These are great tips; thanks for sharing. I do want to caution folks that birds have wings and wings can get caught in wire. I am a volunteer with a wild bird rescue and have had to deliver a number of birds caught up in wire, fishing line, plastic netting. Shoe laces are probably the best bet, to play it safe.
Wire or rope is the best way to go. Have had mine up around two years and no problems yet. My bird feeder used to be cleared in days. Now it's only native birds and feed lasts much longer
I did this the sparrows were eating up ALL the feed we put out!!! Averaging 15-30 sparrows at a time! The that time on...... No Sparrows!!! GONE! Cardinals, woodpeckers, chickadees, etc. all come now and eat in peace!!! UN-FRICKIN- BELIEVABLE!!! Thank You!!!
I built your Wood arms and bailing wire version. I used 16 gauge galvanized steel wire from the hardware store. No sign of house sparrows so far. My American yellow finches and other birds have no problem with it. They will actually perch on the wire waiting for their turn. Thanks for posting this!
OMG OMG I can't believe it: it works!!!! 🏆🏆 100% Sparrows free feeder for the first time! At first I was skeptical about it, but it has been 3 days and not even one Sparrow has arrived at the feeder (I used to see flocks of 20-40 sparrows all the time) They are afraid to approach, while the Woodpeckers, Tits, Bulbuls and European Robin have it all for themselves. Thank you so much!!! I'll post a video of it soon, using my other user (Alonteach) I was very lucky to see your video! Thank you again.
I remember when I first put mine up. I would get a good laugh at the sparrows trying to fly up to feeder and do a little 180 back down to the ground. The way they flapped their wings was hilarious. Now I never see them.nit does indeed work
Thank you! I've got a squirrel baffle and I was sure there must be a way to use it, now I have real ideas! I appreciate you! (I live in a small condo and "spare piece of lumber" isn't a thing i have around)
Thanks for the tutorial. I live in San Antonio, TX and have a real problem. Installed the halo on one feeder as a test two weeks ago, and no sparrows on that feeder! Have you heard of anyone using a halo on a Purple Martin house?
I got an inexpensive baffle from Menards drilled 4 holes at the sides. Hung 4 long pieces of white pipe cleaners weighed down with some bolts I had. I’m watching those sparrows avoid going to that feeder 😊 Guess I’m going back to Menards for more baffles! Thank you!!
Thank you so much!!! I never thought there was a way to stop the sparrows but wow this works. Used a plastic plant tray and attached some rope with fishing weights. So excited for the winter now to not have to fill the feeder everyday!
This is a terrific resource you've created. Anyone who feeds birds in order to support local native bird populations in the face of dwindling resources (food, nesting spaces) should be aware that House Sparrows are non-native, invasive, produce up to 5 large broods per year, kill native birds for their nesting spaces, and readily outcompete local species for ever-decreasing resources -- "magic halos" like these are immensely helpful at keeping House Sparrows from overwhelming local bird hangouts. Thanks for sharing your work! Are you able to share any updates on how each of these feeders have performed since February 2021?
Since I created all those different halos they're all working and I don't have any sparrows at my feeders. I have sparrows they're just not at the feeders and they do eat some food if they're on the ground. I wish I would have known about this technique 20 years ago I could have saved myself a lot of trouble.
Very cool I think I'm going to adopt this For a little bit easier assembly and have the Boy Scouts make their own feeders. We'll talk about invasive species as well. Thanks
our steller's jays and spotted towhees like to eat off the ground. I don't know how to get rid of the sparrows who eat their food, too. we have way too many sparrows of various types and they're mating all over the lawn. how would I keep feeding them without the sparrows getting to their food?
Wow! I never knew such a thing existed. I have tons of house sparrows that come and crowd out the other birds at my feeders (it gets costly feeding them). I am going to make one of these right away as I am planning on putting up a suet log I am making. Recently we have had a swarm of bushtits and I want them and the woodpeckers to feel at home and and get some of the suet. This looks like it will do the trick.
I wish I had known it about it about 10 or 15 years ago because the house sparrows are such pigs. It's such an amazing device and I can't believe it's not advertised more. Let us know how well it works.
Thank you so much! I recently got a flock of sparrows that found us and are pushing out my chickadees, nuthatches, and jays. They are so prolific! They gotta go!
