Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!news.cs.indiana.edu!noose.ecn.purdue.edu!mentor.cc.purdue.edu!npirs!tfisher From: tfisher@NPIRS.Purdue.EDU (Tom Fisher) Newsgroups: rec.birds Subject: Bluebird Comments Message-ID: <1991Apr18.150026.18512@NPIRS.Purdue.EDU> Date: 18 Apr 91 15:00:26 GMT Organization: The National Pesticide Information Retrieval System, Purdue University Lines: 19 We have a pair of nesting Bluebirds. We also have many House Sparrows (Weaver Finches) around. Both varieties compete for the same nesting places. We spend a lot of time "helping" the Bluebirds by destroying the Sparrows nests. However, my wife and I both work and therefore, we can't be around all the time. Last year, I came home one day and found that the Sparrows had built a nest over the top of the Bluebird nest (and the Bluebird nest had eggs in it). I got rid of the Sparrow nest and the Bluebirds came back seemingly unperturbed. Can anyone offer some ideas on how to discourage or get rid of the Sparrows? Some people I know of shoot them, but that's not practical in our case (we live near a school). Would appreciate some comment. -- ============================================================================== Tom Fisher tfisher@npirs.purdue.edu | "...if by chance we find each Phone (317) 494-6616 | other, it is beautiful." - F. Perls