Bluebird entrance hole okay with monofilament? (1 Viewer)

[AJP]

I purchased and put up my very first bluebird house last week. Before assembling it on its pole, I did some research and confirmed what I already knew - that house sparrows can be a problem! Several websites have instructions to put monofilament (fishing line) around the hole to deter sparrows. I did, following instructions so the wire is just under 1/8 past the edge of the hole on each side.

I saw a bluebird sitting on top of the box yesterday, but so far no tenants! I'm patient, but got to wondering if this setup was alright? The line or the eyehooks won't spook the bluebirds?

http://s219.photobucket.com/albums/cc193/BeautifulPromise2621/?action=view&current=1.jpg

http://s219.photobucket.com/albums/cc193/BeautifulPromise2621/?action=view&current=2.jpg

 

[KC Foggin]

I'm a bit leary about using the monofilament line anywhere near the nest hole but that's just my thoughts.

 

[AJP]

Because of a danger to the birds or because they might shy away from using the nestbox?

 

[KC Foggin]

Because of a foot, or wing getting stuck behind it.

 

[fugl]

How's it supposed to work?

 

[AJP]

It's supposed to deter HOSP -

http://bluebird.htmlplanet.com/larry.htm

http://www.sialis.org/hosp.htm#monofilament

 

[Bird_Bill]

Being associated with cornell, should have some credibility.
Many around here are confounded by house sparrows to the point were they give up.
Large issue with purple martin colonies around here too, seem to be losing ground.

 

[fugl]

It's supposed to deter HOSP -

http://bluebird.htmlplanet.com/larry.htm

http://www.sialis.org/hosp.htm#monofilament

Interesting. Thanks. Sounds like it might be worth a shot.

 

[AJP]

Had a pair of bluebirds checking out the box this morning, but did not go in. Hoping they come back!

Lots of interesting reading here if anyone is interested: http://audubon-omaha.org/bestofbbml/monofilament.htm

 

[Bird_Bill]

Had a pair of bluebirds checking out the box this morning, but did not go in. Hoping they come back!

Emailed link to friend to try out on martin box. Seems good to go so far. Is very labor intensive. We're going to build a break away pole for house to mount at top and install late fall/winter. Makes cleaning and mounting new mono easier, yearly. Can block entrance holes during off season which helps a lot.

 

[abbysmom]

We are using fishing line on our blue bird house right now and it has been very successful. The bluebirds don't seem to mind it and we have not had any HOSP bothering them thus far, even though I often see them in the area. The lines coming down near the entrance are taut, so there is no risk of them becoming tangled. The bluebirds always approach the entrance hole with wings folded, so I'm not sure that they even take notice of it's presence. It seems like a nice way to help keep the bluebirds safe and, from what we can tell, they are not bothered by it.

 

[etudiant]

Purple Martins will nest happily in a collection of gourds hanging from a line, which HS will not.
So while there is the problem of needing to replace the gourds after the nesting season, rather than just cleaning out the houses, at least there is the comfort that one is not just setting up another apartment building for Starlings or HS.
There are special entry holes available for Purple martin houses, shaped somewhat like a quarter moon on its side, that are supposedly unattractive to Starlings and HS, but I've not seen any independent verification of that.