[rec.birds] sparrows and other nesting birds

nora@cbnewsl.ATT.COM (nora.y.mclaughlin) (06/14/89)

I have a question for the experts. 

Every year we get a pair of nesting flycatchers of some type, they
usually make a nest on our house somewhere.  This year it was on
a shutter on the second floor.  Anyway the babies were hatched and
I noticed a sparrow flying around the nest in the morning when I 
went to work.  When I came home, all four babies were out of the nest
and lying dead on the roof.  My heart was broken.  

The question is, Would a sparrow somehow do this to the babies?  I thought
that maybe my dog barking would have scared them out of the nest.  They
were jprobably about 2 weeks old.  Thier pin feathers were just coming 
through.  

Also, is there anything you could do to deter this from happening again?

Since then, the pair of flycatchers have build another nest (we tore the
old one down because we thought the dog barking next to the window scared 
them.)

Thank in advance for any useful info.
Nora