@@BackyardBirdsUS We tried your trick and it worked. No more sparrows. The cardinals were not bothered and came to eat every day. It was lovely to watch them. In our case, the Blue jays were not deterred but we didn't have many. Thanks for the tutorial.
The halo is a fantastic idea! I'm going to try it with my feeders. I'm sure I can make these halos by myself, but if I get stuck, I'll just show my husband this video. I'll be binge watching your videos because I just subscribed 2 videos ago.
I have heard of the halo before. I have 5 feeders hanging outside my front window, and am thinking about surrounding them with wires hanging. Not a circle, but this might help. Do you think this might work? I love my cardinals, but the sparrows just drive me nuts as they rats with feathers. THANKS!
Interesting, thanks. All I've got at my feeders are House Sparrows. I get nothing else at all ever. I buy new food, and fill my feeders and they're empty that same day. I've got a very large bush next to the feeders in my backyard that I think I've got to get rid of too. There's probably 100 house sparrows in it at any one time. They also nest in my birdhouse, and use the birdbath nearby, all within about 20 feet of each other. I've unknowingly created a House Sparrow paradise I think, haha. So I finally looked them up and it seems they're quite a problem.
They were s huge problem. Your bush isn't the problem. You shouldn't allow them to nest. One pair can make 20 babies. They are likely nesting around your neighborhood. Have you looked into trapping?
@@BackyardBirdsUS Hm, trapping? It's just a single birdhouse, but it is entertaining to watch. A Robin nests on my gutter downspout each year too, but they don't use the feeders, just run in the grass looking for worms. Perhaps I'll take the nest down then.
Didnt work for me. Took them 10 minutes to adapt, not they just rush through. I'm afraid if I put lines any closer it will draw all the familiae away. Do you know if sparrows can feed hanging upside down tho? Like on horizontal plane but with their paws being above their head.
@@BackyardBirdsUS yes, those are house sparrows alright. Im at 60 lat in Russia. The feeder is a vertical net cage with very small cells and a roof outside its footprint. In order to feed birds need to hang on the side. Food is seed mix marketed as suitable for wild forest birds (wheat, barley, millet, sunflower, etc.), plain lard (salo without salt), homemade white bread crumbs. At first it mostly attracted tits, but then sparrows completely took over. They even eat salo when it's cold (actually, when it's just about to get cold). I'm thinking of enclosing side cells and putting a net instead of solid bottom part. I know for a fact that it would be no problem for tits to feed this way, hope sparrows wont learn too fast. They could eat whatever drops down.
Use a Henry smooth bore 22 and 22 birdshot. I have removed about 400 house sparrows in 3 years. You need to be about 10 feet from them but, I have many times gotten asmany as 4 HOSP with a single shot. Kinda fun and rewarding. I have found a 20ga shotgun for the starlings with "low noise" shells when the starlings cover the suet feeder. This has proven extremely effective.
Where I live, I need to be accurate. I have found that the sparrows and starlings are now native aware of laser targeting. They spot the dot following them or on them. Clever invasive evil birds… :)
How does this work - or *does* this work to deter Starlings as well? I have a baffle atop a seed log to protect against rain damage as I have had them destroyed because of rain in the past. But now that you suggested this I know of no HOSP partaking, assuming that they just didn't like the seed log, but lots of other native species utilizing, including Red Bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Chipping Sparrows, Chickadees (I thought they were Black Capped, but may be Carolina), Titmouse, Robins and Cardinals, Catbirds, Carolina Wrens. I am also using Squirrel-Proof tube feeders that really do work, which both Starlings and HOSP love that the spare baffle can be used on.
I'm in Rochester, MN, so listening to a "neighbor' had great appeal to me. This video was exactly what I was looking for; I want to deter, not destroy. What I can do is governed by an HOA, so I will have to spruce up my halos, but that's a minor detail.
This year those euro sparrows are hitting my mealworm feeder for my bluebirds. They are keeping the bluebirds at bay and the female is in the bird box sitting on some eggs. So I came across this video yesterday and made a setup with some twine and clips off of the shade/rain protector that’s over the feeder. So far yesterday afternoon and this morning there are no sparrows going into the feeder. They are hanging out in the tree nearest the feeder but not on the feeder. I have to see how long this works because so far every thing I have tried over the last 3 years has only worked temporarily. 🤞🏻, thanks for the video.
