Because they adapt quickly to most deterrents, finding a single means of sparrow-proofing is difficult. Learn about Eastern Bluebird here. Close the box securely when finished and record your observations. Bluebird Competitors. It is better to have no box at all than to allow House Sparrows to reproduce in one.You would help the Bluebirds more by making contributions to the national or state Bluebird societies, or helping to educate those in your neighborhood about proper Bluebird landlordship. All About Birdhouses. Notice the cup is deep, and more neatly woven than the rest of the nest. House Sparrows are small enough to enter any hole that a bluebird can, and will chase away or kill bluebirds. This once-prolific bird had a sharp decline of population due to nesting cavity competition from European Starlings and House Sparrows. When disposing of an old nest, doing so near the nest site may cause extra and unwanted attention from predators. Usually bluebird nests do not have seedheads (more typical of House Sparrow nests) but this is for a second brood and may have been built in a hurry.. See photos of some unusual bluebird nests made with cattails and maple seeds.. Others are either non-native invasives, or birds that may be dangerous to bluebird nestings. When done correctly the species will often nest peacefully side by side. House sparrows, also called English sparrows, are aggressive birds that compete with bluebirds for nesting boxes or birdhouses. House sparrows not only occupy empty bluebird nesting boxes, but they also storm occupied boxes, killing adult bluebirds and nestlings. The best material to use for nest box construction is bald cypress, but pine or eastern red cedar work well, too. Features of a Good Nest Box. In the mid 20th century, bluebird populations fell dramatically due to habitat loss and competition for nesting sites with house sparrows and European starlings. There are currently no bluebird nest box designs that completely repel house sparrows, but there are a number of passive and aggressive measures you can take to reduce their population. Eastern Bluebird Basics Several other effective designs are available, but this is among the easiest to construct and clean. A number of other birds may also show an interest in the nestbox you have installed for the Bluebirds. Some of these are very desirable native songbirds. Bluebird VS House Sparrow Nest Please note the difference in the two nests, the one above is an Eastern Bluebird nest and the one below is a House Sparrow nest. Both are very aggressive. More recently, however, their populations have been affected by loss of habitat and tree cavities, unusually cold winters in the 1960s and 1970s, egg and chick predation, and competition for nesting sites by introduced House Sparrows and European Starlings. An Eastern Bluebird was seen in the West 80s of Central Park of Central Park on Friday (and again on Saturday). The eastern BLUEBIRD is popular with birdwatchers Starlings can be excluded from entering nestboxes boxes by … It's the state bird of New York. Both starlings and House Sparrows are cavity nesters. The photo below shows the shape of the cup. Weather Seal Your Nest Box General information on how to attract nesting bluebirds and other small cavity nesters, including distinguishing nests and eggs, heat, dealing with house sparrows, house wrens, nestboxes, etc. Bluebird houses should be placed about four to five feet above the ground, preferably on posts with predator guards attached. Did you know that NestWatch is seeking more data on this species? Bluebird Houses (148 Bluebird Houses) Bluebirds are one of the most loved and recognized of all birds, and their cheerful song is welcomed by most birders. House sparrows chase bluebirds away, crush their eggs, kill nestlings and also kill adult bluebirds. If House Sparrows are a problem, consider drilling a second entrance hole beside the first one (so that there are two separate but identical holes on the front panel) to enable bluebirds to better defend boxes from sparrows. Making Nest Boxes Sparrow Resistant By Lee Pauser lee@birdsfly.info San Jose, CA 95120 September 17, 2014 Introduction After discovering a pair of House Sparrows nesting in one of my bluebird nest boxes some years ago, I searched the Internet for information on how to make a nest box House Sparrow proof.