Q. I have sparrows nesting in a bluebird house. I have tried tearing the sparrow nest out a few times, but I recently discovered a bluebird killed by a sparrow inside the bird house. Is there any way I can keep sparrows from nesting here?
There is no way to stop the fighting; you can, however, site the nesting box so that it favors bluebirds.
English sparrows will not nest as readily in open areas. Open areas tend to favor bluebirds. Bluebirds really have a preference for open areas adjacent to livestock.
So removing the box for a week and then replacing it somewhere different is worth trying.
If you remove the box, disinfect it with one part bleach and 10 parts water before storing it for a week. Then place it at a different height and orient it slightly differently.
Offering more choices for nesting allows for less competition for the available space. So you may want to consider adding more birdhouses as well.
Black snakes likely cause more problems for bluebirds than sparrows do. Black snakes may be the worst predator of bluebirds. You should protect all bluebird houses with bramble briar (Smilax species) wrapped around the post. That will discourage snakes from squeezing the post to climb up for the eggs.
Melody Wilkes, owner of a Walk in the Woods (www.awalkinthewoods.us) and Harry Stanhope, Master Gardener and bluebird enthusiast, contributed to this article.
Harry will be teaching kids about bluebirds as part of the International Bird Watching Day festivities at Frank Liske Park on Saturday.
The Carolina Raptor Center, Wacko Kite Club and N.C. Wildlife Sensory Safari also will have activities at the event, which is free and open to the public. Call 704-920-2702 for more information.
