The University of Nebraska’s Magic Halo design is a hand-crafted device designed to deter House Sparrows (HOSP) from hanging bird feeders. The halo is hung horizontally above the feeder and can be equipped with hanging, weighted hobby wires. These wires are not sparrow-proof but help to exclude messy, greedy, and aggressive sparrows from the feeder without discouraging other birds.
To optimize the Magic Halo’s performance, it is recommended to eliminate and monitor nesting sites. House Sparrows thrive near people and benefit from almost everything that humans provide, including places for their nests. To do this, you can use Gilbertson PVC nestboxes or Troyer style boxes.
Hang monofilament on a sturdy object, such as a baffle or clothes hanger bent into a circle, and hang the ring above your feeder. Attach wires to dangle from the ring, using hobby wire instead of fishing line as birds can easily become entangled.
The original Magic Halo was invented and patented by the University of Nebraska. It works with none tube feeders and can be found online for purchase and instructions. To make another halo for a suet feeder, you can use an old round “grow-through” plant support instead of a plastic baffle.
To ensure squirrel-proof pole and hook systems, use a baffle mounted about 4 feet high from the ground. Feeder arrangements should be squirrel-proof, and the product is a hoop device consisting of a series of wires attached to the top of a birdhouse or feeder, extending beyond its extremities, under.
In summary, the Magic Halo is a hand-crafted device designed to deter House Sparrows from hanging feeders. By eliminating and monitoring nesting sites, you can optimize the Magic Halo’s performance and reduce birdseed waste.
📹 Instructional Video: Magic Halo “Classic” (CAPTIONS ONLY, no audio)
Assemble your Magic Halo (Model: Classic) in a few short minutes. This video is CAPTIONS ONLY, there is no audio. To purchase …
How to make a sparrow halo?
To deter House Sparrows from your yard, use a halo baffle or a clothes hanger bent into a circle. Hang a ring above your feeder and attach wires to dangle from the ring. Avoid using fishing line as it can become entangled, use hobby wire or shiny wire for better visibility. Weight the wires with fishing weights or fix them to the ground to prevent entanglement. Space lines 30-60 cm apart (one or two ft.) for optimal results.
However, halo deterrents may become less effective over time, as birds may become more comfortable with the wires. The University of Nebraska researchers found that wires were not effective in deterring juvenile House Sparrows or breeding females, possibly due to juvenile birds being less wary of dangers and adult birds taking risks during breeding season to care for young.
If you have used a halo to deter House Sparrows, share your experience in the comments below.
How do you make a bird feeder ring?
This homemade suet bird seed wreath is a heartfelt and nutritious treat for winter birds. Melt three blocks of rendered suet in a large pot over low heat, then add peanut butter and let it fully melt. Combine the liquid suet with the bird seed and spray a bundt pan with cooking spray. Fill the bottom with berries and fruit. This wreath is perfect for wrens, chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers, and can be hung outside to prevent collisions. The wreath is a heartfelt gift for bird lovers and is a great way to provide nutritious food for birds during the cold months.
How do you make a feeding ring?
Subsequently, the surface should be treated with super glue, after which the item is to be inserted and allowed to dry.
Why do people put rings on birds?
Ringing birds is crucial for understanding their lifespan and migration patterns, which are vital for bird conservation. The Ringing Scheme in Britain and Ireland has been in operation for over 100 years, but the main focus is monitoring bird populations. Ringing allows researchers to study the number of young birds that leave the nest and survive to become adults, as well as the survival rates of adults amidst breeding, migration, and severe weather.
This information helps understand the causes of population declines. The British Trust for Nature (BTO) runs two special projects to collect this data: the Constant Effort Sites (CES) scheme, which provides information on population size, breeding success, and survival of bird species in scrub and wetland habitats.
How to make seed rings for birds?
This DIY birdseed wreath is a delicious treat for hungry songbirds to enjoy in their backyard. To make it, spray the interior of a pan with nonstick spray, arrange dried fruit, place warm water in a mixing bowl, sprinkle gelatin, mix corn syrup, flour, and peanut butter, and add birdseed. Press the mixture into the pan and gently flip it over to release the wreath. The wreath is perfect for those who love watching birds visit feeders and enjoy cooking and crafting.
How do I keep sparrows away from my bird feeder?
FeederWatcher Bill Kampen shares strategies for feeding birds without feeding House Sparrows. After an invasion of House Sparrows, he nearly stopped feeding birds, but eventually found effective methods. He tried spreading bark butter on the underside of tree limbs, hoping it wouldn’t attract the sparrows. After trial and error, he found several effective strategies.
