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Sparrow in nesting box

Jackielab
26/04/2023 12:00

Hi Everyone I’m new here and have seen how helpful you all are!

we’ve watched a blue tit build her nest recently and we were away for a week after Easter and on our return activity seemed to have stopped!  However over the weekend I’ve noticed their return to the box and this morning early the blue tit was sat on the box and later as I came out of my garage I saw a sparrow exit the box but I have since seen the tit come out again too!

This box was brought from our last house and had several successful nestings in that garden however sparrows were not common in that area!  I would like to know if we can put a plate on the box today/tomorrow or will this discourage the blue tits further - I don’t know what’s in the box as we don’t have a camera but I am concerned about the sparrow situation.  The box also has a peg which has never been a problem at the other location but I know larger birds like them for access but we could also remove this!

What is the best action to take in your wise opinions?

Many thanks

Jackie Blush

  • 26/04/2023 12:47

    Hi Jackie , welcome to the forum...things are a tad quiet on here the now with all eyes on the Ospreys! Lol

    I believe its too late in the day (breeding season has already begun)to be interfering with the nest box and it may well be a battle for the box with the tits and sparrows this year.

    Interference could cause abandonment 

    you  will need to wait until end of breeding season (usually September time) to make any modifications to it am afraid

    Not sure about the peg though so perhaps someone else can advice you on that as none of my boxes have pegs.

    (Pardon the Scottish Accent)

  • 27/04/2023 03:22 in reply to Linda257
    Hello from Japan,

    We have a tit box in our garden, at a height of about three meters, attached to a persimmon tree. For several years, coal tits nested in it successfully.

    But for about the last five years, there were no nestings even though we took the box down and cleaned it every year.

    So we were very pleased yesterday to see a pair of coal tits visiting the box
    photos.app.goo.gl/rT9rXhZoVqcARPRP8

    However, this morning about four sparrows have been grouping around the box. One even tried to enter it (although the hole was too small for it). While we try not to "discriminate" against sparrows, we would prefer to have the tits nesting. And I have heard that sparrows can sometimes eat the chicks in tits' nests.

    Do you have any ideas as to how we can keep the sparrows away, while not deterring the coal tits?

    Thank you for your help
    Susan Y
  • 27/04/2023 08:42 in reply to Susan Y
    Hi Susan,

    All the way from Japan ! Welcome to the forum from me in Bonny Scotland. Your birdbox visitors are actually Great tits and not coal tits ..As long as the hole is too small for the sparrows to enter the box am afraid there is nothing else that can be done that I know of to deter them.

    Fingers crossed for a successful nest this year

    (Pardon the Scottish Accent)

  • 27/04/2023 10:26 in reply to Linda257
    Hello Linda,
    Thank you for your quick reply and for identifying the type of tit (we are very ignorant).

    Unfortunately later this morning we saw a sparrow fly into the hole.
    Therefore we decided to take down the box and have a look inside
    photos.app.goo.gl/Zbv7kfqFfA9q1cCQ9

    We think that it is probably a sparrow's nest rather than a tit's nest. Do you agree?

    Anyway we realise that it is necessary to make the diameter of the hole smaller (it is presently 30mm) and we are working on that.
    We live in hope!

    Susan
    PS It is nice to "talk" to someone from Scotland.
  • 27/04/2023 10:34 in reply to Susan Y
    It would be unlawful to carryout such a drastic measure if you were in the UK as all birds and their nests are protected during breeding season!
    However I have no knowledge of the laws in Japan.

    I think you will now have likely caused confusion to the birds by removing the box and possible abandonment of the nest.

    (Pardon the Scottish Accent)

  • 27/04/2023 23:12
    Thank you for your advice. It is good that birds are protected in such a way in the UK. As far as I know, there are no such laws in Japan. Wild birds seem to be more plentiful here than in the UK

    But I think that you are right that there is now a lot of confusion for the birds of all types. We shall have to wait for next year. In the meantime we will continue with our bird feeders.

    Best wishes
    Susan