Bag It!

I'm trying a different approach this spring to discourage and run off the dreaded house sparrows...

Instead of stuffing the hole with a plastic bag, as I've done in the past, I opted to cover the entire bird house with the plastic bag.  This allows me to tie the bag nice and snug. Stuffing the bag in the hole works too but the sparrows pull and tug on it trying to get in and often times pulled it out but NO more with this approach.  Also, they don't seem to know what it is or like the bag and therefore they're no longer perching on the roof and hanging around.  This seems to have chased them off, HORRAY!

The sparrow claiming these two bird houses as their own end up chasing off the Bluebirds.  Yes, now no birds can take up residence in them today but I will remove the bags in a couple weeks and monitor to see who comes poking around.  Fingers crossed it'll be the Bluebirds.  The Bluebird is one of my favorite birds, hands down - there is NO comparison.  Sparrows on the other hand, well I despise them and would prefer they NOT be here at all and the last thing I want is them nesting in these boxes and raising more.

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String Them Along

I'm trying some new with my two bird houses this spring, see below.

There is always a battle between my beloved Eastern Bluebirds and the dreaded, annoying Sparrow to determine who gets to claim these bird houses as home.

What I've been doing, which is so counter productive, is I block the holes.  However, I only do this when the sparrow have taken over but inevitably it also prevents the bluebirds from moving in too.

I recently read on one of the social media apps that hanging string like I've done below wards off sparrow and most birds, as they flap their wings as they approach and enter the hole.  However, bluebirds do not, rather they swoop in with their wings closed.

Remember you can't believe everything you read on social media, so we'll see if there's any validity to this approach.  I'm not sure if I've installed the string properly but I'll keep a close eye and adjust if I need to.  At the end of the day, if this approach deters the sparrow I'll consider it a win.  I loath those god awful, noise and messy birds, GRRR!

To The Victor Belong The Spoils!

So, I just finished mopping the floors this morning.  Since they were still wet I took a seat in the living room to give them time to dry before walking on them and put things back in place.

A couple minutes later I hear, what sounded like the cat chasing her bell ball around in the other room, so didn't give it too much thought beyond that.

However, about 5-minutes later, when I made my way into the front hall, I noticed drops of blood all over the foyer carpet!  Trixie was with me in the living rooms, so not worries it was her blood, rather I assumed it was the frick'n cat -

Then I look up and am SHOCKED to see the below, my blinds torn apart and ruined, WTF, and NOW I am livid -

So, off I go in a seek and destroy mission to find Oliver!

I see him at the top of the stairs and immediately head that way with steam shooting outta my ears, however, when I get to the top of the stairs I am further shocked at what I discover -

A dead female Sparrow lying and staining my carpet!

Although, I am still upset at the destroyed blinds, which I now need to replace, I'm kinda proud that Oliver took care of this prowler!  I've seen him attempt to catch a chipmunk that was essentially cornered and he failed, so I assumed he was special needs when it came to his hunting abilities but that has now changed!

Seems the screen was opened just enough and this sparrow thought it a good idea to venture inside. I'm fairly certain that she won't be doing this ever again 😉(as I drop her into the trash barrel)...

Bag It!

Some may not like or approve of this method, however, it works and I will continue to implement when needed.

This specific bird house had been home to Blue Birds the last couple of years!  Often appearing to raise multiple clutches of babies.  Blue Birds are absolutely beautiful, peaceful birds that do a tremendous job at insect control.  They are always and MORE than welcome in my yard.

However, competing birds are taking over and forcing the Blue Birds out.  Although, they've been around and have been trying to stake a claim this this house, they keep getting scared off by House Sparrows.

House Sparrows are scum birds!  They offer NO value at all with their presence. They are super noisy, which is more bothersome simply because they're sparrows.  They're known more of a scavenger type bird, similar to the pigeon or the starling and crap everywhere.  You often see these birds in the city looking for scraps or handouts or even around fast food restaurants - dirty, useless birds.

Anyway, I stuff a plastic bag in the birdhouse holes to prevent the sparrows from getting in.  Now, I know what your thinking, in doing this I am also preventing the Blue Birds from getting in too, however, at the point I implement this method, the sparrows have already driven off the Blue Birds.  I often wait until the sparrows are established, perhaps even have laid some eggs before "bagging it". Oh, they're not happy at all with this turn of events and try as they may they eventually give up and leave.

Frustratingly, it's a temporary solution, as they eventually make their way back and we have to play the game all over again.  Meanwhile, the Blue Birds have moved onto someone else's bird house, alas.

Sing Me A Song (Sparrow)

Caught this young lady poking around where she didn't belong.

Back in the day I'd give "Booga", our awesome cat, a call and she'd come a running to lend a paw...

This appears to be a Song Sparrow, which is fortunate for her.  The outcome would have been entirely different had this been a House Sparrow...

Fly, Be Free!

Knock Knock, Anybody Home?!

A lone Bluebird visiting and checking out our birdhouse accommodations.  Last Spring we had a pair of Bluebirds that took up residence in the house shown in the top two pics below.  Maybe same one from last year, or perhaps one of their young'n?!

A Bluebird and Finch waiting their turn to checkout the local bird house accommodations. However, it looks like the male House Sparrow has other thoughts and not budging -

I can tell you with 100% certainty that the House Sparrow will be evicted eventually!  If the Bluebird doesn't do it, I know the home owner is a dink and he'll see to it personally...

NOT For Rent! Move On!

Interesting picture of this male House Sparrow poking his head out of the birdhouse.  The sparrows can visit so long as it's a short visit and they move on.  There will be NO sparrow family raising occurring in our birdhouses here, that I can assure you of!

What A Show Off

A Sparrow showing off her skills...

Shoo Go Away!

The annoying House Sparrow's that have taken up residence in one of our eaves will NOT take the hint and move on, nope!  It's now turned into a game.  They start building a nest and I lug the ladder from out back, climbed up and remove all their work.  This has been going on all Spring long. 

Last weekend I pulled the ladder out again, climbed up and removed the nest again, however, this time there were five tiny, speckled eggs inside.

I gotta give it to them they're persistent little winged pests.  They're back at it again, even as I type this entry, tirelessly rebuilding their nest, UGH.  Weather permitting, I'll be lugging the ladder back out tomorrow...