House Sparrows Seek Shelter

• Birds are not the cleanest of creatures and are known to carry diseases, so with the exception of the caged-kept house bird we don't exactly welcome birds flying across our rooms. But House Sparrows will find a way in if one exists. The best way to resolve the problem is to purchase or make a House Sparrow nest box.
  
  

Traps

• You can purchase a variety of House Sparrow, or HOSP, nest boxes for less than $100. Some are made of cedar wood, others of Plexiglas or ceramic. The important thing to remember in order to succeed in keeping house sparrows out of your house is placement of the trap. Your HOSP nest box belongs on the side of the house, but place it to close to the ground or gutters.
  
  

Location

• Birds have a strong sense of survival and natural instinct dictates they house themselves in safety from predators, including raccoons and house cats. The HOSP nest box should be placed at least five feet off the ground but not close to the rooftop of the dwelling. The house sparrow wants to crawl into the box and feel a sense of safety and security. Attaching the box too close to the ground or near branches that might bring danger will keep the House Sparrow out of the box and looking to enter your home.
  
  

Build Your Own

• You can create your own House Sparrow box with wood. A boot box makes a good size guide for your HOSP nest. The design and area inside the box are not as important as the two or three holes you want to cut out as doorways for the sparrow. This can be done with the use of a drill, hammer, some nails and a saw. Keep the "doorways" to a diameter of 1 inch. Anything larger will serve as an open invitation to other birds.
  
  

Know Your Sparrow

• It's important to note there are a variety of sparrow species and some are protected by federal law. Some states also have laws protecting all but the House Sparrow. The male House Sparrow, according to Wildlife Damage Control, has "a very distinct black throat/breast patch." Become familiar with the look and appearance of the House Sparrow before doing anything about the problem and thus inadvertently violating any laws.
  
  

Nets

• Other means of keeping House Sparrows from becoming unwanted dwellers involves the use of very fine netting. House Sparrows are small birds and can slip through tiny cracks and crevices allowing access to your attic. Use of a very fine net covering over any point of entry will go a long way in keeping the pests out of your house.