The guilty sparrow

The guilty one is the house sparrow

Tree swallow nest boxes

Purple martin houses

Bird feeders

An enthusiast writes

Photo: Djamel, France

But there is a solution! Some people recommend simply killing the sparrow, driving it off like a common intruder. We would rather outwit it by installing a sparrow-proof pendulum in front of the nest box entrance. It is the only known way to date to protect our broods of tree swallows.

THE REAL CULPRIT

The house sparrow raises three broods a season, sometimes four if the climate is favourable. Once it has finished a brood, it looks for a new home, preferably that of a tree swallow.

It quickly forces its way into the nest box, pecking the occupants to death.

Do you think we are exaggerating? Not at all! If your tree swallows have never been disturbed by this impetuous predator, just wait, it will not be long before it shows up. A few seconds are enough to destroy everything. You will then see it chirping on the roof of its new home, proudly calling to its mate.

As we know, the house sparrow spends the winter in Quebec. That explains why it is the first to occupy the nest boxes. If the boxes are made available too early, the sparrow is quick to move in. A sparrow's strength lies in its beak and its feet. Quite the opposite of the tree swallow, who has not yet learned how to defeat it inside her own nest box.

There, then, is the guilty one, the bird that takes over the cavities we intend for the swallows. Not only does it defend its home relentlessly, it also claims the nest boxes we intend for tree swallows, for purple martins and even for the bluebird. Hardly an enthusiast has escaped witnessing its murderous frenzy. Often, too, it seizes the nests of barn swallows and cliff swallows. Nothing can resist it. As a last resort, when it finds no nest box available, it slips into every possible crevice. Wherever it finds a crack to squeeze through, it builds a nest.