House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Science Article 5
abstract
Ace Bird Proofing Division is a business that provides structural birdproofing ofcommercial sites in New Zealand. The website provides an extensive list of diseasescarried by bird pests including Campylobacter spp, Eschericia coli 0157, Listeria spp,Salmonella spp, Vibrio cholerae, Cryptococcus neoformans and Histoplasmacapsulatum. However, it is not clear which of these diseases are carried by housesparrows. Scaring devices are not an effective control method for house sparrows.Preventing entry to buildings and nest sites is the best option but it is difficult becausesparrows are small and agile. Netting with a mesh of 19 mm is recommended for sealingopenings in buildings but netting that can trap native birds should not be used in Garryoak ecosystems. Avicides such as Alphachloralose may be effective for removingindividual sparrows but they require special licenses in New Zealand and are notavailable in Canada.
Carrina Maslovat, Ace Bird Proofing Division, Ace doors Nergeco Partner, 2002