Aerial Allies & Nest Box Invaders: Part II Swallows & Sparrows: Turf Wars and Management Strategies

Carole, Program & Communications Coordinator at Veasey Park
Jul 23
2 min read

“House sparrows remain a major obstacle to native cavity nesters. Monitoring gives us a chance to intervene early—but the challenge is persistent, and subtle improvements to box placement or design can make all the difference.”

– Volunteer ornithologist Richard Lombard has long partnered with Veasey to document nesting activity and support native bird conservation

🕊️ Tree Swallows: Agile Allies of the Sky

Number of attempts and fledgling count
Cooperative nesting behavior
Strengths in competition and nest defense

🪶 House Sparrows: Persistent Invaders

Number of nest attempts/interruptions
Known aggression toward other species
Timeline of sparrow takeovers or box invasions

⚖️ How Veasey Park Responds

Non-lethal sparrow deterrents
Box design improvements (hole size, spacing)
Monitoring protocol updates from Richard
Role of volunteers in citizen science

🔭 Looking Ahead

Plans for sparrow management next season
Outreach goals tied to smart feeder data and public awareness
Call for community involvement and future blog contributions

💡 Why Bluebirds Thrived This Year

Early-season setup and gentle maintenance gave them a head start
Strategic spacing of nest boxes helped minimize competition
Ongoing monitoring ensured minimal sparrow interference
Strong native habitat around Veasey provided reliable foraging zones

Bluebirds often face intense pressure from house sparrows, which compete aggressively for nesting territory. But this year, Richard’s documentation suggests that bluebirds secured their spots early and held them. This is an encouraging sign that Veasey’s environment supports native species resilience.

📊 Bluebird Fledgling Timeline

Nesting Attempt	First Egg Date	Fledgling Count	Notes
Box #3	April 22	4	All fledged successfully
Box #7	May 6	5	Bluebirds retained the box despite early sparrow interest
Box #12	May 28	5	Monitored closely by Richard; no sparrow intrusion
Box #15	June 14	4	Late nesting attempt; slightly reduced brood size

Photo 3. First Clutch of Eastern Bluebird Eggs of the 2024 Season in Nest Box 12AVP - courtesy of Richard Lombard — Photo 3. First Clutch of Eastern Bluebird Eggs of the 2024 Season in Nest Box 12AVP - *courtesy of Richard Lombard*

📊 Nesting Attempts & Fledglings by Species

Species	Nesting Attempts	Successful Nests	Fledglings Produced	Notes
Eastern Bluebird	4	4	18	No failed attempts
Tree Swallow	3	2	11	One nest disrupted mid-season
House Sparrow	6	2	Unknown (removed)	Interference with other nests

Note: “Unknown” reflects disrupted nests or removal before hatch/fledge stages. Monitoring protocols prioritize native species.

🧭 What’s Next?

The bluebird momentum is inspiring, but we’re keeping a close eye on sparrow activity and early signs of territorial competition. Part III of our series dives into nest box dynamics, tree swallow patterns, and the invasive pressure from house sparrows.

Stay tuned for the last installment of Aerial Allies & Nest Box Invaders: