with a Gilbertson PVC nestbox (for use by native birds) which HOSP MAY not prefer. Ideally, place them where you can easily see (from the house) whether the trap
has been tripped. Make sure the trap is screwed on securely enough so they can’t wobble it and squeeze their way out.

  • Side opening boxes: It is harder to mount Van Ert traps in side opening boxes. You can use two flat thumb tacks (push pins will interfere with tripping) or use a short angled screwdriver, or pre-install screws.

Night Sneak: If know the HOSP are incubating eggs (warm to touch) or roosting in the box, you can try approaching the box quietly at night from behind, and quickly block the entrance with one hand/rolled up sock. Then, either put a strong plastic bag or mesh laundry bag on on top, open the door, and capture the female. You can also try a mayonnaise jar over the hole and shine a flashlight in it, and the bird may fly into the jar and then you can slip cardboard underneath to the remove. A quick, quiet person MIGHT be able to put one hand over the entrance hole and then ease the other hand into the box, feeling around for any HOSP that may be inside (as long as you have a snake-proof predator guard on the box!). Then put an inbox trap in place to hopefully get the male at first light when he comes by to check on the nest.

  • This approach is useful if HOSP start nesting near an active bluebird nest. If you are unsuccessful at trapping the male, he might decide to usurp the bluebird nestbox. Kate Arnold has been 100% successful at catching the pair using this technique. The other plus is that the sparrows waste valuable weeks of nesting time, so even if one escapes, they have lost at least one nesting opportunity that season.

Setting: Once a sparrow has actively laid claim to a box (male is persistently perched atop it calling for a mate, pair is nesting/laying eggs inside it), set the trap.

  • If you catch the female, reset the trap immediately to catch the male. If you catch the male, the female should abandon the nestbox. If the female hasn’t been caught within 2 hours, she has probably abandoned the nestbox, so clean it out. However, if you re-set the trap BEFORE the female notices that the male has disappeared, you may be able to trap the female also.
  • You can also try putting the first captive (and/or nest with eggs/nestlings) in a ground trap underneath the nestbox in case the bird is wary of the inbox trap. Parents will overcome their fear of a ground trap to feed a nestling.
  • If you catch the male and there are other male HOSP in the area, set it again – the next male may try to move in on the “open” box.
  • The Van Ert trap has two small bent up pieces of wire to hold the tripping wire. If these two pieces are bent at a sharp angle, it is hard to release the trap. Bend them back a bit so the wire will slide off easily when the bird steps on the tripping wire.
  • If Huber traps are not tripping readily, file the trigger wire to a point. I’ve found the Huber Trap Huber-style trap does not fit in all nestboxes.

Nest/Egg Removal:
Leave the nesting material and any eggs in the box until you have captured the male HOSP, to avoid increasing the chance that the angry male will enter other nearby boxes and destroy eggs. You may have to remove some of the nesting material away from the trap mechanism – leave about an inch and the eggs if any. If you capture the male and there are eggs, the female may return. After capturing the male, you can remove all nesting material and the trap.

Lures:

  • Try placing a small amount of nesting material (dried grass or small sticks
    like a wren would use) in the bottom of the box, or hanging out the entrance hole, but be sure it doesn’t interfere with the trap mechanism. You can also scatter some nesting material on the ground in front of the box. Bread crumbs might work also.
  • You could also try a fake bluebird egg (e.g., a whole pecan painted blue) or a couple of white marbles glued to a piece of cardboard.
  • Scattering feathers around the nestbox used to catch HOSP may motivate the male to
    use the feathers in a nest and overcome his reticence
    to enter a box he suspects has a trap.

If a HOSP becomes wary of one type of trap, switch to another – e.g., from Van Ert to Huber, since they look different inside the box. See more on dealing with wary birds.

See Removing trapped birds to avoid injuring or losing birds.

Removing the trap: Once trapping is completed, remove the trap. Don’t just disable it, as a bird could become entangled in the mechanism.


