Dear Sir,

Thank you for the letter printed on Saturday, “Struggling bluebirds need you!”

I believe it was Stuart Smith himself who suggested to us several years ago a solution to the problem of sparrows driving bluebirds out of nesting boxes.

We have found it an ingenious but simple and effective suggestion.

Stuart said: “Put up your nesting boxes in separate pairs, each pair about ten or 12 feet apart. You will find that a sparrow immediately colonises one of the boxes and begins to build his untidy nest.

“He will not allow another sparrow to colonise the other box. And so you have appointed a valiant ally and sentry to protect the bluebird who you will find peacefully colonising the other box.”

We have found this strategy to be highly effective and it is taking place again, right now, on our property.

It helps the sparrows breed, of course. But they are going to nest somewhere anyway.

We might as well use them to enable the bluebirds to breed too.

DICK BUTTERFIELD