Bird food that House Sparrows won't eat

[jdpoole70]

I hung a bird feeder in Centerville and it started getting swarmed by House Sparrows.  However, I started having some beautiful Pinon Jays show up and I want to keep the Jays.  I was using a cheap mix and found that sparrows love the millet in the mix.  I dumped the feeder, cleaned it and went to Black Oil Sunflower seeds.  Nothing changed, the sparrows still came.  I changed the food over to a pure Safflower seed and the sparrows slowed down but about half of them would still eat the Safflower.  The sparrows are starting to take up residence in the carport and messing up the cars so if I can't figure something out then I will have to stop feeding completely.

Like I said, I really want to keep the Pinon Jays.  I am thinking of going out and purchasing supplies to feed peanuts, whole or hearts, but I don't want to do this if it is likely that the House Sparrow will just keep feeding.  I am also wondering about cracked corn and if the House Sparrows would eat it.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Jason

[aroomwithaview]

Oh I so know your pain! 

I can have up to 75 house sparrows in my yard at one time. I know they aren't good for the other birds. I can't seem to get rid of them. I've tried the types of food you mention too...from cheap mix, to chicken feed, to black oiled sunflower, to the expensive fruit and nut mix...they eat it all! I even have had some on my sock feeders with thistle seed. If anyone knows a good way to deter them...I'm all ears. 

samantha

[Mark Patterson]

I had the same problem a couple years ago.  I found that they sell a "Magic Halo," and looked online how to build one myself.  It just basically has lines hanging down that any bird can get through, but that for some reason, house sparrows do not like.  Many theories on why, but I would say just look it or similar products up online or build your own.  Only one or two house sparrows ever figured out how to feed at the feeder, though they did hang out under the feeder to eat the spillage of black oil sunflower seeds that were discarded or dropped by other more desirable birds.  It definitely worked for me!

Mark

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[Kenny Frisch]

The jays at my house enjoy when I toss peanuts in the shell out to them. I then enjoy them stashing the peanuts around my yard and coming back for more.

-Kenny Frisch

On Wed, Oct 7, 2015 at 4:18 PM, jdpoole70 <jdpo...@gmail.com> wrote:

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