Remote Controlled Inbox Traps (useful if native birds are also checking out a box)

Erv Davis of Montana made a radio-controlled remote trap triggered by a switch instead of a trip-wire. It is bungee corded to the front panel of the nestbox. When the switch is activated, a rotating arm with a disk of light plastic on the end drops down. Two screws in the panel are used to stop the motion of the arm. It is much more expensive to build than a regular inbox trap. (Researchers have also made traps using a radio-controlled release of trap door, e.g., Lombardo and Kemly 1983, Mock et all 1999.)

Fishing for HOSP: This method uses a nestbox with a trap that is manually triggered when a HOSP enters (to avoid catching native birds that might enter.) See instructions.


Temporary Boxes or Changing Box Height to Enable Trapping

Temporary Box: HOSP may be most interested in a box occupied by other birds, perhaps out of an innate desire to reduce competition for nesting sites. In that case, a temporary box can be set up next to the box the HOSP are interested in. Perhaps the native nesters will move into the temporary box, allowing HOSP to be trapped in the original box. After the HOSP are caught, the native birds may move back to the original box, which was their first choice for whatever reason. Bob Orthwein experimented with triple boxes (each 15-20 feet apart) in areas where EABL and TRES were present; when HOSP picked the third box they were trapped.

Mobile Trapbox: Consider taking a dilapidated box from your trail, or buy a cheap wooden nestbox (e.g., from Wal-Mart) to use as a mobile trapping box. Try moving trap nestboxes around – this seems to either fool or intrigue them. You can mount a trap nestbox on a pitchfork to make it mobile, or buy a movable birdhouse mounting poles. If a pitchfork can’t penetrate the soil, a large cast-iron umbrella stand can be used to hold up a nestbox. Use large screws to hold the pole, and add two concrete blocks leaning up against the pole. If the nestboxes/trap boxes will be up for a week or more, you can pound a 3′ piece of 1″ diameter pipe into the ground and slide the nestbox pole onto the pipe.

Use a 1.25″ hole restrictor on a trap box to avoid trapping bluebirds.

If a HOSP shows an interest in a box that bluebirds have claimed, immediately lower the height (temporarily) of the bluebird house to about 4 feet. Put up another house a few feet away at a much higher height (around 7-9 feet) and if possible, closer to a nearby house or other man-made building. The HOSP will often move to the new higher house, where they can be trapped. Then return things to normal, by taking down the House Sparrow house and return the bluebird house to its usual height.


Ground Traps

Ground trapping is an excellent way to control large populations of HOSP. Even after getting HOSP under control on my trail, I continue to trap during active nesting season, using live decoys. This way HOSP don’t even get a chance to start attacking or nesting. The manufacturer of the DRST trap reported that a customer who ordered a trap in mid May said he figured he had 25-30 HOSP to take out. By mid August, his count was over 600.

THE IDEAL TRAP: can catch multiple birds, is mobile (not too heavy/bulky), has room for a seed and water holders (I buy these from a pet store – use a bottle for water so it will
not get fouled), has a door large enough to put your hand in to collect birds and replace food and water but does not have sharp edges (or put plastic or duct tape over the edges so you don’t get scratched), holds decoys (in a separate compartment so they can’t escape, in a reasonably sized pen so they don’t get too stressed out), and are as specific as possible to HOSP (e.g., an elevator style trap weighted for HOSP.)