If all else fails, consider removing feeders for a few weeks and rebuilding the feeding operation one feeder at a time. Swap nest boxes with wren or chickadee boxes with smaller entrance holes. House Sparrows are not native, so it is legal to remove them. Reducing their populations may help native bird populations, but it’s not for everyone. Individuals interested in reducing House Sparrow populations can find information on the NestWatch website.
While evidence suggests that House Sparrows outcompete native birds for nest cavities, it’s unclear if feeding them harms native bird populations. Despite this, many people would prefer not to feed House Sparrows, and these suggestions aim to attract a wider variety of birds to feeders.
How does the magic halo work?
The product is a hoop device with wires attached to a birdhouse or feeder, which forces birds to pass under it. It has been demonstrated that certain avian species, including the house sparrow, are unable to fly under elongated wires.
How do you make a sparrow happy?
To ensure your pet bird’s well-being, provide an enriching cage with ropes and ladders, place it in an active part of your home, and provide plenty of entertainment like perches and toys. Switch things out periodically to stimulate your bird, exercise them, and allow them time out of the cage. Teaching tricks can help maintain their mental muscles and improve your relationship with the bird. For any further questions about your pet, contact the Animal Medical Center of Appleton at 920-749-1717 or visit their location.
How do you make a bird halo?
The University of Nebraska’s Magic Halo design uses a 30″ wide circle of wire hung horizontally above a bird feeder, with optional hanging of four thin wires weighted at the bottom. The idea is that House Sparrows get spooked by the wire, while other birds do not. Putting these over a feeder can reduce House Sparrows on a feeder by about 85 or more. However, juveniles do not see the wires as a problem and do not get spooked by them.
To test this idea, a DIY halo was made using heavy multi-purpose wire and a hook, but it was not successful in deterring House Sparrows. The author suggests that hanging wires are necessary for their local sparrow flock.
What is a halo baffle on a bird feeder?
The use of a halo above bird feeders has been demonstrated to be an effective method for deterring house sparrows from consuming the birdseed, as they are averse to anything above them. The product is available in two formats: a hanging option for tube/silo feeders and a roof-mounted option for hoppers and flytraps.
What is the anti house sparrow halo?
The Magic Halo, a patented device developed by the University of Nebraska, is a wire circle about 30 inches in diameter that is placed like a halo over a feeder to deter House Sparrows from feeding. Although not sparrow-proof, it helps in deterring birds from feeders. It is important not to use fishing line on the halo as it can wrap around incoming birds. Additionally, it is advised to avoid feeding cheap seed mixes with millet and cracked corn.
By removing food sources and combining passive and active control methods, you can successfully reduce the local House Sparrow (HOSP) population and competition for nesting sites. The Magic Halo is effective in reducing English House Sparrow (HOSP) populations near a small bluebird trail in northeastern Connecticut. However, when HOSP populations are high and local food sources are limited, they may overcome their fear and continue using the feeder, although in smaller numbers.
📹 How to Deter House Sparrows at Bird Feeders 2021
Learn how to make various versions of the magic halo to keep house sparrows from eating at your bird feeders. *UNIVERSITY OF …
These are great tips; thanks for sharing. I do want to caution folks that birds have wings and wings can get caught in wire. I am a volunteer with a wild bird rescue and have had to deliver a number of birds caught up in wire, fishing line, plastic netting. Shoe laces are probably the best bet, to play it safe.
OMG OMG I can’t believe it: it works!!!! 🏆🏆 100% Sparrows free feeder for the first time! At first I was skeptical about it, but it has been 3 days and not even one Sparrow has arrived at the feeder (I used to see flocks of 20-40 sparrows all the time) They are afraid to approach, while the Woodpeckers, Tits, Bulbuls and European Robin have it all for themselves. Thank you so much!!! I’ll post a article of it soon, using my other user (Alonteach) I was very lucky to see your article! Thank you again.
We’re on our way to buy a few of the items we need to assemble the cross style halo. We’re so grateful to have come across your site! Thank you for your help. One week ago we had beautiful songbirds at our feeders but one morning we awoke to see only house sparrows… We’ve decided to give the invaders their own food area and to put halos around the rest of the feeders to see what happens. The squirrels are going to have a field day with those wires! Fingers crossed. Much appreciation to you!
Used one of ny wife’s old stove top inserts, drilled 4 holes, used wire about the same as bread tie wire, then weighed them at the end with old keys. MAN, does it work great, i placed 3 magnets on top since feeder and stove insert are metal, the magnets secure it well. I watched as the sparrows tried over and over to land, notice i said “tried”. Thanks for tip!🙏🙋
Wow! I never knew such a thing existed. I have tons of house sparrows that come and crowd out the other birds at my feeders (it gets costly feeding them). I am going to make one of these right away as I am planning on putting up a suet log I am making. Recently we have had a swarm of bushtits and I want them and the woodpeckers to feel at home and and get some of the suet. This looks like it will do the trick.
