Keeping sparrows away from bluebird house

A little over a week ago, our young bluebirds successfully left their home for good, and we cleaned and disinfected the house. We hoped that Mom and Dad would return for a second brood, and they did! We watched for 3 days as the bluebirds tried to build their nest in our newly cleaned-out bluebird house. Unfortunately, the lousy sparrows kept swooping in, chasing the bluebirds away. Now the bullies have claimed the house for themselves and have started several nests, which we've removed. We've ordered a sparrow trap, but it hasn't arrived yet. Should we continue to dismantle their nest in the hopes that they'll look elsewhere? If not, what is the best way to deter the sparrows and lure the bluebirds back?

hi 1alh1, Are you talking about House Sparrows? http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/House_Sparrow/id

If your positive that is what they are I would take a look over at the Sialis site to see what they say. House Sparrows can be very dangerous!

http://www.sialis.org/

Yes, I'm talking about House Sparrows (HOSP), not the chipping or song type. I looked through the Sialis site, but couldn't find anything about diverting or preventing HOSP from building nests in bluebird houses. The sparrow spooker can't be put up until after the bluebird has laid at least one egg. So my question is, should I keep dismantling the HOSP nests inside the house? I certainly don't want them to think that this is THEIR home! And I definitely don't want the bluebirds hurt in any way.

I am not an expert by any means but from what I understand if a House Sparrow becomes attached to a box it will be a fight to the death between the Blues and HOSP. Some of the recommendations I have heard about is plugging the hole and hope the Sparrows will move on and find another place to nest. Some people also take the box down if this doesn't work but of course then the Blues will also have to find a new place. It is such a touchy subject but if they are fighting I am fairly certain the Sparrow will win.

One of the things I used this year is the monofilament lines as shown on the Sialis sight. The monofilament is put up before the box is claimed and is supposed to deter the House Sparrows. It was successful on the box the Blues use in my yard and between that and the spooker after the first egg is laid the Sparrows haven't bothered that box at all. It did not work on another box and I think it was one the Sparrows had already become attached to.

Good luck...whatever you decide to do.

The Sialis site has a lot of material on HOSP control. Look on the far left-hand tab for 'House Sparrow Control.' My guess if that if the HOSP's have taken possession of the box and they catch one of the BB's in it, they will kill it. I'd plug up the entrance until I get things resolved. Better the BB's nest somewhere else than be killed.