TYPES OF GROUND TRAPS: see Reviews

  • Funnel Traps: Common and easily entered, but most are also easy for HOSP to escape from. They must be checked frequently to remove birds, and decoys should be penned in a separate compartment or they will probably escape.
  • Automatic Elevator Traps (e.g., DRST: Counterbalanced multi-catch traps where the bird enters a compartment alone to feed on bait that is on a shelf in the trap, and their weight causes an “elevator” to drop to the lower level where the bird “escapes” into a closed cage. Without the bird’s weight, the elevator springs back into the original position ready for another passenger. It can be harder to lure birds into this type of trap than into a funnel trap (live decoys really help), but it is much harder for them to escape.
  • Triggered Traps (e.g., “clap trap” with a trigger rope that pulls two overlapping nets together, or “fishing for HOSP”): Usually not automatic, requiring a watcher to tend and spring them.
  • Purchase: Ground traps are more expensive than nestbox traps, typically running $30-75 plus shipping. See Paula Z’s review of traps. I have used Brad Biddle’s funnel trap (no longer made), Deluxe Repeating Sparrow Trap (DRST) (DRST), the Jenkins trap, and the PMCA Repeating Bait Trap. I prefer the DRST because the HOSP seeking food or a decoy quickly becomes committed in the elevator, and the main holding chamber is virtually escape proof. The elevator is weighted for HOSP (test with 2 quarters so it drops quickly with no bounce, and returns to the up position without quarters, again with no bounce). The Cedar Valley Ground Trap is very similar.
  • Homemade: Few plans are available online. Back yard traps can be made out of the cheap polyvinyl garden netting (small mesh).
    • Build a “wire box” about 48″x48″x 12″ high. Prop it up on a stick to allow the birds to enter under the edge, and then pull the stick out when a flock of HOSP are underneath.
    • PMCA and Andy Troyer sell plans for the Troyer V-top funnel trap. The website says the 5′ x 5′ x 8′ frame breaks down for storage, and sets up in 10 minutes. Some say this trap (designed for starlings) is difficult to set up and does not work well with HOSP. Others have had good success with it. It is large, and expensive (~$290 pre-made, $100 for DIY materials) and will also trap predator birds such as Cooper’s Hawks and Northern Shrikes. Don’t use chicken wire – the holes are too big.

    • GROUND TRAPPING TIPS

      • Checking: Check ground traps 2-3 times a day, or at least daily, to release non-target birds, and ensure trapped birds have adequate food, water and shelter
        (see below).
      • WARNING: If you cannot monitor a trap for some length of time, or when storing the trap in an outdoor shed etc., do not leave any food in it, and disable it (e.g., use a twist tie or cable tie to wire it open, or turn it upside down). That way if a creature (mouse, native bird) goes in it, it will not die inside.
      • Immediately Release Non-Target Birds: Native birds are less hardy than HOSP, so if at all possible, release them immediately, or they may die. Also, besides being very stressful, confinement may induce inter or intra-species
        aggression. Smaller or less aggressive birds have no escape
        route and may be killed. Don’t learn the hard way about collateral damage.
      • Immediately release any chipmunks or squirrels: If trapped in a cage with any bird (native or non-native) they may kill it.
      • Timing: The best time to trap is in the early morning, and when juveniles are present. Sometimes you can catch the whole brood as they like to stay together right after fledging. Success seems higher on cloudy/rainy days. Spring and fall are good times.
        • Winter trapping:Some people have good luck ground trapping in the winter when insects or other food is scarce. I have found that I catch too many non-target birds during the winter. The results can be deadly – for example, a downy woodpecker could kill a Carolina Wren when they are both confined in a trap. In colder climes you may be less likely to check the trap frequently. Placing the trap near a window where you can check it frequently helps. Another option might be to use a non-repeating trap (like a Hav-a-Hart #1020 or 1025), so multiple birds are not captured. It is also difficult to keep the bait dry when it snows, unless you put the trap in a covered area (like a barn) where birds are roosting. You can place a piece of wood or acrylic over a portion of the trap where the food and water trays, are to allow trapped birds and food to stay dry. During winter, HOSP roosting in nestboxes can be trapped using an inbox trap.
        • Winter trapping of starlings: If you are trapping starlings with suet or peanut butter, just a reminder that a number of non-target species will be attracted to it, especially when other food sources are limited. I catch the most starlings when the snow is flying. However, juncos, nuthatches, Carolina Wrens and downy woodpeckers may enter trap baited with suet. Again, consider a non-repeating trap (like a Hav-a-Hart #1020 or 1025) under these circumstances.
      • Placement:
        • Put traps in a visible, open area where HOSP congregate/near watering or feeding areas. E.g., underneath a roosting bush/tree, by your bird feeding station, etc. They are more likely to approach the trap if they can do it from nearby cover like a bush, tree or hanging vine they can hide in.
        • Do not put them where a passerby can see them, as they probably will not understand what is going on. People have reported birds being released, and traps being stolen or destroyed. To prevent stealing in publicly visible areas, a bicycle lock might work. BTW, you should let your local animal control officer, and your state wildlife management agency know that you trap House Sparrows to protect native birds, and handle them humanely, in case they ever get complaints. More…
        • HOSP like to feed/dust bath on bare ground and freshly turned dirt. If on grass, you may want to put a board underneath the trap, to make bait visible if the trap is on top of grass.
        • It’s best to put it near cover (e.g., bushes within 10-40 feet.)
        • Some people have better luck placing the trap near something that is higher that the HOSP can sit on, and then hop down to the trap after they decide it is safe.
        • Some people have better luck when they elevate the trap (e.g., on picnic table bench, low table, or deck railing near vines/shrubs HOSP hang out in) and this can also reduce the likelihood of trapping native birds. Even a foot or two up can help, although I trap on the ground and catch plenty. If you do elevate it, put something under the trap to act as a visual “floor.” They are more skittish when they can see through the bottom of the trap.

