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Sparrows are fascinating birds that bring joy to many people. But the animals can also be quite annoying - especially when they nest directly under the roof. However, getting rid of them is not that easy. Under no circumstances should you just destroy the nest like that. Luckily there are alternatives. With a little patience and ingenuity, the house sparrow can be gently chased away in other ways.
problem situation
Passer domesticus, the common house sparrow, is in its population today acutely endangered. He's already on a warning list for endangered species. So you should be happy about every nesting pair of sparrows. The only problem is that the animals, as a typical cultural sequence, settle close to humans and raise their offspring. With a certain preference they use eaves, wall openings or cavities in an outer wall. Because a pair of sparrows rarely comes alone, but usually quickly forms a whole colony, the birds can easily become an annoying nuisance. Their droppings can also cause significant damage.
prevention
Sparrows are niche and cavity breeders. As far as the location of their nest is concerned, they show enormous flexibility. However, they prefer to use protected cavities for this - especially if they are also located directly under a protective eaves. It is therefore a good idea to close all existing openings in a house wall. Loose roof tiles should also be fastened again. The point is simply to make your own house as uninviting as possible for the birds. That's always better than having to drive them away again later.
remove nest?
If, however, it happens that sparrows nest under the eaves or in a cavity, one could of course come up with the idea of simply removing the nest or nests. Of that, however strongly discouraged. Since sparrows are on the early warning list for endangered species, they enjoy an increased level throughout Europe protection. Without permit a sparrow's nest must not be removed so easily. The competent authority is usually the lower nature conservation authority of the city or district. You should definitely get in touch with her if a nest is to be removed. In principle, this is possible if
- the infestation with sparrows is very large,
- Dangers of feces for children, old and sick people,
- or significant damage to the building is to be expected.
It is best to explain the facts to the authority by telephone or in writing. However, the procedure differs depending on the federal state. Approval can often also be given verbally. If you fail to report and are discovered, threaten fines. In Bavaria, for example, 75 euros are due for each removed sparrow's nest. Nests that contain eggs or already young animals must not be removed or destroyed.
deterrence
Fortunately, sparrows can also be scared away relatively gently. However, you should be aware that none of the possible methods offer 100% protection. If they work, then only for a limited time. It is therefore advisable to use different methods alternately.
reflective hangers
A very common and particularly cheap method of repelling sparrows are reflective hangers and bird tapes. They work in a similar way to a wind chime and are attached wherever sparrows would at least theoretically settle, such as under the roof. What is important here is the reflective effect, which irritates and deters the animals. However, every house sparrow will get used to these hangers sooner or later. They should therefore be moved regularly to avoid this habituation effect.
bird dummies
Sparrows also have natural enemies that they try to avoid as much as possible. These include birds of prey and crows. Passer domesticus will definitely avoid contact with them. You can take advantage of this fact and hang special bird dummies on the eaves. These scarecrows of a different kind can be bought in specialist garden shops. They usually imitate the silhouettes of birds of prey and scare off sparrows relatively reliably. However, their location has to be changed again from time to time.
electric bird repellent
The so-called electric bird repellents are devices that emit certain bird sounds and, above all, birds' cries of fear. The sparrows take this as a warning and run away. With such a bird repellent, a larger area can also be covered with sound. However, the effect is highly controversial. In addition, the devices are relatively expensive. It is quite possible that you spend a lot of money and hardly have any effect.
coexistence
Basically it is a positive sign if you have the house sparrow in your garden. It shows that a lot of things are still in order. So you could be happy about the animals. Nevertheless, they are often perceived as a real plague. Yes, these birds are often annoying and make a lot of dirt. There is also no question that they can cause harm. However, with a little good will, peaceful coexistence with them is also possible. Since their natural habitat is becoming smaller and smaller, this also makes an important contribution to species protection.
