Who Hates Sparrows?

[markT]

We lost two dove fields to sparrows this year. We have them by the 100’s. Normally I shoot them after work but this year couldn’t get by and shoot. Have look at this one throat. Not sure is they have a crop. This one was at 40 yds. With FX Dreamline in 22. Way to much energy. Although I love hearing the slap of the JSB DIABOLO. 177 would be much better as to not spook the others. 

 

[jps2486]

I never considered sparrows a pest.

 

[vinny]

Jps2486 they aren’t a pest , they are actually very beneficial, but people just look for something to shoot to make them feel good is all, Looks like that one had been feeding prior to being shot had lots of seed packed in there,

 

[Blackpaw]

ME ME ME ME!!! 

 

[Red25R]

Good shooting ,markT . I Used to hunt the sparrows , Starlings & pigeons for a couple of farms . Both were hog and or chicken farmers . Shot most of them and we shot hundreds over 4 years with our red rider BB guns . Those were the days ( 60 to 64 ). Me and my school buddy hunted with his .177 blue streak or my .22 crossman CO2 during the day . And we both used our Red riders at night in the buildings, utility sheds, machine sheds and barns with a flashlight . The farmer gave us 1/2 a cent for sparrows a penny for starlings and 2 cents for pigeons . We made enough to pay for are BB's and pellets and flash light battery's with a small profit . At night we would get enough to half to 3/4 fill a paper grocery bag with sparrows .Most nights the barns cats got a few we couldn't count them . And maybe 7 to 10 starlings a night and some times 2 or 3 pigeons. We would shoot 4 some times 5 nights a month and during the summer 2 days a week and there was always sparrows and starlings . Spring, summer , fall and winter. They were really fat on all the chicken and hog feed . During the heat of the summer we would get lemonade when we were done . The farmers really liked the dead pests on there place .

 

[lenweber2]

They are not a pest with 3-4 in your back yard eating bugs. But when you have a field crop with 100`s eating it's a pest. Same with ground squirrels and doves and pigeons. I killed 5000 yes 5000 of each last year. Ground squirrels eat 54# of alfalfa a year. Birds 1/2 pound of grain a day.

 

[biohazardman]

The imported English sparrows raid nests, kill the young of native birds and crap all over cows, their feed and other livestock just the same as the other invasive species.

They also build nests in gutters fan housings and electrical housings where they cause damage.

 

[Red25R]

The imported English sparrows raid nests, kill the young of native birds and crap all over cows, their feed and other livestock just the same as the other invasive species.

They also build nests in gutters fan housings and electrical housings where they cause damage

DITTO HERE

 

[markT]

Yes the invasive English sparrow. Look at this line packed with sparrows. Wiped out the planted millet. 

@Lenweber2 now that’s some shooting! Well done! 

 

[dizzums]

never had a problem with them, i like feeding them bits of my lunch in the parking lot at work lol ... hawks after my chickens now ewee .. wouldnt bother me one bit to see one laid out like the one in your pic ...

 

[Raider03]

If sparrows are a true "pest" in your situation then I don't have any issue with a humane dispatch, but, I wouldn't use the word hate.

 

[Blackpaw]

I would say it’s not just crops etc. Like Ted showed in some of his videos on starlings and sparrows and why he takes them out. In one of the videos he shows the sparrows attacking NATIVE swallows for the swallows nest. To me it would be, “sorry dude no bullying the current tenants, leave of suffer the consequences.”

 

[markT]

I rarely use the word “hate” because to me it is the highest form of dislike. But when I do, something is going to die. Same with doc Holiday about Johnny Ringo. We know how that ended. 

 

[idaho_varminter]

Not as much as I hate starlings, but they do wreak havoc on the native songbirds around here. Not to mention the damage to crops and the mess they make in livestock barns. 

 

[Flintsack]

English Sparrows purposely go in and kill the babies and/or break the eggs of other birds nests. Birds like blue birds and Cardinals, chickadees, House finches etc. etc. They do this because they are competing.

We used to go to war every spring. I would start out with one of my low powered 17 caliber air guns, from there I would progress to a semi auto A5 In 22. 

Then they would get so educated, I would switch to a 12 gauge shotgun with 9 shot.

I’m sure I would kill over 100 each spring.

I swear to God I haven’t seen one in two years.

I don’t miss them at all. Not in any way shape or form.

Invasive species.

mike

 

[cea1960]

I have a video some where on my computer of a male hosp harassing a black capped chickadee and not allowing it to return to the birdhouse they had nested in. Since I built and hung that house with the correct size hole to allow the smaller native birds to nest, I delt with the hosp using extreme prejudice. I was rewarded with new chickadee chicks.

 

[cea1960]

Jps2486 they aren’t a pest , they are actually very beneficial, but people just look for something to shoot to make them feel good is all, Looks like that one had been feeding prior to being shot had lots of seed packed in there,

I think you're being a bit judgemental. This thread is for posting hunting and/or pesting. If this type of content upsets you, don't read it.

 

[airgunmike56]

I have been shooting sparrows for a long time, At the place I am at now I have been shooting the pest for 25 years,,, In the spring shoot the males first , With all the females areoud it will pull the males in for miles , If I am lucky I can get 10 maybe a few more a day,,, Back 25 years ago 30 to 50 a day was easy,,,,

They learn are are smart birds , So you have to change your tactics around , 

Mike

 

[qball]

Absolutely hate them! They will wreck your crops or my figs and berries. 

 

[markT]

Jps2486 they aren’t a pest , they are actually very beneficial, but people just look for something to shoot to make them feel good is all, Looks like that one had been feeding prior to being shot had lots of seed packed in there,

I think you're being a bit judgemental. This thread is for posting hunting and/or pesting. If this type of content upsets you, don't read it.

Totally agree with your reply.. Benefical? Ha. Hawks are beneficial, they kill rats. Bluebirds are beneficial they make use smile at their beauty. ( Oh wait, we are being judgmental) Owls are beneficial they hunt st night and kill rats... Bats are beneficial they fly around at night and eat insects. Except for the bats that flew out of the window of a lab in whew hann... Pigeons are beneficial: to maybe FX, Daystate, JSB, HAWK, UA.. etc.. etc...