          • I catch the most birds with a DRST sitting on top of a large square (flat topped wire) bird cage with a female decoy inside.
        • Move traps around, or take them out of service for a few days if you are not catching anything. When transporting in a vehicle, throw a towel on top as the darkness keeps them calm.
        • You might try setting the trap out in the evening, or when the birds are not around, so they do not associate the trap with humans.
      • Preparation: Scatter bait around and inside the trap, leaving doors open for about
        a week to condition the birds. Once they are used to the trap, put the bait inside the trap. Another tactic is to
        empty the trap mid-day, freshen the bait, and deactivate the trap for the remainder of the afternoon (or for 1 or 2 days), allowing HOSP to run amok. (You can deactivate a trap with an elevator by wiring the trip arm open with a twist tie from a bread bag.) Then activate the traps again after a few days, or after dark for the morning feeding frenzy.
      • Baiting with food: Put liberal amounts of fresh bait (1/2″ pieces of white bread/stale muffins/donuts/KFC biscuits, cheese balls, animal feed, dry cat or dog food, popped popcorn, french fries, or red millet/milo, or cracked corn – I think the bright yellow corn is attractive) inside the trap near the entry points, and just outside the entry points. Change it daily to keep it fresh. Avoid using birdseed to prevent other non-target species from being captured. If food is getting removed, hot glue it to a small stone/piece of wood. Baked goods attract ants and get very soggy with rain. Replace bait if it gets spoiled/wet. Do not provide other sources
        of HOSP food in your yard.

        • If the trap has a trigger mechanism (like the small Hav-a-Hart models), try a small chunk of seed suet cake stuck in the center, or attach bread to the trip mechanism with a water soluble glue stick or hot glue gun.
        • A bread-water-paste mush ball or stale piece of bread and hanging it on an opened-up paper clip near the entrance may draw birds in.
        • Millet and cracked corn may attract chipmunks or small squirrels. Immediately remove mammals from the trap (by opening the door to avoid bites that might occur during handling, or using a heavy glove) because they will bite
          and kill other trapped birds, including native birds.
        • If there is a bait tray (as in the PMCA Repeating Bait Trap), put a piece of plastic or cardboard underneath the bait to make it easier to change out.
        • For elevator traps, creatures may pull large objects into the elevator mechanism, disabling it. For chunks or bread or feathers, hot glue them to a plastic bottle cap, and use a tack/other means (like a cable tie) to secure it to the bait tray.
        • Do not bait a trap with mealworms as you may catch native birds like bluebirds.
        • Be careful using suet for bait as it attracts native birds. If you do use it, but a big suet chunk way in the back of the bait tray.
        • Avoid allowing bait to sit IN or ON an elevator. If the bird tries pecking at food and the elevator moves, it could spook them, and the weight of food can move the elevator out of the ideal trapping position.
      • Baiting with nesting material: During nesting season, white feathers, string, yarn, cotton, or wispy pieces of grass or material from an old HOSP nest helps attract males. You can also break up an old nest and put it inside the trap. If feathers fly away, use some spray adhesive/hot glue to attach them to a small board or stone.