This is very exciting news. I am amazed how this works. I wished i had done it 20 years ago. I haven't had them get past it but i also trap. But i counted 30 house sparrows and none go past the halo.
Used one of ny wife's old stove top inserts, drilled 4 holes, used wire about the same as bread tie wire, then weighed them at the end with old keys. MAN, does it work great, i placed 3 magnets on top since feeder and stove insert are metal, the magnets secure it well. I watched as the sparrows tried over and over to land, notice i said "tried". Thanks for tip!🙏🙋
We're on our way to buy a few of the items we need to assemble the cross style halo. We're so grateful to have come across your site! Thank you for your help. One week ago we had beautiful songbirds at our feeders but one morning we awoke to see only house sparrows... We've decided to give the invaders their own food area and to put halos around the rest of the feeders to see what happens. The squirrels are going to have a field day with those wires! Fingers crossed. Much appreciation to you!
Please do not feed house sparrow. They can reproduce much faster than our native birds, and they are gaining in population every season. There are House sparrow traps that are effective.
just made one similar to 5:26, Cardinals and Chickadees get sunflower seeds an Sparrows get whats on the ground! the Sparrows, were emptying my feeder daily so im pretty pleased with the results for the half hour of time and a couple bucks for hardware
@@BackyardBirdsUS it's remarkable how well that works.. ive had a trail camera watching for me and the HS are definitely not using my feeder anymore so i'm only refilling every 3 days now! ive also noticed, they dont come in flocks of 30+ at a time anymore either. thanks for taking the time to do ur video an put it on you tube!
You are very welcome. I can't believe now people don't know about this trick. That said, I never knew about it. Hope this helps more people. House sparrows are a pain in the butt!
Truly amazing! I didnt know that such a thing existed. I bought materials to make a live trap ghis winter and now I will build halos around other feeders. I just hope the halos don't deter some of the native sparrows, although many of them are migrating south for winter. Thanks for all the examples, this should be fun. Cheers! 😊
This halo work for me during the summer but the house sparrows were so hungry during fall they just ignored the wires and completely took over my feeders . 😭
Interesting. I designed and crafted a sparrow-proof mealworm feeder that is shown on a video on my channel, if you want to check it out sometime. A Carolina Wren easily retrieves a mealworm from the feeder at around the 3 & 1/2 minute mark.
I’ve got so frustrated with these sparrows, I removed most of my feeders. I left my shelled peanut tray and upside down suet feeders out. Those sparrows would empty my regular suet cages and suet nuggets very fast. Looking forward to setting up the deterrents Thank you so much!
the diameter you use is 20", does the diameter matter? can it be smaller than 20" or will that deter all birds. I tried the hallo, it deterred sparrows, but I've not yet had other birds feed. perhaps mine's too small a diameter ?!
This interests me as I had one of those caged double suet feeders with the brown/tan roof and downy's liked to feed from it but so did house sparrows , in fact they raided it in flocks so I took it down a couple yrs ago. So what the heck , I have all the materials needed and made one of your suggested methods , am curious to see if it will work or not, have my doubts as its late in season.
I had a house sparrow problem at my feeder last winter. This looks like a great idea to keep them away! I enjoyed seeing white throated sparrows at my feeder, are they affected by the magic halo?
we switched to only safflower seed in one feeder and nyjer in another. The squirrels don't like either and no longer come around. Although the chipmunks still like the safflower. But it has greatly reduced our squirrel population.
I just use monofilament fishing line, nothing elaborate. Works a treat. I have a rather large feeder with three knobs on top. I dangle four to six line from the knobs with 1/4 oz. weight. It amazing how well this works. The Eurasia sparrows would empty that feeder in one day.
I can deal with the house sparrows as they are in decline in the Uk so happy to feed them and love their cheekiness. Sparrows though are an absolute pest and decimate the bird feeder in my garden. A vast flock swoops in fairly frequently and you cannot see the fence through the birds. It’s insane.
