Sparrow Just Hanging Out - Threat?

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Michelle
Posts: 20
Joined: Sun Jun 07, 2020 7:45 pm
Location: NE Ohio

Hi Members,

I have a question on sparrows. I am hopeful that this wil finally be my year in NE Ohio! I have successfully controlled the nesting sparrow situation in my house, however there is a pesky male that sits on the perches and chirps all day long. Will this affect the Purple Martins from coming to the house? What should I do?

Thanks,
Michelle
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Mstan
Posts: 162
Joined: Tue Apr 16, 2024 7:52 pm
Location: Missouri
Martin Colony History: 2023- 2 racks. 24 gourds
2024- 2 racks.28 gourds. 100 fledged
2025- 3 racks. 24 gourds,6 chirpy nest.105 fledged.

Hello Michelle. Congratulations on controlling the sparrows nesting in your area. This pesky sparrow has bad intentions . He wants to take a gourd and make it his own. Don’t allow him to perch on your gourds and chirp. Run him off every time you see or hear him. A pellet gun would be a handy tool. I don’t give a hosp any peace. I hope you have a blessed season with Martins. Thank you for providing them a home.
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Thomas Maddox
Posts: 580
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2021 5:23 pm
Location: Sulphur, Louisiana

I agree with Stan. Don't tolerate them period. Shoot and-or trap. Im not the best shooter, but there have been a few that I've shot at and missed several times. It was enough to run him off. Now, if he had already made a nest(and especially if babies or eggs were present), it wouldn't have been enough. It would have to be eliminated. Keep up the great work!
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Michelle
Posts: 20
Joined: Sun Jun 07, 2020 7:45 pm
Location: NE Ohio

Thank you Stan and Thomas. I will try to scare them off when I see them, thanks for the advice. What about the bluebirds? I have a bluebird box in the area which is taken by a couple raising 1 baby. They sometimes fly to the PM house as a lookout for food. Last year I had a PM visitor and it had a tussle with a bluebird and never came back.

This is stressful!
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Mstan
Posts: 162
Joined: Tue Apr 16, 2024 7:52 pm
Location: Missouri
Martin Colony History: 2023- 2 racks. 24 gourds
2024- 2 racks.28 gourds. 100 fledged
2025- 3 racks. 24 gourds,6 chirpy nest.105 fledged.

I’m far from an expert , but what I have found with the bluebirds is that as long as they have a box they shouldn’t be a threat. I have a pair of bluebirds with a box about 50’ from gourd rack. The bluebirds like to perch on the gourd rods. I don’t bother them because they have their own box. With that being said I closely monitor bluebirds early to make sure they don’t select a gourd. Once bluebirds settle on box provided I don’t see them as a threat anymore.
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Michelle
Posts: 20
Joined: Sun Jun 07, 2020 7:45 pm
Location: NE Ohio

I think they are the only bluebird pair around this year, so hopefully they are set for the season in their box. I will continue to monitor the situation! Thanks Stan.
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flyin-lowe
Posts: 3789
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

Depends on what you call a threat. The sparrows are a threat to actually causing physical harm to birds and eggs. Blue birds will not physically harm the martins or eggs but they would be a threat as far as running off visiting martins if you don't have an established colony. If the blue birds have already started nesting in their own box, it's likely they are just using the martin housing to perch and hunt from.
2026 HOSP 28
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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Michelle
Posts: 20
Joined: Sun Jun 07, 2020 7:45 pm
Location: NE Ohio

Ok, I think the bluebirds are just hunting then since they already have the nest.

They originally had the nest IN the PM house (no eggs) so I moved it to the box and they found it. Keeping a good eye on that T14!
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Martintown33
Posts: 1366
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
Location: Laplace,La
Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack

Hi Michelle..as far as the male HOSP, he is always a threat.. he could enter a compartment and poke holes in eggs or kill hatchlings at any time.. I would shoot him.. as far as the bluebirds.. as they are nesting and feeding their own young in their box, they have no interest in our martins.. my BBs use the Martin racks as hunting perches all the time.. no issue there..
Good luck
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
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Michelle
Posts: 20
Joined: Sun Jun 07, 2020 7:45 pm
Location: NE Ohio

Martintown33 wrote: ↑
Wed May 14, 2025 11:26 am
 Hi Michelle..as far as the male HOSP, he is always a threat.. he could enter a compartment and poke holes in eggs or kill hatchlings at any time.. I would shoot him.. as far as the bluebirds.. as they are nesting and feeding their own young in their box, they have no interest in our martins.. my BBs use the Martin racks as hunting perches all the time.. no issue there..
Good luck
Rob
Turns out, the sparrow found a mate and they started building in a compartment! Now I have a trap in there, should be easy to get them now. I will be sure not to tolerate the sparrows on the perches. Thanks Rob.
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Martintown33
Posts: 1366
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
Location: Laplace,La
Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack

Hi Michelle.. Oh yea! If they’re building a nest.. your trap will get them!
Good luck
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
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Thomas Maddox
Posts: 580
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2021 5:23 pm
Location: Sulphur, Louisiana

If you don't immediately get them, once they lay eggs, you for sure will.
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