Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 6/23/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi.

Sparling birds have decided to make their home up top of our new porch. We just built it, so before my husband can finish the underneath roof part (so other birds will not make nests up there) we would like to know when these birds typically start to spread their wings...so to speak. The babies hatched about two weeks ago. One fell out of the nest onto our porch two days ago and my husband put gloves on and placed it back into the nest for fear that a cat would eat it up. I wasn't so sure about the mother abandoning it or all of them if we did that, but she's been back so I guess it was alright. I'm wondering when they will leave. I'm worried that they will all fall out, they're also crapping all over our porch and they're right above our entrance so whenever we enter/exit the mother freaks out and flies out. I'm scared she's gonna knock one of them out of the nest. I don't even know how that one fell out the other day. Someone mentioned that the stronger babies will push the weaker ones out of the nest. Any clue on when they may take flight? Like I mentioned they're at least 2 weeks old now. My husband said if they're not gone by next week that he's going to move them out to a tree somewhere, but I don't want him to. Thank you.

Brenda

ANSWER: I'm sorry that you don't know about those birds. Like the house sparrow they are alien unprotected birds that kill and harass our native birds like the beautiful Bluebirds and other small cavity nesters. You should shoot the adults (a pellet gun works well) and kill the babies before they are able to fly.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: oh my gosh! my husband said, "sweet!"

is this answer from the "expert" because i feel really bad if it's just from someone other than a bird expert. my hubby is going to "take care of them" tonight. ewww! i feel horrible about it. i think i might just ask him to move the nest with the birds to the woods. and whatever happens...happens. i just can't kill the babies.

Answer
I am a bird expert. I am known as "Bluebird Bob" and I send bird books all over the country. If you will send your mailing address to walshaw1@cox.net I will send you a free one. If you let those babies grow up you will be dooming a lot of other birds. They and house sparrows kill millions of other small birds. They are known as the rats of the bird world. Do you let rats and mice survive in your home???