I have a random question I have what I think is a mallard female and NOT a rouen she's very small and can fly but rouens can't and they are big so is she really a mallard
Hello Robert, I just have another question please can you leave them on all the time? They do work but when I take them off they come back in vengeance they will eat anything I put out. I’m about ready to give up. The only solution left is trapping but I bet the house sparrows are to smart for that here I never did catch the ones that killed my bluebird. 😩 I wish I had someone that was trained to come and trap I would pay money for that. Any advice? Thanks
@@BackyardBirdsUS hi just thought I would give an update. I put them on all my feeder’s except for my big fly through feeder and one other that it can’t fit on plus I tried the string on them it worked but it also keeps my cardinals away to so I think I will leave it off those two feeders I love my cardinals. There working like charms of course they don’t keep 100% off cause one or two will go in but I’m very happy with the results. The only thing is I have to take them off on real windy days cause the wind with pick baffles up with feeders like umbrellas. Thank you so much for sharing this idea it is awesome!
@@BackyardBirdsUS so it’s not just my cardinals ☹️ dang it I wished they wasn’t bothered by them it would be a dream come true lol. Oh well, nothing’s perfect but it’s so much better then the alternative. 👍😁
Thanks for the interesting tip on deterring house sparrows and the ideas for affordable ways to put it into action - especially on repurposing old supplies instead of buying new. If you have any similar solutions to deter squirrels, those are my main nemesis in the city.
I sent a Roller Feeder to my inlaws in the city and they reported back that it is working great and is actually entertaining to watch the squirrels try and fail to get any bird seed! We put one up at our house (country area) rigged up to hang underneath a black metal squirrel baffle... for extra reinforcement just in case, and also helps keep snow and rain off the feeder. Our feeders hang off a large "human sized" pergola in which the squirrels climb up and then down onto the feeders. It works fantastic! Not one squirrel has ever gotten any seed from that feeder! They're not cheap, but neither is bird seed! 😀
@@BackyardBirdsUS They are awesome! And as a bonus, House Sparrows don't like the Roller Feeders either! However, you may find that they will use it eventually, especially if you have a large population of them. I have found though, that they much prefer any other type of feeder than the Roller Feeder.
I have heard that hot pepper suet deters squirrels. Birds taste buds do not react to hot pepper seeds like mammals do and they will eat it but squirrels apparently hate it.
All sparrows are cute, I don't get all this native vs non native thing. I mean, yeah we can come in groups and clean out all the food, sure. But why bring race and geography into this?
@@BackyardBirdsUS starlings and blackbirds are the bane of my existence! Actually both mostly eat from the seed feeders but can empty them all (4) in a very short time. I try to remember that they need to eat too but wish they would eat in the field across the road from me!
@@BackyardBirdsUS I have looked at videos and the best ones seem to be diy not bought. Haven't gotten materials needed yet. My dog has been doing a fairly good job keeping the squirrels away. But the birds come back after a few minutes.
I simply have to try it. I have tooooo many Sparrows. By the way, here, when the woodpecker arrives, sparrows go away and wait for it to go. But the tits have to wait for the sparrows to leave.
@@BackyardBirdsUS I'm in Israel. Sparrows that stay on the feeder while the woodpecker arrives (Syrian woodpecker), are chased away. But when the woodpecker is away, they empty the feeder very fast and keep the Tits and Bulbuls away. This is my new Sparrow proof Ground feeder (just made it): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jr09lA1dyFk.html Hope it woul be useful for someone
Jeff, great to see you are well and still birding! This is a great idea and I cannot wait to try it in my front yard where House sparrows have almost taken over
Hello, mine is not working to well. Would it make a difference what color string or if there is a string attached to the bottom to keep them from swinging? Dang it I have tried everything I will probably take some feeders down. Some of them are even eating my safflower. I am about to give up. Please let me know if I could be doing something wrong. Thanks Update-Mine is not working at all and that is a big disappointment 😩 I made sure it was made correctly also. Oh well, it was worth a try these house sparrows are driving me nuts. There eating everything I mean everything even nyjer and safflower seed. Thanks for the video though.
@@robertmartin1142 hello Robert, I thought about that cause I am using purple rope the size of a shoe string it’s just what I had laying around. I’m using it on the gray squirrel baffle just like the one in your video. I was going to use fishing line but from what I’ve read that’s not such a good idea wouldn’t want the birds to get caught up in it. I also have some white rope the size of a shoe lace I might try but I would like to try what you are using first. What size is the black nylon cord you are using please I found some 1.5mm? I would like to give it a go. Thanks so much for trying to help I really don’t want to take anymore feeders down.