      Decoys

      • Decoys must be provided with fresh food and water, and protected from the elements. Decoys eat a lot – about 1/2 their weight each day. Consider feeding mealworms and providing grit to promote longevity. They will knock over or foul loose food containers, so you might want to tie it down, silicone caulk it in place, or use a water/food container that has a hole that the bird has to stick its head into for access.
      • Having only one, or 3+ HOSP decoys in the trap at any one time helps reduce aggression, and spreads out the pecking order.
      • If you have had certain decoys for a while, introducing a new decoy may result in either the older or the new bird being killed.
      • A larger holding pen may reduce aggression and be less stressful. However, Rob Barron had HOSP kill other HOSP in an 8’x8’x8′ walk-in cowbird trap that was hardly crowded.
      • Decoy Gender: Avoid using males as decoys unless they are in a separate cage, as they may attack and kill other trapped birds. A male can be caught using another male as a decoy. Females will attract other females and males. I’m not sure yet which is most “magnetic.” I seem to catch a lot when I have females/juveniles in the trap, or with a male and female in a separate cage and the trap on top of the cage. Denise Farmer finds that she does not catch additional males when she has one male in the trap, and thus just uses females as decoys.
      • Fledglings are very adaptable and less aggressive and thus make good decoys. They will also attract their nest mates and parents.
      • If your trap is configured so that birds can readily escape, or if raccoons, feral cats and snakes are a problem in our area, it is better to remove HOSP immediately upon capture. This will also prevent the more aggressive HOSP from attacking a non-target native bird that may enter the trap.
      • House sparrow decoy in cage used with ground trap.
        House sparrow decoy in cage used with ground trap.

        You can use a small, inexpensive, predator-proof bird cage with a roof for shade, placed right next to the ground trap) to hold decoys. Decoys in a separate cage are easier to feed and water, and cannot escape. They will also not get killed by other birds (especially male HOSP) or chipmunks that enter the trap (some chipmunks will quickly bite and kill a bird they are penned with). Decoys seem to live longer when covered. I hang a small inexpensive decorative nestbox (that I got in a craft store) inside the cage for shelter. This also helps in cold weather, as HOSP do not survive well out in the cold. You can also cover them at night.

