Sparrow Chaser - Emergency Invasive House Sparrow Deterrent

The Sparrow Chaser is an important invasive House Sparrow emergency deterrent option, if they have "claimed" a nest box and have been repeatedly evicted by the nest box landlord (you). It should ONLY be installed AFTER a native bird has occupied the nest box and laid at least one egg and is being threatened by House Sparrow activity. This is because the mylar tape spooks all birds, not just House Sparrows, and it's critical for your desired native inhabitant to have the strong instinct to continue nesting, despite the scary, flapping apparatus over the roof! 

The Sparrow Chaser is also helpful in nest box trail situations, where a couple of boxes are located close to each other, and the native bird has already built a nest in one of the boxes, laid eggs, and you become concerned by House Sparrow activity in the nearby box and attempt to evict them. House Sparrows may retaliate against the Bluebirds or other native bird occupants, so installing a Sparrow Chaser on the native bird-occupied box may help to protect the native nesting bird.

Sparrow Chaser Installation Guidelines & Timing:

To comply with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which protects the nests of native migratory bird species, it is important to confirm that the female native bird re-enters the nest box once the Sparrow Chaser is installed. If she does not re-enter within about 20-30 minutes, you can remove all but one ribbon and gradually replace each ribbon after the desired native bird returns to the nest box. This will take patience and careful monitoring to ensure native bird nesting is not interrupted and the spooking device does not result in nest abandonment. Please be responsible in the use of this spooker device.

This passive device has 5 mylar flash tape strips hanging from an aluminum metal ring suspended above the nesting box roof by a cedar bracket. The mylar used in the shields is designed to just barely brush the top of the nest box roof and should be adjusted if needed according to the size and form of your nest box (see installation video below). The mylar flash tape should last a single nesting season but does have a limited lifespan and may need to be replaced in subsequent nesting seasons, depending on your specific site conditions. 

Mount the wooden bracket to the top of the nest box with the two provided screws. Insert the ends of the aluminum metal ring into the two nest holes in the wooden holder. The mylar film strips should hover just above the surface of the roof. There should be a clear path to the entry hole of the nest box.

For best results, install the Sparrow Chaser on a nest box that has been claimed by House Sparrows, the sparrows have been evicted, and a native bird has laid at least one egg in the box. Be sure the native bird re-enters the nest box, once the Chaser is installed. Remove the Sparrow Chaser once native birds have fledged and no more nesting attempts are made for the season, so House Sparrows do not grow accustomed to the spooking device. 

NOTE:  Chasers may not always succeed in every situation, as their effectiveness can vary depending on factors like the size of the local population of House Sparrows and the intensity of competition for nest sites in your area. Occasionally, a very persistent male House Sparrow will thwart it. If you're exploring passive, emergency House Sparrow spooking methods, we hope you try the Sparrow Chaser! Unfortunately, the only sure way to prevent House Sparrow attack is to trap and humanely dispatch of the invasive species. For more information about sparrow spooking devices and House Sparrow management, see www.sialis.org/sparrowspooker/ and www.sialis.org/hosp/

Nest box NOT included.

Dimensions: 

• Halo width: 6.75"
• Halo depth: 10"                                       
• Cedar Mounting Bracket: 5.5" W x  9" H                      
• Mylar Strip Length: ~9" 
  
• Included Screws Length 1.5"

Made in the USA.

Installing a nest box for the first time or in a new location, and the box has not been claimed by House Sparrows yet? Consider opting for the Sparrow Shield passive deterrent instead.