I have seen too many decapitated tree swallows to have any sympathy at all
for house sparrows.  House sparrows have no place on any tree swallow grid
or bluebird trail.  If I find out that one is trying to use a box that I
monitor, it will meet the same fate that Darlene described in an earlier
email.

At one of the parks where I monitor boxes, I have actually had people thank
me for killing house sparrows because they eat the food left out for
cardinals and finches.  I have been known to set a ground trap in front of
my apartment because the house sparrows eat the food meant for the house
finches goldfinches, and cardinals.

I have some boxes that are being used by bluebirds and tree swallows only
because I took the time to get rid of the house sparrows.  I know of one
tree swallow that was trapped in a box at Traphagen by a house sparrow that
survived to fledge 5 young only because the monitor of that grid showed up
at just the right second.

Tree swallows and bluebirds are both insectivorous during the warmer months.
There are plenty of other birds that are insectivores so we don't need house
sparrows for insect control.

Al La Sala
House Sparrow Exterminator
Columbus, OH

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Craig
Moore
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 1:28 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [Ohio-birds] House Sparrow in Franklin County

After reading that someone wishing the Cooper's hawks would concentrate on
eating House Sparrows, I wanted to mention that a female house sparrow was
seen in my back yard on Saturday eating a Japaneese Beetle. One invasive
species eating another.

I usually want to eradicate the house sparrows. Now I'm going to have to
ponder this some more to see if they can really help me control bugs. I
think leaving the  feeder empty is a must to keep them hungry enough to
eat the beetles. Has anyone else found a use for house sparrows?

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