House sparrows took control of our hummingbird feeders like a gang of biker thugs taking over of a roadside bar!
Last summer we first noticed house sparrows landing on our hummingbird feeders. We found it funny how they liked sugar water … until this spring. This year the sparrows began dominating the feeders, bullying the hummingbirds, chasing them away until they left the area. So, the question was, what could we do about it?
The best clue came from an article prepared at the University of Nebraska (1). They had discovered that house sparrows sometimes gang up to take control of birdseed feeders. After a little research they also found that house sparrows are afraid to fly between vertical wires. So, their solution was to suspend a circular wire “halo” above a birdseed feeder with wires dangling from it, and badda-bing, the feeder became sparrow free.
So, I borrowed from Nebraska’s research and designed a “halo” for my hummingbird feeders. However, instead of using wires I suspended four fishing lines around the feeder and by golly it works! Our house sparrow problem was solved.
Last summer we first noticed house sparrows landing on our hummingbird feeders. We found it funny how they liked sugar water … until this spring. This year the sparrows began dominating the feeders, bullying the hummingbirds, chasing them away until they left the area. So, the question was, what could we do about it?
The best clue came from an article prepared at the University of Nebraska (1). They had discovered that house sparrows sometimes gang up to take control of birdseed feeders. After a little research they also found that house sparrows are afraid to fly between vertical wires. So, their solution was to suspend a circular wire “halo” above a birdseed feeder with wires dangling from it, and badda-bing, the feeder became sparrow free.
So, I borrowed from Nebraska’s research and designed a “halo” for my hummingbird feeders. However, instead of using wires I suspended four fishing lines around the feeder and by golly it works! Our house sparrow problem was solved.
Apparently, it’s a common problem. If you’ve got the same sparrow trouble, here’s what I did.
You’re going to need,
- Hummingbird feeder
- Hummingbird feeder ant moat (shown here)
- CD’s (one per feeder)
- Weather resistant glue
- Monofilament fishing line (I used 8lb. test line but I doubt it matters)
- Lead split shot fishing weights (8 per feeder)
To begin, drill four 1/4” holes at the very edge of the CD as shown below
To determine the length of your four protective fishing lines, attach the feeder to the ant moat. Measure the distance from the bottom of the moat to the bottom of the feeder and add at least two inches for an overhang. For mine that meant twelve inches. Below is a view of the overhang – note the split shot weights.
Unroll a length of fishing line from the spool and use pliers pliers to attach a split shot to the end.
Insert the freshly cut end through a drilled CD hole and attach another split shot.
After doing that four times, your CD disc should look like this with lead weights top and bottom.
After unscrewing the hook on the bottom, turn the ant moat upside down.
Glue the center of the CD disc to the center of the moat.
Allow the glue to dry and replace the bottom hook.
Hang the feeder by the ant moat and drop the lines outside of the outermost ring on the feeder.
Now, much to the dismay of pesky house sparrows, your feeder is fully protected by a “halo”.
Oh yes, one last thing. Hummers are returning to our feeders and they don’t seem the least bit concerned about the halos.
Oh yes, one last thing. Hummers are returning to our feeders and they don’t seem the least bit concerned about the halos.
Yup. I'm smarter than your average sparrow!
(1) University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension http://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/pdf/ec1783.pdf