Here's a great question. What is the number one bird that has caused the most Blue Bird destruction in the whole US? They are on my most wanted list.
Are you talking about predators like Hawks who catch the unsuspecting older birds or some snakes that slither into bird nest and houses to eat the eggs and chicks? Or possibly humans who by using chemicals on their yards and trees are killing off the birds.
Nope it's not Hawks, or snakes or the other things you had listed. I suppose they could have an effect on the Blue bird population though. It's only one single bird that has caused the most depredation with the Blue birds here in the US. That bird is smaller than the Blue bird.
I agree...sparrows is what I would pick. Now I have seen some things done to sparrows too, so I guess they all have predators. The sparrows biggest is humans in what I have read.
YES you are right. It is the sparrow. They are the biggest reason why Blue Birds are on the decline in the US. They will go into a Blue bird nest. Break all the eggs and then make their nest right on top of the destroyed eggs. If when they go into the Blue bird house the female is sitting on her eggs. The sparrow will kill her as well. They are not a native species to the US. and should be gotten rid of. I know, that that is a harsh stance to take. But I would rather have Blue birds the them. They will also invade a Martin housing unit. They will build their nest in one of the openings. Then they will go around to the other nests and destroy the eggs or kill the young of that bird also. They are one of the most destructive birds we have in the US when it comes to harming other bird species.
Brownheaded Cowbirds also are very detrimental to the whole songbird population. I chase them off anytime I see them at my feeders. They also need to be eradicated.
Yes that is very true. I am always on the look out for those bad birds also. I do a little more than just chase them away from my feeders. My Mom calls me Anny Oakley.
As I monitor my bird boxes in the spring I remove sparrow nests and resize the entrance with a pre-made hole preventing the sparrow from returning. Jerry
Jerry we to monitor our 8 Blue Bird houses also. I have actually put up a house for the sparrows to use away from the other houses. They lay eggs we remove them. It keeps them from going on a nest destroying rampage. I had read several articles on how if you continue to destroy their nests the male sparrow will go on a nest destroying rampage. I believe that is what happened to one of our Blue bird nests last year. So now we give them something to do with all those hormones. What size whole do you use? I would like to know as I build Blue bird houses. Thanks for the input. :-D
