Birdhouses (questions, no photos)

[CaraRose]

Since I put up bird feeders I've gotten a small population of Chickadees in the yard. I'd like to put up a bird house in the hopes that some might chose to nest in my yard.

Unfortunately, we also have somewhere between 10000000000000 - infinity (only slightly exaggerated) house sparrows that roost in our hedge and mob the feeders. I'd prefer not to supply a nesting spot for them, but I'm too much of a softee to tear the nest out and destroy the eggs if they happened to move in.

Are there a certain size box hole that's too small for House Sparrows but large enough for Chickadees?

[frog4gators]

http://www.birdhousebuzz.com/chickadee.html

[mjs1973]

I had chickadees nest in one of my bluebird houses last year. Actually two of my houses, but something evicted one of them. I wouldn't feel bad about kicking out the sparrows. If the box is close to your house so you can check it regularly, you can give them the boot before they lay their eggs. It's really interesting to see how different types of birds build their nests using such different types of materials. The chickadees will use a lot of moss, and like to line the nest with fur. Bluebirds use dried grasses. House wrens use small sticks...

[OldClicker]

I had chickadees nest in one of my bluebird houses last year. Actually two of my houses, but something evicted one of them. I wouldn't feel bad about kicking out the sparrows. If the box is close to your house so you can check it regularly, you can give them the boot before they lay their eggs. It's really interesting to see how different types of birds build their nests using such different types of materials. The chickadees will use a lot of moss, and like to line the nest with fur. Bluebirds use dried grasses. House wrens use small sticks...

I have the same varieties (and materials) in my 'bluebird' houses if I can keep the house sparrows out - also an occasional mouse. I have to clean out the sparrow nesting material almost every day to keep them out. Eventually, I always just give up. - Terry