Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!osu-cis!att!ihnp4!ihlpf!jimf
From: jimf@ihlpf.ATT.COM (JF)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Nesting Bluebirds - box location
Message-ID: <4769@ihlpf.ATT.COM>
Date: 17 May 88 14:13:55 GMT
References: <4719@ihlpf.ATT.COM> <246@oravax.UUCP>
Organization: Big Rock Creek
Lines: 21

In article <246@oravax.UUCP>, john@oravax.UUCP (John Gregoire) writes:
> Jim, your problem with house sparrows (HOSP) and starlings (STAR), or as we
> prefer (SLZO), is common to boxes that are emplaced too close to human
> structures.

The box which Had the bluebirds is about 250 - 300 ft from the house and
50 ft from our pond, and about 5 ft off the ground. Its on the fencepost
at the corner of our mini orchard. I also have a box which is on the 
other side of our pond, at least 400 ft from the house and under some 
large oak trees. The sparrows also go for that one, but I haven't seen 
any bluebirds around that one. Yesterday a pair of bluebirds were back
trying to build in a box that's only 50 ft. from the garage at the other
corner of the orchard fence. They have been fighting with sparrows over
the box.

It seems like no matter where I put them, the sparrows try to use them. 
I must have ripped out sparrow nests at least 30 times, but they just
don't give up.

Would putting the boxes lower to the ground scare off the 
sparrows (3-4ft)?