[mou] House Sparrows

[Matt Baumann]

As a person trying to aid bluebirds in my backyard, I was lucky enough to 
get a pair of bluebirds to nest in my backyard last year. This year a pair 
of bluebirds has been trying to establish themselves in one of two nest 
boxes: a Peterson style (where they nested 2005) and a Gilbertson (this 
years addition). Unfortunately, a single male house sparrow has been 
aggressively defending both nest boxes and I fear may be gaining the upper 
hand. And also unfortunately air guns are probably banned within the city 
limits (But a Gilbertson Universal trap is on order !).

Being observant, I have noticed that there several factors aiding house 
sparrow populations to thrive in my neighborhood and probably yours:

1) People feeding primarily millet seed in their bird feeders.

2) People with neglected purple martin houses and those cutsey bird houses 
(often pink and color and with a perch!).

My point is that the good intentions of those trying to aid native cavity 
nesters are often usurped by the albeit good, but probably ignorant 
intentions of others. And herein lies a tough problem for us to resolve.

Matt Baumann
Winona, MN