Uptick in sparrows/ still no blues in yard

[phillyblues]

Has anyone noticed an influx of sparrows lately? They’re driving me nuts. I am up to 110s total in sparrow elimination the past 8 months. It has been quiet and now it seems new gangsters have come along. I keep catching em. I had bluebirds singing all over the yard vicinity last Monday but have heard nothing since. I was really hoping they would at least check out the boxes. Grrrr.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Philly Blues – on the contrary I have not had any sparrows bothering my nests lately – I believe they got discouraged in my yard and left to nest and raise their young elsewhere. I did eliminate several with my VanErt inbox trap earlier in the season. But they could come back at any time to try again and I’ll be ready.

[phillyblues]

There is peace in the valley again….for now. Darn wren won’t give up though. 😕

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Glad there is “peace in the valley” again.

[Chris]

Keep up the good work on sparrow trapping.

i wonder if you put up one more box, or moved an existing box, if that might encourage the bluebirds to try. This last batch of blues i had, they started nesting right when i moved a box to a new location.

Chris

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Chris has a good idea about moving the box or adding one – I know this isn’t always possible but placement is very important.

[phillyblues]

Thanks for the ideas on moving them. I have two boxes in the front yard spaced 10 feet apart. One is a Peterson box the other is NABS. Each facing a different direction. One in the back (walmart cedar box). Not sure what else to try at this point. In 2019 I had a pair checking the boxes for 3 days straight. Last year nothing. This year just heard them the one day for an hour. A couple visits over the winter. I even thought about removing one box. Maybe too many boxes? Driving me nuts. This morning had another sparrow show up. Maddening. I will post some shots of my neighborhood and yard next if you spot anything

[phillyblues]

This was my setup in 2019 when I sttracted a pair for a fee days.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by phillyblues.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by phillyblues.

[phillyblues]

Here’s my area with my plot highlighted

• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by phillyblues.

[phillyblues]

[phillyblues]

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Don’t know what to tell you except that blues like open spaces – looks like you have a lot of activity close to the boxes, especially in the front yard with the traffic. Also, 10 foot apart is not enough room for two BB boxes. Check out http://www.sialis.org for great info on placement, etc. They recommend over 100′ apart for boxes (not always possible). Sure would like to see you come up with something so you could enjoy the blues. Maybe just concentrate on finding a spot in the back yard would be better than the front. Good luck. By the way, do you have any luck on your trail with bluebirds?

[phillyblues]

I put two boxes up specifically because I have had tree swallows nest in the front yard for several years. So I wanted the bluebirds to have a potential box there too. Also figured it couldn’t hurt. My nearby trail is successful with both bluebirds and swallows (6 swallow nests and 1 bluebird on the same lot). My front yard is more open and faces some nice open lawns…plus the golf course is just behind those houses which might help.

If I take one box down would you leave the newish Peterson box up or the old cedar NBS box up? The peterson has a normal round hole.

Again…really appreciate the help.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by phillyblues.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by phillyblues.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

I’m not familiar at all with the Peterson box – can’t help there.

[phillyblues]

Yeah I see petersons a lot on the nearby state parks and they seem to be successful. But my instinct is bluebirds prefer the more weathered worn in boxes of either style.

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