If sparrows are using ledges, window sills, and roof lines for roosting or access to nesting cavities, these areas can be protected using “porcupine wires”. The wire has multiple projections that prevent birds from roosting, and it can be attached directly to structures. There are also a number of “sticky” substances that can be applied to prevent birds from roosting.
A number of traps have been found effective for controlling sparrows. Live traps such as funnel entrance, automatic triggered traps, mist nets, nest box traps and sieve traps are all effective. These have the added advantage as any protected songbirds can be released. Funnel type entrance traps will require no monitoring as the birds trap themselves and continue to enter the trap. Essentially the birds enter the trap through a funnel with sharp projections that prevent them from going back out. Grain scattered in the trap and even a small mirror will attract sparrows. Leave a number of trapped sparrows in the trap as decoys. These decoys will attract even more sparrows to the trap. Ten sparrows in a trap, seems to be the most effective number for luring more sparrows. Sieve traps with bait on the ground underneath are also effective. These simple traps are a sieve supported by a stick and drops when the stick is pulled out. However, they have to be monitored to trip. Another trap is one which attaches or fits to a cavity nest, such as on the bottom of a bluebird house. Automatic traps such as the “Hava Hart” sparrow trap will capture individual sparrows as they enter.