      • At night, throw a tarp over the birds, or put the cage or trap inside an enclosed, unheated area like a garage at night (especially if it is really cold or wet), which also protects decoys from predators (raccoons that will roll traps, or feral cats that will sit by or on top of it and torment birds). Set the trap on top of old newspapers, as they will defecate. Don’t put decoys in a heated area and then put back outside as the shock could kill them.
      • Consider trimming the wings of decoys in case they escape/fly out when you are removing other birds. If you trim one wing (all primaries) the bird will be much easier to recapture in a ground trap if it does accidentally get out.
      • If decoys do not survive very long, replace them every few days with a recently trapped bird.
      • Placing several small mirrors (e.g., from old make-up cases or powder compacts) in the bottom of the trap near the entrance, or behind a bait trap may have the same effect as a decoy.
      • One person successfully used a male HOSP that had been recently killed with a pellet gun, frozen and wired to a branch to simulate a live decoy. They played a CD of HOSP vocalizations in a hidden boom box. The trap was full of HOSP by the end of the day. The trapped birds pecked the heck out of the frozen decoy.
      • Hawks Hanging Around Traps: Sometimes hawks (e.g., Coopers or Sharp-Shinned) will perch or on fly around a trap with live birds in it. The trapped birds will huddle safely on the bottom of the trap, but in order to avoid tormenting them, it is best to cover or move the trap or bring it into an unheated garage until the hawk moves on (which usually, but not always, happens in a day or two.)
      • Keep 1-3 (up to 10) live HOSP in the trap to attract other birds for as long as you can. You would think other HOSP would be scared off by a trapped bird, but instead they are much more likely to enter the trap. If your trap is not attracting birds, you can use one caught with an inbox trap. It may take up to a week to catch your first decoy in a ground trap – be patient. Decoy HOSP MAY reduce the chances that native birds will be interested in the trap.
      • Also see use of Playbacks (recordings)
      • It may be difficult to catch males in a ground trap.
      • If chipmunks or squirrels enter the trap, release them immediately(open the door and let them run out, or grab them while wearing a thick pair of gloves), as they will torment or kill trapped birds/decoys.
      • Weighting for elevator traps: Some repeating traps (Cedar Valley Repeating Trap, Deluxe Repeating Sparrow Trap [DRST], PMCA Repeating Bait Traps) allow you to adjust the weight for sparrows so you are less likely to capture other birds.
      • The weight of a HOSP = 4 to 5 U.S. quarters; a starling = 6 to 7 U.S. quarters. However, you must take the weight of the mechanism into account. So, for example, with the DRST, you would set it with 2 quarters for HOSP and 4 for starlings. If
        the elevator part becomes wet/covered with snow, it may not work as well. One option is to cover the mechanism with a piece of Plexiglas or board. Wood mechanisms can be treated with Thompson’s Weather Seal.
      • Escapes: House Sparrows may quickly learn how to enter and leave a funnel trap. It is better to remove all birds immediately or at least hourly, so they don’t figure
        out how to escape, or get out by accident. It is almost impossible for them to escape from a DRST trap.

        • A “bob” can be added to the funnel entrance. In a pigeon trap, when a bird walks in through the door, the bobs swivel upward and slide over the back of the bird, falling
          back into place once the bird is entirely inside.  Since they are hung at an inward angle, the bird can’t push them back outward to escape. A few bobs made of wire and attached to hang in a similar fashion over the funnel entrance of a sparrow trap might prevent some escapes.
      • See Removing Trapped Birds to avoid injuring or losing birds.
      • Patience: If you don’t catch HOSP in a ground trap immediately, don’t give up! Re-read the directions to make sure you are using it correctly. Once you catch one bird, and use them as decoys, you should have much better luck.

        A word on sticky mouse traps

        Sticky mouse traps placed inside a nestbox, or in a favorite roosting spot, will catch House Sparrows (sometimes multiple birds.) HOWEVER, you also run a serious risk of catching non-target species. It is NOT true that other species will not enter a box once it has been claimed by HOSP. Do NOT use a sticky mouse trap unless you are prepared to find a bluebird or other native bird on it that has almost no chance of surviving (you may not be able to remove the bird/glue, even with hexane or vegetable oil, without the bird eventually dying.) Also, they are not generally considered humane, since the animal is stuck to the trap but does not die immediately. See Chemical Repellents.


        Mist Nets

        A fine net called a mist net can be used to entangle flying birds. They are placed across the flight paths of the birds in front of a dark background, so the birds can’t see them until they blunder into them, get tangled up, and can’t get out. Mist nets require considerable amount of time to set up and tend, and are illegal in some states. Federal permits are required for trapping birds in mist nets. Non target species may be captured and must be removed and released immediately.


