Our science teacher posted an e-mail announcement to all the faculty:
Hi All!
Believe it or not, nesting time is here! I cleaned the box out this morning (apparently, someone nested there this summer, because I cleaned it out at the end of school) and within a couple of hours a sparrow had begun to build a nest.
Since we don't really want sparrows, Holly created a "sparrow spooker" and I have "installed" it on the nesting box. This has worked in prior years to keep the sparrows away- for some reason we didn't put one up last year....unfortunate...the sparrows bullied their way into the neighborhood! :-)
If any interesting nest building seems to begin, I will bring the television down for our viewing pleasure.....
Spring is coming! :-)
with that teaser, I had to check out the sparrow spooker for myself. It must be working; I didn't see hide or feather of a sparrow.
BTW, note the cable right under the bird house roof. That is the connection for our tv camera. If we are lucky, we will get up-close live video of a blue bird family at home.
So neat! I hope a bird family decides to set up residence so you get an up-close view. This may seem like a dumb question, but the sparrow spooker won't keep the other birds away too?
but will the sparrow spooker spook the other birds as well? We have sparrows down here in Melbourne as well, use to have alot at our old house, but in our current house with is only a couple of km away we have none. But this year we have had pesky swallows. Might have to copy your sparrow spooker
It also works as a woodpecker spooker on wooden chimney covers. Woodpeckers seem to like the echo sound their pecking makes on our chimney. We have to put up tinfoil to deter them! It's a clever way to keep interlopers out and environmentally friendly too. Looking forward to seeing the Bluebirds!