This is a terrific resource you’ve created. Anyone who feeds birds in order to support local native bird populations in the face of dwindling resources (food, nesting spaces) should be aware that House Sparrows are non-native, invasive, produce up to 5 large broods per year, kill native birds for their nesting spaces, and readily outcompete local species for ever-decreasing resources — “magic halos” like these are immensely helpful at keeping House Sparrows from overwhelming local bird hangouts. Thanks for sharing your work! Are you able to share any updates on how each of these feeders have performed since February 2021?
Truly amazing! I didnt know that such a thing existed. I bought materials to make a live trap ghis winter and now I will build halos around other feeders. I just hope the halos don’t deter some of the native sparrows, although many of them are migrating south for winter. Thanks for all the examples, this should be fun. Cheers! 😊
This year those euro sparrows are hitting my mealworm feeder for my bluebirds. They are keeping the bluebirds at bay and the female is in the bird box sitting on some eggs. So I came across this article yesterday and made a setup with some twine and clips off of the shade/rain protector that’s over the feeder. So far yesterday afternoon and this morning there are no sparrows going into the feeder. They are hanging out in the tree nearest the feeder but not on the feeder. I have to see how long this works because so far every thing I have tried over the last 3 years has only worked temporarily. 🤞🏻, thanks for the article.
Interesting, thanks. All I’ve got at my feeders are House Sparrows. I get nothing else at all ever. I buy new food, and fill my feeders and they’re empty that same day. I’ve got a very large bush next to the feeders in my backyard that I think I’ve got to get rid of too. There’s probably 100 house sparrows in it at any one time. They also nest in my birdhouse, and use the birdbath nearby, all within about 20 feet of each other. I’ve unknowingly created a House Sparrow paradise I think, haha. So I finally looked them up and it seems they’re quite a problem.
This interests me as I had one of those caged double suet feeders with the brown/tan roof and downy’s liked to feed from it but so did house sparrows, in fact they raided it in flocks so I took it down a couple yrs ago. So what the heck, I have all the materials needed and made one of your suggested methods, am curious to see if it will work or not, have my doubts as its late in season.
How does this work – or does this work to deter Starlings as well? I have a baffle atop a seed log to protect against rain damage as I have had them destroyed because of rain in the past. But now that you suggested this I know of no HOSP partaking, assuming that they just didn’t like the seed log, but lots of other native species utilizing, including Red Bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Chipping Sparrows, Chickadees (I thought they were Black Capped, but may be Carolina), Titmouse, Robins and Cardinals, Catbirds, Carolina Wrens. I am also using Squirrel-Proof tube feeders that really do work, which both Starlings and HOSP love that the spare baffle can be used on.
Hello Robert, I just have another question please can you leave them on all the time? They do work but when I take them off they come back in vengeance they will eat anything I put out. I’m about ready to give up. The only solution left is trapping but I bet the house sparrows are to smart for that here I never did catch the ones that killed my bluebird. 😩 I wish I had someone that was trained to come and trap I would pay money for that. Any advice? Thanks
Use a Henry smooth bore 22 and 22 birdshot. I have removed about 400 house sparrows in 3 years. You need to be about 10 feet from them but, I have many times gotten asmany as 4 HOSP with a single shot. Kinda fun and rewarding. I have found a 20ga shotgun for the starlings with “low noise” shells when the starlings cover the suet feeder. This has proven extremely effective.
Hello, mine is not working to well. Would it make a difference what color string or if there is a string attached to the bottom to keep them from swinging? Dang it I have tried everything I will probably take some feeders down. Some of them are even eating my safflower. I am about to give up. Please let me know if I could be doing something wrong. Thanks Update—Mine is not working at all and that is a big disappointment 😩 I made sure it was made correctly also. Oh well, it was worth a try these house sparrows are driving me nuts. There eating everything I mean everything even nyjer and safflower seed. Thanks for the article though.
Hello again Robert, I finally got mine made out of 1.5 black nylon cord but I’m testing it on the nyjer seed feeder first. Do you know if gold finches are affected by it? Thanks Hi Robert, just wanted to give an update. I finally got it up and I’m so surprised but it is working a lot it doesn’t keep them all off but it has made a huge difference. Thank you so much for sharing this the house sparrows can be a big struggle. They only concern I have now is it keeping my goldfinches away also. I have only saw one on my feeder but it could be that they haven’t got back yet after baby raising. So I will let you know what happens. Thanks again.
Why would you want to get rid of house sparrows? At this point in life it doesn’t make sense to think in terms of native species. We have completely changed our landscaping views. I think a better way to.keep native species is by planting native trees and plants, so they attract naturally local species.