@@MunchkinMoD Hi, i'd say 1.5 mil is about the size line im using, i have 3/8 nuts ties to the ends that hang down an inch or so below the feeder perches and the lines are appox 7-8 inchs from the side of my feeder.
As far as I know the string color doesn't matter but you need to make sure the string hangs about 6 in below the bottom of the feeder and you should weight the strings with something.
Why would you want to get rid of house sparrows? At this point in life it doesn't make sense to think in terms of native species. We have completely changed our landscaping views. I think a better way to.keep native species is by planting native trees and plants, so they attract naturally local species.
Because house sparrows actively eliminate native cavity nesting birds. But your advice to plant native is excellent and it's also very helpful. Thanks.
Did you know a house sparrow will trap other birds in the cavity and kill them? If it wasn't for people eliminating house sparrows blue birds, tree swallows, and purple martins would have little chance to nest successfully.
I came across a nest in the stove pipe from our garage. I pulled it out and it was full of layers. The bottom layer had skeletons of babies and shards of blue eggshells. The layer covering it was made of plastic bag pieces and loose material. We had had robins in that pipe at one time, but now there are house sparrows all over the place. I'd believed that the robins had moved on, but the sparrows had obviously massacred the chicks and driven the robins out. It's not a case of native vs non-native species. It's a case of invasive species that are killing and driving otherwise native species away from their habitats. We have plenty of non-native life forms that are NOT invasive and I'm happy to see them.
Wow. Really well said. I tend to think native vs not. But it's really non native invasive species. Oh yeah sounds like house sparrows nested on top of robins. They are super aggressive birds.
I don't entice them. I discourage them. They are an invasive species. They prevent many native species from nesting and will kill them on the nest. I encourage you to learn more about them in north America where they were introduced.
Hello again Robert, I finally got mine made out of 1.5 black nylon cord but I’m testing it on the nyjer seed feeder first. Do you know if gold finches are affected by it? Thanks Hi Robert, just wanted to give an update. I finally got it up and I’m so surprised but it is working a lot it doesn’t keep them all off but it has made a huge difference. Thank you so much for sharing this the house sparrows can be a big struggle. They only concern I have now is it keeping my goldfinches away also. I have only saw one on my feeder but it could be that they haven’t got back yet after baby raising. So I will let you know what happens. Thanks again.
Goldfinches are not deterred. The only bird other than house sparrows that I've seen deterred are Blue Jays. But there could be other species that I don't have. It's good for people to report what they're seeing and what birds it works on,
@@BackyardBirdsUS hi, my goldfinches are not back yet the two that visited looked like juveniles they didn’t know what to eat and was a bit clumsy but they did use it so I’m hoping when the others return it won’t bother them either I will let you know, they should start showing back up soon. I’m missing them I will be very happy when they return hopefully with a lot of new juveniles. 😊
@@BackyardBirdsUS mine haven’t got back yet I just have two ever now and again but the nylon string definitely makes a big difference on it cause I just get a couple on it every now and again with the nylon string cause it wasn’t long after I removed it that there flocking it again it was full today. When my goldfinches come back I’m going to put it back on so they can eat. I thought they would be back by now. Don’t know where there at….
So it's working. That's whati like to hear. I'm over run with the blasted critters. They aren't eating from feeders with the strings but they'll eat corn i put on the ground. And they are irritating me!
I do leave native sparrows alone, but not these unprotected, invasive species from the old world. They aren't part of our ecosystem and wreak havoc on our native birds!
HEY!!!! THE SPARROWS DESERVE FOOD AS WELL!! HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU WERE A SPARROW AND YOU WERE BANNED FROM COMING TO GET FOOD!?!? PLEASE REMOVE ALL OF THE STUFF SO THE SPARROWS CAN GET FOOD!! #sparrowsdeservefoodaswell #sparrowsmatter
Are you serious. So you like them eating all the food so the native birds have none. Learn about them. They are invasive. They are not protected. They cause so much damage to our native birds. And trust me. They still will find food.
