Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Wildlife Management House Sparrow [Weaver Finch] Management

My post cites some HOSP characteristics which demonstrate the effect of weaver finches on native birds. For wild bird enthusiasts - they are a major problem as they flock to feeders, prevent access of other species, and consume copious amounts of seed - which is not cheap.

If you would like to understand the effect of non-native invasive species on native species there's several studies performed by Universities, wildlife biologists [white perch, yellow bass, asian carp], horticulturists [parrotfeather, eurasian watermilfoil], and in this case, ornithologists regarding weaver finches and starlings.

Here's a good start for you:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw305

Teejay,
That's all fine and good. Just asking the question, thats all. Do you think you alone can make that big of an impact on the species? It just sounds like mother nature doing what it does best. Be careful of the electrical element. When my oldest daughter was about 4yrs old, she unknowingly grabbed a hot wire on an electric fence....she's fine, but was not for a time...
Charlie

I sympathize with you, TJ!

I can't count how many times I've cleaned out a bluebird house where the sparrows had nested right on top of the natives and kicked them out. They do the same to our purple martin house. They also infested our barn until we taught a cat to climb a ladder to get to their nests.

I don't have a good suggestion for eradication. There are certain seeds you can use that they don't like so much. But if you're an avid birder then I assume you already know about those.

We have had the English sparrow around here as long as I can remember. They have been good bug catchers in the garden and have always been welcome although they tend to take over bird houses that we out up for Purple Martins. They are a cheerful talkative bird. I have never seen them be to aggressive toward other birds and they live here year round . Sorry but I can't see killing them .


Pat W

I sympathize with you, TJ!

I can't count how many times I've cleaned out a bluebird house where the sparrows had nested right on top of the natives and kicked them out. They do the same to our purple martin house. They also infested our barn until we taught a cat to climb a ladder to get to their nests.

I don't have a good suggestion for eradication. There are certain seeds you can use that they don't like so much. But if you're an avid birder then I assume you already know about those.

I agree on the wire idea, but it obviously will not be selective. Are there opportunities present when only the target species will be affected? As in, are there that many of them to give a reasonable expectation of killing primarily the finches?

No chance of a high powered pellet rifle equipped with decent optics?

I think two wires run parallel to each other, with an air gap of around 1/8", one wire to common, one to hot would probably do it. Wire it into an adapter that screws into the outside floodlight. But you didn't hear it from me.

Squirrels have adapted to love black, yellow and white millet, and even stale bread. Trying catfood for a while, but imagine the jays will hammer it.

Understood, I was curious as to how you would control what species landed on the wire? My luck would have 5 of the target species land, but one desirable species would land along with them, preventing me from throwing the switch? That's why I was wondering if their numbers were so great as to preclude interference by other species.

Might be a good idea to contemplate the shape of the perch, in order to ensure the target falls away and off of, rather than right on top of, the hot zone.

All

Been using a sparrow trap to manage an ever booming population of House Sparrows which raid my wild bird feeders and are a general nuisance. House Sparrows are in fact not a sparrow - rather an invasive species of weaver finch introduced from England just like Starlings. They displace our native cavity nesting birds like Eastern and Western Bluebirds - killing adults and brood in the nest, along with Purple Martins and other swallow species. They are not a protected species, and as a wild bird enthusiast, we're encouraged to try and manage the population in any manner possible.

I've used a repeating sparrow trap with good success the past several seasons, however, squirrels and blue jays often rob the trap of feed before I can trap any house sparrows. It's gotten to the point I can no longer use the trap as they are stealing feed faster than I can keep it loaded, so I'm turning to my PB family of inventive DIY experts for a solution.

I would like ideas on how to utilize electricity to euthanize birds either at a feeder or bird bath location. I'd need the option of turning the electricity on with a switch indoors so I don't harm any other species of birds. Maybe a broomstick with two wires running the length, which could be screwed into a floodlight socket outside the home run by an interior switch? When the birds land on the wires, which would have some kind of bait suspended above it, their feet would complete the circuit once I flipped on the switch and they'd be euthanized. I know absolutely nothing about electricity so not sure if this is a sound design or not. Could one electrify a feeder tray made of copper or aluminum and filled with preferred sparrow feed and activated from indoors somehow?

Looking for any ideas here - these vermin are out of control and I'm out of options. My native birds are suffering...need your help.