His Eye is on the Sparrow, but Not Mine!

When we moved into our home in 2015, there was a clothes line in the backyard that we wanted to remove. One of the T-poles was wood, and came out of the ground easily. The other T-pole was steel and set in a large amount of concrete. There was no way we were going to be able to easily remove the pole, so I embraced it. I painted it red, did a little bit of modest landscaping around it, and (my favorite thing) I hung a birdhouse that a friend made for us as a housewarming gift. I was looking forward to the possibility of enjoying birds in our own yard. The first spring, we didn't have any feathered visitors claim our little white birdhouse as their own, but early the next spring, to our surprise, black capped chickadees came. When they were finished raising their sweet young, equally to our delight, little wrens came. The next spring followed the same pattern. First the chickadees came, raised their babies, and then the wrens came again, as well. This spring, we were looking forward to the return of our two sweet songbird families, but strange chaos was about to destroy the concept of our little bird nursery.

Mr. Woodpecker was the first to come. He did a thorough job of pecking around the entrance hole of the birdhouse making it bigger than it should be to keep the tiny wren family safe from predators. Not long after Mr. Woodpecker decided the little white birdhouse wasn't up to his expectations, a bluebird couple came and argued with the returning chickadees wanting rights to nest in the space. To both of the bird couples' dismay, house sparrows came on the scene bargaining for the space, as well. The three bird couples flitted about, sang accusatory songs, and chased each other off until the house sparrow couple finally won early spring nesting rights to the house.

I felt frustrated that it was common sparrows, not my beloved chickadees or bluebirds that were building a nest, but then I was reminded that the sparrow is the lowliest of birds, and they needed a home, too. I tried to make my peace with it. 

SOMEONE HAS TO TAKE CARE OF THE SPARROWS, RIGHT?

"What is the price of two sparrows- one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it." Matthew 10:29 (NLT)

We have a heart for ragamuffins and those broken by life. Who better to take care of the lowly sparrows than us? Though disappointed, I tried to let the heart of what was happening soak in. I went the extra step and hung a bird feeder on the crossbar opposite of the little white birdhouse. I would make it as easy as possible for the sparrows to thrive until they flew away after raising their young, but... 

THEY NEVER LEFT THE NEST! THEY NEVER FLEW AWAY!

I started to become worried about what would happen when the little wrens came if they found their home occupied. The chickadees and wrens shared the space together in perfect harmony, but the sparrows stayed... and stayed... and stayed. They wore out their welcome.

The wrens did, indeed, return about two weeks ago. They flitted around the clothes line pole singing concerns to each other about their hijacked home. They finally gave up, and I thought they would be gone for good. By now, It was an all out struggle for me to embrace what seemed like lazy sparrows taking over our beloved birdhouse and just camping out because it was easy, yet the words of the old hymn swirled around my head and heart and brought nothing but guilt.

"I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free, for his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me." (Civilla D. Martin) 

Ugh! What an internal battle I was in about these sparrows! 

To my surprise, the wrens came back and discovered that we had an uninhabited birdhouse hanging on our patio. It was a perfect little wren house with a small entrance for their protection. Satisfied, Mommy and Daddy Wren began to build a nest in the little red birdhouse. I was thrilled that the wrens came back and found a safe place to call their own. They busied themselves, driven to build their nest, and my heart finally rested over this crazy bird dilemma. 

Two days after fervent nest building, the house sparrows did something that changed my perspective forever. I had just returned from taking my daughter to work, and heard constant angry chirping coming from our patio. I opened the blinds on our sliding glass door to find the oversized male and female sparrow (no doubt fattened from their hearty food supply) tag-teaming against the sweet little wrens. The bully birds were actually attacking the wrens and fly-diving at them to chase them away. Those fat sparrows wouldn't have been able to fit in the little red birdhouse if they tried. I angrily chased the sparrows away at least thirty times only to have them return quickly with their antagonistic tones spewing bitterness at the sweet little wrens. I decided that it was long past time to consult Google to figure out what might be going on with these sparrows.

The following is from Pest Management Professional.

"House sparrows have since become a common pest bird that lives in close association with humans, greatly depending upon them for food and nesting sites. The birds are associated with the transmission of more than 25 diseases of humans and domestic animals... House sparrow feces deface and foul structures, park benches, outdoor lunch tables, statues and stair railings, and contaminate walkways around buildings. Their uric acid droppings can even damage automobile paint. House sparrow nests often clog roof drains, plug gutters and downspouts, and cause roof leaks. Their bulky nests made of grass, straw, feathers, hair, weeds and other dried plant materials, strings and other miscellaneous flammable trash are serious fire hazards—especially when nests are located in electrical equipment, light fixtures, around power lines and electrical substations. House sparrows are opportunistic, quarrelsome, aggressive, persistent, relentless and pugnacious competitors, and they’ll frequently out-compete, drive out and displace desirable native songbirds.Bird houses that are placed out to accommodate songbirds are often usurped by house sparrows."

I was shocked! House sparrows are flat out evil! I told IronMan all that I had learned about the house sparrows and he did a little bit of research on his own. He learned that a house sparrow will raise 3-5 broods a season. No wonder they didn't leave the white birdhouse! They were multiplying right under our noses. He also said that if you try to remove their nest, they will attack and kill any area songbirds out of spiteful vengeance before they leave the area. The wrens wisely left and never returned the morning I tried to chase the sparrows away from the little red birdhouse. Maybe this way they have found a safe place to nest and they will ultimately be protected from these bully sparrows?

I feel like I was naive to allow the house sparrows to come and stay. I ignored my own reservations, and made it as convenient as possible for them. I even provided for them by feeding them choice birdseed. It was easy for evil to come and camp out, rest (does evil ever rest?), and stay awhile, and I was completely unaware. Evil seeps in slow moving and desensitizes us until we are okay with it. Its steadily growing roots finger down until its grip is fierce, it's either too late, or it becomes a GREAT BIG deal to get rid of after causing untold damage. I am awake to this now, and it is my responsibility to stay aware of other ways evil much worse than sparrows may be creeping in. I am known for championing grace, and I don't often talk about this, but if you are allowing things in your life and your family's life that you know shouldn't be there, wake up! Don't be naive. Take care of things before they take root. This is truth. We have a very real enemy that seeks to destroy us in any way that he can. I am not an alarmist or a person that thinks there is a demon around every bush, but I have also lived a little, and I can tell you that this is real, and attack seldom shows up like a loud parade at your door. I thought it was a good thing that I was going to take care of these house sparrows, but allowing them to stay did nothing but destroy the good.

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10 (ESV)

I HAVE DECIDED THAT IF GOD'S EYE IS ON THE SPARROW, THAT'S OKAY. GOD, HIMSELF, CAN TAKE CARE OF THEM! I'M OUT. 😉

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