Should a month of empty feeder be enough to discourage house sparrows? (1 Viewer)

[New Daddy]

Unlike last year, house sparrows have been a problem at my backyard feeder this year, depleting precious sunflower seeds and, in my opinion, displacing other native regular visitors.

So I've kept the feeder empty for the last five-plus weeks. I haven't seen house sparrows at the feeder lately either. Should I wait a little longer until the location-based memory is completely erased in those pesky birds?

 

[Merlin]

Hi New Daddy

I am sorry that you feel about House Sparrows in that way, here in parts of the UK their numbers have decreased drasticly. I remember as a lad feeling the way that you do now,
but in recent years I have come to appreciate and welcome them into my garden.
I hope that the House Sparrows have a future and take a moment to remember why they are in America at all. I will miss them just like the early settlers did.

best regards
Merlin

 

[Mysticete]

House Sparrows are not a native species and (with Starlings) often displace native birds from tree cavities and such. I wouldn't mind at all if House Sparrows became extirpated from the country, although that is probably never going to happen. They may have declined in parts of the country but in most areas they are still abundant (If I walk a couple of blocks I could probably log over 50 without really trying).

As for House Sparrows at feeders, I suspect they will eventually find your feeders again. The best option would probably be to research what foods they dislike but other birds like, go with finch feeders or other designs that negate House Sparrow access, or install extra feeders so there is less likely hood of them crowding out other birds.

 

[blueballoon]

Hey,

Completely new to birdfeeding, but I saw this while thinking about the possibility of HOSPs.

http://www.amazon.com/Bird-X-Sparrow-Free-Magic-Halo/dp/B0019Y0YU2

Never tried it, but some say it works...

 

[feathersfeeder]

Just try watching these these birds and you will soon learn to appreciate their personalities, their fantastic character and their attraction to the feeders will show that your feeders are safe to eat at and you will have an array of birds all day long. I have in the middle of an estate and throughout the year I see sparrows, starllings, magpies, wood pigeons, collared doves, great, blue, coal, long tailed tits, robin, wren, dunnock, green and gold finch, great spotted woodpecker, sparrowhawk, rook, crow, jackdaw, fieldfare, redwing, chaffinch, chiffchaff, goldcrest, moorhen blackbird, brambling. I have had on occasion raven, firecrest, meadow pipit. All because I feed all year round.

 

[Merlin]

House Sparrows perhaps are not Native species but neither are millions of Americans, and it is almost certainly true that many House Sparrows had ancestors in America a lot longer than millions of Americans today.

So they may not be a Native species?
Based upon that, neither are millions of Americans?

In any event past and recent history tells us that being a real Native American is not always the best thing to be and how many nest holes have Native Americans been deprived of?

Sincerely,
Best regards to all my American friends and that includes the American albeit immigrant House Sparrows.
(Remember like so many others they were never asked if they wanted to go)

Merlin

 

[New Daddy]

House Sparrows perhaps are not Native species but neither are millions of Americans, and it is almost certainly true that many House Sparrows had ancestors in America a lot longer than millions of Americans today.

So they may not be a Native species?
Based upon that, neither are millions of Americans?

In any event past and recent history tells us that being a real Native American is not always the best thing to be and how many nest holes have Native Americans been deprived of?

Sincerely,
Best regards to all my American friends and that includes the American albeit immigrant House Sparrows.
(Remember like so many others they were never asked if they wanted to go)

Merlin

I absolutely resent your attempt at putting a political spin on this thread. Does that make you feel good about yourself? Did you read my OP? I don't welcome house sparrows because of their voracious appetite and the obvious correlation between their emergence and the disappearance of other native birds. I use a squirrel-proof bird feeder not because the squirrels are not native, but because they deplete the precious seeds quickly.

Take your self-righteousness elsewhere.

 

[PixelBloke]

If you put out feeders then what right do you have to say who will benefit and who will not. Aren't all birds voracious feeders? I've yet to see an obese sparrow! Try putting out a sign...No Sparrows Here!!! That should do the trick.

 

[fugl]

I absolutely resent your attempt at putting a political spin on this thread. Does that make you feel good about yourself? Did you read my OP? I don't welcome house sparrows because of their voracious appetite and the obvious correlation between their emergence and the disappearance of other native birds. I use a squirrel-proof bird feeder not because the squirrels are not native, but because they deplete the precious seeds quickly.

Take your self-righteousness elsewhere.

Learn to live with the House Sparrows, you're not going to get rid of them. And lighten up!

 

[NoSpringChicken]

I like House Sparrows and enjoy watching their antics as they use the feeders. However mine were spilling quite a lot of the seed as they fed and were emptying the feeders rather quickly.

I recently purchased a mesh type sunflower seed feeder, which is similar to the mesh peanut feeders. The birds have got used to it now and the Sparrows still feed from it but, as they have to extricate each seed individually, there is a lot less wastage. The Tits and Finches are very accomplished at picking out the seeds so they get their share. The consumption of seed has now reduced to about a fifth of what it was. Just a thought.

Ron

 

[Rags]

Dude, Just buy more seed!!! and forget about the native vs non native rubbish.

many birds begin as non native and over time grow to become a wonderfully loved local species.

you should be glad they are coming to visit your garden at all, Nature doesn't believe in human boundaries and certainly shouldn't be restricted by them.

and as for the Political bits Merlin is correct and you can throw your toys out your pram as much as you like, but it will still be true.

