Sparrows in roof.

[ollyhtafc]

Hello, i was wandering if anyone could answer me a question or two please.

I know i have sparrows in my roof (i have seen them flying in) but late at night (midnight and after) i hear scurrying noises which sound like something running from one side of the loft space to the other. Are these noises little fledglings training for the olympics or something else? I just can't imagine a sparrow would stray from it's nest that's all. Then again...i can't imagine that a sparrow would nest where there are mice/rats present.Am i wrong? Could it be mice/rats? Or simply sparrows.

If it helps i live next to a river (ideal habitat for a lot of animals!)

Thank you.

[The Latman]

Ive got sparrows in the roof eaves, so far they havent come into the actual loft. I had a similar experience, turned out to be field mice in my loft.

I dont know if the birds would actually scramble around the loft.

[ollyhtafc]

That's what i suspected...surely their instincts would be to remain in the nest (as if it were in a tree..).

I'm reluctant to enter the loft because i don't want to scare the sparrows too...

[dampflippers]

I think I would take a quick look. We get sparrows which only go into the soffit area, not the main roof.
You should be able to tell straight away if the sparrows are in the main roof space.
If not, have a look for droppings and or nests. Suspects might be mice, rats or squirrels, but also weasels. If you have bats, these wouldn't scurry across the floor.
Take your camera with you.

[The Latman]

Over the past few weeks ive been up and down to the loft, so far havent bothered the birds.

What will probably be happening is the mice will be coming in the same place the birds do.

[ollyhtafc]

ok i will (try) and take a look...
Whatever it is better stay up there as we have a house cat! I wouldn't want it getting hold of anything.

Thanks for your help...i shall report back...probably with rat droppings

[Nightranger]

Sounds like mice to me. Sparrows tend not to wander too much although starlings certainly do and I have often recovered youngsters from all over the house at a previous address.

[Doggle Avaddit]

I have squirrels running across my ceiling, maybe you do too.

[dampflippers]

If it's squirrels, then you might want to remove them. My mum had them and they did some serious chewing, including electric wiring.

Although I said bats wouldnt scurry accross, if you have them you might be able to hear some movement and social "chatter".