How to English Sparrow Proof a Bluebird House

European House Sparrows are more than just a nuisance to Native Bluebirds, they are a threat to their very lives. House Sparrows will kill Bluebirds and their babies and build a new nest right on top of their lifeless bodies. Keep House Sparrows away from your bird houses with this EASY, tried and tested method. I have used it on mine and IT REALLY WORKS!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fishing Line
• Nails
• Hammer

1. 
   English Sparrow

   Drive 4 small nails into the corners of the roof of your birdhouse, for a flat-topped roof. If you have a roof with a peak, you will need 6 nails. Drive 2 (one on each end) at the peak and 2 on each end of the downward slopes. If you have multiple roof surfaces and gables, you will need more to cover them all.

2. 
   English Sparrow

   Drive 2 nails about 4 inches apart on eaves with bird house opening between them.

3. Create a web to protect the house from sparrows. House Sparrows have poor eyesight and, when they feel the fishing line with their feet and wings, they will leave. The web will NOT bother the bluebirds one bit, they have good eyesight and can see it, and will avoid it. It will not harm bluebirds in any way.

4. 
   English Sparrow

   LOOSELY tie the fishing line around the nails in the roof surface(s) so that it makes a perimeter around the edges, as well as an "x" across the plane of the roof. If you have a pitched roof, tie fishing line to the nails at each end of the peak. Do this for ALL roof surfaces and peaks (if you have gables) as you don't want to give sparrows any place to land.

5. 
   English Sparrow

   Tie a strand of fishing line to each nail near the entrance hole of the bird house. Each should be about 8" long. Leave the bottom end unattached so that the line can sway in the breeze.

Tips & Warnings

• Learn to identify both the males and the females of the European House Sparrow. They are the little chirpy birds you see hanging around McDonald's for left over French fries. Females are very difficult to distinguish from other of our native species of sparrows and finches.
• Make sure your bird houses are light in color so that they don't get over-heated from the sun.
• Make sure your bird houses have vent holes that allow air in, but keep water out.
• Clean out the bird houses after each nesting, after the babies have fledged.
• Bluebirds will accept offerings of mealworms and sometimes of berries or raisins in winter.
• Keep your bird houses up for the winter. Some bluebirds that have shelter and adequate food (trees that retain their fruit through the winter like crab apples and mountain ash)will sometimes stay for the winter, even in chilly northern areas of the country. Other birds will also use them, sometimes congregating en-mass (I've counted up to 20 in one box once) to keep each other warm.
• Provide a source of water, like a birdbath or a pond. We have so many more birds since the addition of our small pond out back.
• ALWAYS police your bird houses and make sure that the birds have a safe environment in which to raise their babies.
• I have heard that Sparrows can get used to this. Take it down between bluebird nestings to keep the sparrows guessing.

Resources

• Official Audubon Bluebird House

[bossypants]

on 7/17/2009 I had no idea the Sparrows were so nasty!! Our neighbors have a Bluebird house and watching their birds is such a delight. Thanks for your information and instructions!

[turtledove]

on 7/10/2009 I sure hope this works. Bluebirds are worth fighting for. English Sparrows are one of 3 birds not protected by law. (+ pigeons & starlings) 5*

[cussinsailor]

on 4/21/2009 As a follow up...I did this exact procedure and I swear the Sparrows were trying to pull off the fishing line to use in their nest. The line on top or on the front did not bother them one bit...I've already dumped nest after nest since making these changes and have dumped several eggs as well. It actually makes me feel bad to do that, but they do harass the heck out of the other birds around. They are bullies!

[cussinsailor]

on 3/17/2009 Excellent article...I've tried one other technique that didn't work...this looks promising. Do you have any advice on how to keep house sparrows from harassing chickadees?

[twincapes]

on 2/11/2009 Good advice, I've been trying to attract bluebirds, thanks.