    • Guns (where local laws permit)

    • If you are not able to positively identify female HOSP, and have not had gun safety training, do not use this method. You can release a non-target native bird from a trap, but you cannot “un-shoot” one. Guns are a serious business. Anyone who plans on using a firearm should receive some type of firearm safety training. Follow all basic safety rules, such as treating any gun as if it were loaded. Guns should never be used around children or pets, as their movements are difficult to predict.Check local regulations. For example, a gun license from the Province of Ontario is required for a high velocity air gun such as an RWS Model 350 (1250 fps.) In some areas it is illegal to use any kind of gun, even on your own property.BB guns are generally inaccurate and ineffective, pellet rifles that are powerful enough (550 feet per second [fps] or more) can be effective but good ones with good scopes are not inexpensive, and real rifles and shotguns can be very effective but are for people who have had hunter safety training.Accurate shooting takes practice and time. However, it may be the only option for birds that will not enter a ground trap/nestbox trap.Practice with a paper target first. A House Sparrow aren’t much bigger than the bulls eye on many targets.You may wish to bait sparrows into a particular location first. This is useful when using a shotgun (use #8 or 9 or 10 shot). Scatter grown over long narrow areas to draw them in. Where sparrows infest poultry yards, the bait may abe placed on a horizontal board, supported at such an elevation that the birds can be shot without endangering the poultry.
    • Note that shooting during breeding season may deter scare native birds away.Avoid eye contact with the target bird, as it may take off.Gun types:
      • An open-choke shotgun using special ammo known as “dust shot” (a .22 long rifle shell filled with No.10 shot) works at short range.
      • Shooting with an air/pellet rifle with a muzzle speed of at least 550
        fps can be successful. For example, some people use: Beeman, Crosman 2100, Crosman 760 (inexpensive but requires about 10 pumps), Gammo Shadow 1000 (heavy and hard to cock, NOT recommended),or RWS/Diana model 24 (750 pfs) or RWS Model 54 (harder to cock but more powerful) air gun.
      • Others use a low-powered firearm (.177, or a .22 caliber with bird shot only).
      • Do not use a bullet in a .22 long rifle, as it can travel over 1.5 miles and will go through corrugated tin, drywall, or plywood to hit anyone or anything behind it. Always be aware of what is behind your target (shooting down from a second story window onto a feeding station on the lawn addresses this issue.)
      • A BB gun may work up close, but really does not have adequate power/accuracy.
      • A wrist rocket (a fancy, more powerful version of a sling shot) may also work.

      Use and sight in a telescopic scope (available for ~$10-40) with a minimum of 4×40 power for more accurate shots. A higher power scope (x10 and up) usually requires a bench rest of cross sticks to stabilize it. Otherwise you can try an inexpensive, fixed x4 power scope or 4 x 9 variable scope.

      Some pellet guns only take one pellet at a time, so it is best to make the first shot.

      Brace the gun (on a ledge, tree branch, etc.) To make a steady rest for the barrel, fill an old sock with sand, use a folded towel, or cross sticks.

      Take a deep breath before pulling the trigger, and then let your breath out slowly while gradually and gently SQUEEZING the trigger, so that the discharge comes as a little surprise. Pulling/yanking on the trigger usually ruins one’s aim.

      Shoot from up close (15-75 feet) for a clean and instantaneous kill.

      Do not shoot at a bird in flight.

      Birds (especially male HOSP) quickly become conditioned to humans holding anything resembling a firearm. To get the best results, hide. Shoot from behind a blind (e.g., an interior window, behind a screen door or piece of burlap with a slit in it, or out a truck window) and into an area baited with grain.

      • Tip for serious shooters: Buy a wide roll of plastic food wrap (like Saran wrap), and staple it to both sides of a wood frame that fits in your window. Open the window completely and insert the plastic frame. Shoot through the plastic (pointed pellets make the smallest holes) – the blast from the air gun is absorbed in the room and thus the birds are less likely to get spooked.

      Also see Electricity


      References and Links for more information

      Sparrow Trap and Other Supply Links – also see page on Retail Suppliers


      The information provided here is for informational purposes only and users of the information do so at their own risk. The reader must consult state/federal officials to determine the legality of any technique in the reader’s locale. See remainder of disclaimer.


      “It’s act first or find a dead Bluebird; just a matter of time”
      – Bonnie Boex, 2005

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