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We are getting sparrows too but also all the normal birds that hang out in the winter. We have always taken in the bird houses before winter but left one out to watch and a sparrow is loving it. We were not getting much action on one of the thistle feeders so I enlarged the holes to the same size as another and it seems to have worked.
Sparrows still tormenting me. . I have read they don't care for the striped sunflower seeds. I'll try that next. Also ordered something different to hang from the fishing wire. Little prisms. Maybe they won't like the light reflections? Could be, but don't want to discourage other birds. Will give it a try.
Another option, I read. Offer cracked corn and a feeder just for them set about 30' away from other feeders. I'd really rather they just find another food source.
Try scattering millet and cracked corn on the ground under a tree at least 30 feet from your feeders. House sparrows are naturally ground feeders so this strategy should keep them busy for a while. Replace sunflower seeds with safflower to discourage them at feeders.
House sparrows prefer to feed on the ground or on large, stable hopper or platform feeders; remove these feeder styles to discourage house sparrows from visiting. Instead, use clinging mesh feeders, socks, or tube feeders with perches shorter than 5/8 of an inch to prevent house sparrows from perching easily.
I thought of getting cracked corn....I have safflower seed they will eat that, but not as quickly. I'll see if the striped sunflower seed slows them down. They even feed on the thistle socks...The feeders have perches, but the perches are needed as the feeders are spring loaded, so weight on the perch closes the port when the squirrel comes to call.
Bird feeding challenge! I had a real good run with the sparrows not being much of an issue until the fall.
Sparrows? Bad? What is better that you WANT? I am not fond of Magpies because they're pigs and mean to the little birds. I'm fine with little birds and Jays: scrub, blue or Steller's!
^Magpies on my deck.
Today I had dark eyed Juncos migrating through. Not my photo following...
Hmm my dark eyed juncos are mostly gray with white belly.
I welcome just about all birds except for sparrows. They are pigs and bullies and scare away other birds. I'll get 10, 20, 30 sparrows at once. Meanwhile, the visits by chickadees, titmouse, nuthatches, cardinals, are less frequent, though woodpeckers show the sparrows the way off the feeders. My feeders are spring loaded so that mostly keeps away the grackles and other birds that show up in the summer, cowbirds, starlings, etc.
Hmm my dark eyed juncos are mostly gray with white belly.
I welcome just about all birds except for sparrows. They are pigs and bullies and scare away other birds. I'll get 10, 20, 30 sparrows at once. Meanwhile, the visits by chickadees, titmouse, nuthatches, cardinals, are less frequent, though woodpeckers show the sparrows the way off the feeders. My feeders are spring loaded so that mostly keeps away the grackles and other birds that show up in the summer, cowbirds, starlings, etc.
We definitely have different birds at our feeders.
We have a couple birds that have discovered themselves on our sliding door into our bedroom. They keep flying into it, over and over and over. Scare them away and 15 minutes later they are back. They even wake us up in the morning. I taped pictures of cats in the window, nope didn’t work. I’d like to whack them with a tennis racquet, and I love birds, but this is getting old.
We have a couple birds that have discovered themselves on our sliding door into our bedroom. They keep flying into it, over and over and over. Scare them away and 15 minutes later they are back. They even wake us up in the morning. I taped pictures of cats in the window, nope didn’t work. I’d like to whack them with a tennis racquet, and I love birds, but this is getting old.
For your reading pleasure.... let us know if you try something and how it works.
11-23-2021, 04:36 PM
. I have read they don't care for the striped sunflower seeds. I'll try that next. Also ordered something different to hang from the fishing wire. Little prisms. Maybe they won't like the light reflections? Could be, but don't want to discourage other birds. Will give it a try.
them.....
I had a real good run with the sparrows not being much of an issue until the fall.
