Birding/Eastern Blue Bird

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Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 5/14/2007


Question
Hello Bob,  We are having a time with house wrens or sparrows, not sure which.  Yesterday they killed our baby blue birds, they took the babies out of the nest.  We put them back and we then saw them go into the box and take out the babies again.  How can we stop this.  We love feeding and trying to have a safe area for our blue birds.

Answer
It requires tough love. House sparrows are alien non-protected birds and you must trap and kill or shoot them starting early in the season to creat a safe oasis. House wrens are protected and the only solution is to keep boxes in open areas away from bushes and pray. Call the Martin Market place at 814-833-7656 to get a free catalog for the in-box sparrow traps. Also you should put up at least 3 or 4 houses (100 yds apart if not separated by your home) - use neighbor's property or along highways, etc., as you will alwys lose some. One pair can raise a many as 15 or more young every year, and if they all survived we would be up to our hips in bluebirds! If you will send your mailing address to walshaw1@cox.net I will send you a free 20 page bluebird book. Bluebird Bob.

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Bluebird Bob Walshaw

Expertise

I can answer almost any question on Eastern Bluebirds and small cavity nesters such as Chickadees, Titmice, Wrens, etc. Also general questions on other songbirds. No pet bird questions please.

Experience

I have had a 100+ nestbox trail for more than 20 years, I do a lot of writing, public speaking and educational work in this field. My hands-on Bluebird talks include more than 1000 people each year.

Organizations
Oklahoma Bluebird Society, North American Bluebird Society, National Audubon Society, Oklahoma Audubon Society, Oklahoma Fur Bearers Alliance

Publications
Bluebird Magazine, Oklahoma Today, Fur-Fish-Game, Birds & Blooms, Nature Society News,Back Woodsman Magazine, Tulsa World, Broken Arrow ledger, Teaching Tolerance magazine,Trappers World, OK Hole Story, Birders World

Education/Credentials
Degree in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA, Graduate of the Home Study Course in Bird Biology from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Oklahoma Master Naturalist. I am also a pofessional speaker and writer.

Awards and Honors
Chosen as a public speaker for the North American Bluebird Society, Bluebird trail accepted as part of the Transcontinental Bluebird Trail, Chosen as a panel speaker at the 2006 NABS Convention.

Past/Present Clients
Many

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