Violet-Green Swallow: 1/8 hole? (2 Viewers)

[Abbygirl]

Violet-Green Swallow: 1" and 1/8 hole?

We have put in a 1/8 new hole. And the Violet-green swallows have been trying to get in or just looking to see if the bird house is empty. So My question is can a VioletGreen swallow fit into a 1'" & 1/8' hole? THanks for any help. I guess i'm not sure which birds will fit into that size hole.

 

[Katy Penland]

You mean a hole 1/8" in diameter? No, that's not nearly big enough for any swallow. You might try Googling "swallow nest boxes"; there's a ton of info on the internet on how big the hole has to be, where it has to be positioned, and even instructions for how to make different kinds of nest boxes. Unless one of our members has this specific info handy and can share...?

 

[Abbygirl]

Yes I mean a 1/8 hole diameter. That explains why they try to getin the bird house and can't get in. I wonder why they keep trying day after day after day. I just hope other birds that fit in will go in soon. I'm surprised that they haven't given up and realize that they won't fit in the bird house.

the only reason we don't want any bigger size is because we are trying to discrage bigger birds THe House Sparrows. which are a 1/4 size diameter. I think they are the same size as the violet green swallow's. but the house sparrows keep coming back adn they can't get it at all.

So I hope that whoever is suppose to be in the bird house will soon come in!!
THanks again!

 

[Katy Penland]

Joyce, there's no bird species on earth that could fit into a 1/8" or even a 1/4" diameter hole. Please look at the table at the bottom of the page at the below link, and you'll see that all holes are a minimum of 1" in diameter for even the smallest birds, such as Violet-green Swallow. I think you're confusing the access hole diameters with ventilation hole sizes.


http://www.prbo.org/cms/index.php?mid=186&module=browse


As for keeping the House Sparrows out, what you'll have to do is monitor the nest box, and if a sparrow gets in, you'll have to remove it. That's one problem with providing artificial nesting sites for wildlife: You can't always get only the species you desire. :t:

 

[Abbygirl]

Ya, what I meant to say was (sorry i'm a newby at this ) was 1" and 1/8th (Not the 1/8 small hole sorry.

and the birds that can go inside that I saw somewhere online are (and this is the link that I got it from someone else on this site!) http://www.50birds.com/D50BH.htm

Pigmy Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Black-capped Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Now the only thing is that we notice yellow jackets going into the bird house. yikes. I just hope they don't build a nest inside.

Joyce

 

[chippingsparrow]

... the only reason we don't want any bigger size is because we are trying to discrage bigger birds THe House Sparrows. which are a 1/4 size diameter. I think they are the same size as the violet green swallow's. but the house sparrows keep coming back adn they can't get it at all./QUOTE]

Abbygirl, Check out this House Sparrow Deterrent: http://members.tripod.com/~herper/mbahospdeter

I would immediately drill out the hole to 1-1/2" before the swallows give up trying. Good luck! let us know how it all turns out.

 

[Abbygirl]

Thank you very much for the info. So the Myler won't scare away the swallow's or the other birds? just the house sparrow's? I've heard of the Myler before. I just needed a link like you gave me. TY very much.

 

[chippingsparrow]

Will the mylar will scare away the swallows or not. Not sure, haven't had direct experience with that, but I think it's worth a try. If they're spooked too, you could tie the mylar down. Then, once they're nested, let it flap to discourage the sparrows. Apart from shooting the sparrows, or trapping them, what else can one do? Good luck! Let us know how it turns out.

 

[chippingsparrow]

... I guess i'm not sure which birds will fit into that size hole.

Earmark this website for nest box specifications:

http://www.birdnature.com/nestbox.html

 

[Katy Penland]

Great link there, Chippingsparrow! Many thanks and it's prominently bookmarked. :t:

 

[Abbygirl]

awesome!

 

[Abbygirl]

I haven't put up the sparrow spooker but but have found the spooker thingy at a garage sale since none of the local stores carried the Mylar. But i haven't been feeling to well and weekends that we have time to make it have been going nuts. Please Send me a private message If I haven't posted anything in a while about this to see if I have done anything about this in my yard. I would like to keep you informed about this. Because I would like to know also if the sparrow spooker works and to let you know if it works so you can try it where you live also!

 

[Abbygirl]

Hey good news all. The Violet green swallows this memorial day weekend 2006 this morning actually went into the 1" and 1/8" hole bird house! The and the house sparrows can no longer get in. Yippi! the house sparrows try to but they can't thankfully.

The Swallows have been today putting in nesting material. I'm just shocked with disbelief with joy that they are getting inside that whole! I did get some pictures with them with nesting materials getting ready to go into the whole. but not coming out cause they are way to fast.

So I didn't need to make the Sparrow spooker's after all.