A Case of Avian Homicide on a Quiet Back Porch

According to Mulvihill, killing house sparrows is a common human response. He acknowledges that humans, not the house sparrows that were brought here, pose a threat to bluebirds and eastern phoebes. The sparrows were originally introduced to control pest insects and succeeded in making themselves at home. However, now that they are too adept at competing with other birds we want to attract, they have become pest themselves. This serves as a reminder to avoid introducing adaptable species into new environments, which would inevitably upset the ecological balance, leading to complications.

Mulvihill also suggested some ways to undermine the sparrows’ presence: stop feeding the birds by February, avoid using inexpensive bird food mixes with ingredients sparrows love, and replace platform feeders with tubular versions that are not as easily dominated by them. However, as the climate changes, we may have to get used to birds competing for nesting space in our backyards. This problem is expected to worsen.

While the competition between wild birds can be witnessed, little can be done on a large scale to curb it. Even if someone attempts to kill all the house sparrows at their house, it would have to be done annually.

As I keep an eye out for nest-raiding house sparrows this spring, I am reminded of the consequences of human interaction on the bird population. A mother bird does her best to raise her young, despite the obstacles we humans throw at her.

Daryln Brewer Hoffstot, author of “A Farm Life: Observations From Fields and Forests,” has recently published a book with Stackpole Books.