Photo © Sparrow Swap

Sparrow Swap Returns For 2nd Season

House Sparrows are a non-native species that compete for cavities with native birds throughout North America. While this ubiquity can make them a nuisance around nest boxes, it can also make them a really good study subject for learning about widespread problems like environmental toxins. 

The Sparrow Swap Project invites you to collaborate in citizen-science research with a three-fold mission: (1) determine if House Sparrow eggs can be used to map exposure to environmental contaminants, (2) test the effectiveness of different House Sparrow management techniques, and (3) investigate the geographic variation in the color and speckling of House Sparrow eggs.

All you need to participate is a nest box that is currently attracting House Sparrows. Visit Sparrow Swap to get more information and sign up. Sparrow Swap is a project of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. If you have questions about the project, please refer to the Sparrow Swap FAQs. NestWatch reminds you that only the eggs of non-native species may be collected without a permit. If you’re unsure about the species, do not remove any eggs.