Sparrows
Info
Sparrows prefer to nest in protected man-made and natural areas. Both male and female sparrows construct a large and flimsy nest from straw, grass, feathers, strips of paper, string and other debris. The following are popular sparrow nesting sites:
- Building ledges
- Openings in structures
- Gutters
- Signs
- Light fixtures
- Birdhouses
- Beneath the eaves of a house
- Bridges
- Electrical power lines and transformers
- Occasionally in trees
In rural settings, sparrows cause considerable damage to crops such as wheat and sorghum, as individuals consume as much as 0.2 ounces (6 grams) per day. They congregate in urban areas in the winter and disperse to rural areas in the spring. Flocks of juvenile birds and non-breeding adults sometimes travel four to five miles from nest sites to feeding areas. A growing problem is house sparrow's frequent nesting in kitchen, bathroom, oven and dryer vents. They foul structures with their droppings, particularly those areas used for roosting and loafing sites. Sparrows also create problems by entering food plants, warehouses, department stores and malls where they often contaminate food products or other merchandise. Their droppings can contain a variety of disease-causing bacteria, fungi, nematodes, etc. Further, numerous blood-feeding parasitic mites associated with sparrows also bite humans.
