Sparrows eating mortar between bricks of neighbour's house

Question

Hi 
 I feed the birds in my garden all year round. In addition to other types of bird, we now have between 30-40 sparrows who visit the garden on a daily basis. The foods placed in the garden are peanuts, sunflower hearts and dried mealworms. My neighbour has complained that the sparrows are eating the mortar between the bricks on her house. She says she has placed buckets of sand in her garden to act as a deterrent, but so far this has been ineffective. Also, both our gardens are regularly visited by a sparrowhawk who usually catches two or more sparrows. I should be grateful if anyone is able to offer advice or suggestions. With regard to sand, does it need to be a specific type? Thank you.

DartRay · Accepted Answer

I would suggest that your 'neighbour', and perhaps yourself, should suspend 'cuttlefish' on a string beneath the 'soffat', or 'gutter', of the house being attacked. This would not only supply the seasonal dietary requirement of the 'sparrows', it would also make it more difficult for a 'sparrow hawk' attack. 
Kind regards, Ray Dart (AKA suricat).

Catlady · Answer

I had a look for you Erica. They do this as they lack calcium, which they need to produce good egg shells. Suggestions are, to leave out a pile of course sand, you can also add finley cruched eggs shells to the sand, somewhere near to where they are pecking.