Sparrows not nesting

Don't know, Kat, but none of the Sparrows appear to be nesting here either. No signs of nesting material being taken to appropriate nesting sites although lots of Sparrow activity at the feeders.

Maybe the odd weather conditions  - mild March and a cold April? - or a bit too early for Sparrow nesting?

I don't know the answer either.

However, my gang are nesting. They have collected fluff and feathers, and both sexes are now collecting mealworms rather than eating them so I guess they have nestlings somewhere.

I have seen sparrows taking the fluffy bits off the pampas grasses which are in my front garden to line their nests, but no sign of them nesting in my garden so far!

But I get sparrows on the bird table and feeders every day, and have done all through the winter.

I installed a sparrow box under my eves which I'm unable to access without a lot of effort. I had placed a little finely shredded paper in the bottom of each compartment and saw this had been removed and scattered in our garden on two separate occasions. I have an inkling that blue tits are responsible. I've seen no evidence of birds entering or leaving the boxes since, but would the birds go to so much effort if they were not intending to use them?

Firstly it is not too early for nesting, most house sparrows are well on their way to rearing tehir first brood, some may have fledglings already. As for the reasons for not using a specific nest site, parastites or other problems with the cavity itself such as damp or disturbance may be possible explanations however there is still plenty of time for the nest site to be used. If other changes in the area such as loss of habitat and shelter i.e. tree felling, loss of hedgerows etc might have mad ethe area non-viable for the nesting birds.

John, if you see nest material being removed it usually is a preliminary action before nesting takes place. As mentioned above, periods of bad weather or the loss of a mate can put the breaks on nesting attempts. Keep an eye to see if you notice any birds ferrying food back and forth in the coming weeks as they may resume if conditions allow.

We're thinking maybe parasites have built up in there, nothing else has changed and even when there was a big change (some conifers that were damaging the foundations of the house) the sparrows weren't bothered.  

They've been there since before my aunt got the house but were in low numbers, the last couple of of years though they've boomed in number so we're thinking maybe it is parasites that have built up especially with the mild winter.  If it is, is there any way of treating the area to reduce the parasites so they can use the site again?