The common house sparrow is not a sparrow. It is a
weaver finch brought to the U.S. in the 1850’s from England.
Russ Heindselman has approximately 20 acres in the
west edge of LaGrange, a town of 1,000 in northwest Missouri. Being
a bluebird enthusiast, he has had for 20 years, about 15 bluebird
boxes on his place.
Russ also has elaborate bird feeding platforms in
his backyard and feeds all year. For years, only one or two bluebird
boxes had bluebirds. The sparrows took over nearly all bluebird
boxes.
About five years ago, Russ figured out the cycle of
the sparrow: two days to build the nest, six days to lay the eggs
and 11-14 days to incubate. For the sparrows, he put up 12 bluebird
boxes on every fence post in his backyard, close to his bird feeder
platforms.
Every 20 days, he took a five-gallon bucket and
collected all sparrow nests and eggs. Last year, by estimated
account, he collected about 600-800 potential sparrows. Five
years ago, 150-200 sparrows were hogging the feed, especially in the
winter, at his bird feeders. The sparrows and other birds consumed
approximately 50 pounds ground corn every two weeks.
Each year for the past five years, there has been a
noticeable reduction of sparrow at the feeders. Last year, only 12
sparrows were at the feeder at any one time. Because 12 bluebird
boxes Russ has given to the sparrows, many residents in his
neighborhood also see fewer sparrows.
The year-round bird feeder platform attracts
sparrows and the boxes are close by. This is the humane way to
reduce house sparrow numbers.
If you are a farmer in the country, try six or eight
bluebird boxes near your barn, machine shed, or other buildings.
Remember to take 10 minutes, more or less, every 20 days to humanely
destroy nests and eggs. Could be called birth control, or better
yet, sparrow control.