 

[fugl]

The native/non-native dichotomy is a false one as applied to House Sparrows which are not "native" to particular geographical areas but are native to us & have been since the Old World Neolithic. If & when we revert to a hunting & gathering way of life, or we degrade our environment even more thoroughly than it's already been so there's no longer a place for them, they might disappear. Otherwise they're here to stay.

 

[Merlin]

Hi New Daddy

I am sorry if my comments offend you, they were never meant to.

I been accused of many things but never self-righteous and I personally have no political platform at all.
I just remember growing up years ago when Sparrows were very common in the UK and like others regarded them as a nuisance. Now they are scarce in many parts of the UK and I have recently moved to an area where there are small pockets of Sparrows and I am now pleased that my visit my feeders. They are always hungry but I have never in over forty years had any damage to my feeders by Sparrows. I do have a problem with Doves and Starlings but in a way I am still grateful that they visit my garden as well.

I visit the US every year and have American relatives, I always enjoy great birding in the US.

Regards

Merlin

 

[Mysticete]

yeah I think this is part of the difficulty.

I was in England this past summer. In London itself I saw ONE House Sparrow, near the airport. I recall seeing a few at feeders at Titchwell on both occasions.

As mentioned previously, I can walk around my neighborhood and with little real effort get a couple of hundred, especially in winter, where they swarm the dense bushes in my neighborhood. They can be aggressive and drive away native species...I certainly think the impact the local sparrows, all of which are much more rarer in my neighborhood than I think they would be otherwise. I am sure the Brits here would be less happy with an introduced exotic that drove off all their Dunnock and Blue Tits from feeders.

Despite the tone of this post, I really don't mind House Sparrows too much. They are cute and don't seem to like natural habitats, and make great hawk food. Much more likable than Starlings, which do well EVERYWHERE from what I have seen, and are also aggressive competitors.

If you really don't like House Sparrows, switch to finch feeders, which I don't think they do as well on. Also one site mentioned to switch to safflower seed, which house sparrows don't like but native birds do, and avoid millet, which is another house sparrow favorite.

 

[New Daddy]

Hi New Daddy

I am sorry if my comments offend you, they were never meant to.

I been accused of many things but never self-righteous and I personally have no political platform at all.
I just remember growing up years ago when Sparrows were very common in the UK and like others regarded them as a nuisance. Now they are scarce in many parts of the UK and I have recently moved to an area where there are small pockets of Sparrows and I am now pleased that my visit my feeders. They are always hungry but I have never in over forty years had any damage to my feeders by Sparrows. I do have a problem with Doves and Starlings but in a way I am still grateful that they visit my garden as well.

I visit the US every year and have American relatives, I always enjoy great birding in the US.

Regards

Merlin

Hi Merlin,

Thanks for clearing the air. Since you had no intention of seeding (no pun intended) political agenda into the thread, no apology is necessary. No harm, no foul (again, no pun intended). I'd also like to retract my harsh initial reactions, which I regret based on your clarification. I think this is an example where internet conversation inevitably fails to deliver the true connotation of the speaker, due to the absence of gestures, facial expressions, or tone to supplement the words.

As to house sparrows: as you probably know, house sparrows are NOT sparrows but wrens. So when you said "Sparrows", I assume you only meant house sparrows, not "real" sparrows. I love real sparrows, by the way, and feel they are being displaced by House Sparrows.

The crux of the dislike I have towards house sparrows is not so much that they are not native; it's because they are aggressive. Although I'm not a blue birder, blue birders hate them, because they are known to invade blue bird houses and even kill blue bird fledgling or destroy blue bird eggs, so the parent blue birds would leave the empty bird house. There is even a video of such attack on the internet.

When I go to local home depots, I can easily find house sparrows rip grain packages and feast. Easily seen at any home depot. I've seen no other birds do that. Most importantly, the house sparrows in my backyard definitely contributed to the decline in the diversity of visitors.

Best.

 

[New Daddy]

If you really don't like House Sparrows, switch to finch feeders, which I don't think they do as well on. Also one site mentioned to switch to safflower seed, which house sparrows don't like but native birds do, and avoid millet, which is another house sparrow favorite.

Thanks for your suggestion. I already made a big investment in my squirrel-proof feeder, so I'm a little hesitant to buy another one. But maybe I'll have to try a finch feeder next year.

I only use sunflower, no millet, and it does attract house sparrows. I doubt safflower would be different.

 

[Merlin]

Mysticete & New Daddy

Thanks for some interesting information and comments.

best regards

Merlin

 

[Mysticete]

FYI New Daddy, House Sparrows are not related to wrens, but rather have no close relatives in the new world.

 

[LabradorDuck]

I don't have any experience with this myself, but I have heard that certain squirrel-proof feeders can discourage House Sparrows. With models like this House Sparrows that arrive in large numbers can add enough weight to shut off the flow. Some people leave a pile of millet on the ground away from their main feeder so the sparrows don't bother the other birds so much. On the subject of safflower seed, I have seen House Sparrows eat it, so YMMV.

House Sparrows aren't going to be gone from North America anytime soon, but I still think it's worth doing what we can to help native species on a local level. Nest cavities are probably much more important than food supplies, though, and if you live in a dense urban area there may not be other species around to appreciate your help on any front.