foreword by Jim McLochlin
Although Bluebird Bob Walshaw and myself have drastically different
views on house sparrow control we both have a great concern for native
cavity nesting birds with a large emphasis on bluebirds.
Bob's methods are those that are used by the vast majority of
bluebirders and have gained wide acceptance among bluebirders as the
way to control house sparrows. I don't think anyone can argue the
point that active house sparrow control (which includes trapping and
eliminating -- or shooting) is the most effective and efficient method
of house sparrow control.
Passive house sparrow control is often viewed as pushing ones
troubles off onto someone else. Indeed the house sparrows that
don't end up nesting in your nest boxes will probably find another place
to nest. Some have likened it to putting a known killer on the
streets. It can also be for some the only house sparrow control
option that is acceptable (for a variety of reasons -- including
personal choice, restrictions placed on the trail by the trail owner,
etc).
In my mind both forms of house sparrow control are needed.
Certainly house sparrow control is needed. It is needed for very
similar reasons to the controls currently being used on many native
wildlife (such as deer, snow geese, etc) that have lost a natural
predator or for some other reason are out of normal population
levels. The problem with house sparrows is they are a non-native
species, therefore have no natural predators and much like many
non-native plants (like dandelions) have taken over many areas to the
point that native species are suffering. House sparrows can be
admired for some qualities: adaptability, relative intelligence, and in
general their tolerance to humans. For some backyard bird watchers
/ feeders if it were not for the lowly house sparrow there might be no
birds at all.
House sparrow control can be a sensitive subject. There are
those who wish to have no controls placed on any species all the way to
the other extreme of those who have no regard to even humane treatment
of house sparrows. Actually this is the human way, both
extremes. Via email and even snail mail I have heard from both
extremes, some of them very vocal and quite harsh. Bluebird Bob
and I have different methods wanting the same result, but I don't see
either one of us on the extreme.
02/01/04
