House sparrow advice wanted

[Ken D]

For my 70th birthday I was treated to a house sparrow 'colony' of four separate nest boxes (correct hole size) which I had put up about 2-3 feet apart high under the eaves of NW facing wall in early March.
There is a nice little colony of House Sparrows 50 yards away up the road and I thought my new boxes would attract.
To date one pair has produced two broods on ANOTHER wall (first time I've had House Sparrows) in what I think is an entirely unsuitable site crammed behind a rainwater down pipe. In addition a male has been shouting his wares on next door neighbour's house about an even worse site!
So they're all about.
My boxes have been ignored.
Why?
Was I too late getting them up?
Will they come to their senses next year?

[Feathers]

The advice I read/heard was that House Sparrows like to nest colonially but not too close to each other. If all the entrance holes are facing the same way, this might put them off (the terrace designs I've seen have the two end-box holes facing outwards (i.e. at 90 degrees to the central box) - see link below. They also like perches at the entrance apparently so they can mill about outside and proclaim their patch.

NE/SE-facing aspects limit the effects of prevailing wind and rain from the west too but it might just be that they need a bit of 'weathering' before they come up to scratch on the passerine property market.

http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/factshe...usesparrow.php

Cheers
Chris

[Ken D]

Thanks Chris
I heard about 'too close' so had the nest boxes fixed 2-3 feet apart.
There are some handy telephone/electricity lines passing within a few feet and the boxes are sheltered up under overhanging eaves with nice 'perchy' guttering just above.
Guess I'll just have to wait and see next year.

[Diane E]

Hi Ken,

Maybe the sparrows will roost in the boxes in the winter and then the boxes will be 'just so' next spring. I do hope so! And I hope you are not a light sleeper when they do 'move in'. Those sparrow nestlings can sure yell, can't they? I can hear mine from the other side of the house when they get going

Did you want sparrows especially?

[Feathers]

Originally Posted by Diane E

And I hope you are not a light sleeper when they do 'move in'. Those sparrow nestlings can sure yell, can't they?

Especially when they're trying to out-yell the swift nestlings in the dorm nextdoor...

[catalaze]

I hope you had a Happy Birthday! Yes, do want House Sparrows because, as you might have read, they are getting rarer nationally and need all the help they can get. You might be right in thinking it was a little late getting boxes up this year. However, regardless of the standard advice on siting, I would also wonder if the place they are sited catches the wind. This does put birds off when choosing nesting places and if this is a problem, then re-locating the boxes would be a good idea. As long as the boxes aren't catching the sun for most of the day (the nest would get too hot), direction is not that important. Distance sounds fine, too.

Other things that will help are providing food and water.

FOOD
Lack of food with easy access is another factor reducing population sizes in House Sparrows. Mixed seeds are good. They will take food from a bird table or from hanging seed feeders. A ground level table (basically a washable platform raised on little legs) would probably be most popular.

WATER
A decent-sized bird bath (with sloping sides) would also be popular, as these sparrows enjoy bathing as well as needing to drink. If you have a garden pond, you could see if there is anything to be done about improving the access for birds. Really shallow edges (only a couple of inches deep) will attract birds and mass bathing sessions of House Sparrows can be a daily and highly amusing spectacle.

All of these things will help popularise your nestboxes as, in addition to the actual nest site, you will also be providing everything a sparrow needs to raise a family.

HEDGES or hedge-like trees are adored by sparrows. They give them cover and somewhere to socialise. Quite honestly, the most popular gardens for sparrows that I have ever seen have included privet hedges or a variety of bushes in a hedgerow like arrangement.

Good Luck! House Sparrows can be great fun.

[Ken D]

Hi Diana
Yes, I did particularly want house sparrows because of their decline so I'm hopeful for next year!
Who cares about the noise!
Ken

[Ken D]

Got swifts next door too!
Ken

[Ken D]

Hi Catalaze
I think I've covered all the points you mention except water (we're going to look for suitable stone bird baths today).
The nest boxes are high up (three storey Victorian house) under the eaves, no direct sunshine until early evening, fairly sheltered from wind.
I have numerous hanging feeders in the garden including one permanently offering mixed seed which sparrows are now visiting regularly. Get wonderful variety of visitors, incl spotted woodpecker, blackcap, goldfinches, green finches, chaffinches, siskins in hard winter (none this year), great, blue and long tailed tits, as well as the 'normal' blackbirds, dunnock, robin, etc. (once had a goldcrest) all this half a mile from town centre!
Ken