As a person trying to aid bluebirds in my backyard, I was lucky enough to get a pair of bluebirds to nest in my backyard last year. This year a pair of bluebirds has been trying to establish themselves in one of two nest boxes: a Peterson style (where they nested 2005) and a Gilbertson (this years addition). Unfortunately, a single male house sparrow has been aggressively defending both nest boxes and I fear may be gaining the upper hand. And also unfortunately air guns are probably banned within the city limits (But a Gilbertson Universal trap is on order !).
Being observant, I have noticed that there several factors aiding house sparrow populations to thrive in my neighborhood and probably yours: 1) People feeding primarily millet seed in their bird feeders. 2) People with neglected purple martin houses and those cutsey bird houses (often pink and color and with a perch!). My point is that the good intentions of those trying to aid native cavity nesters are often usurped by the albeit good, but probably ignorant intentions of others. And herein lies a tough problem for us to resolve. Matt Baumann Winona, MN
