HOUSE sparrows have new homes to go to thanks to bird lover Dave Harazny.

Dave, from Meadow Drive, Barnton, created six bird boxes for trees in Barnton, which were installed by the Canal and River Trust.

The initiative was the latest bird box scheme by Dave, who has put up 40 boxes at Saltersford Locks and is planning to put up six at Dutton Locks.

The Barnton boxes were attached to trees on land trust land above Barnton Tunnel, and were put up by Lionel Williams and Trevor Wilkinson from the trust, help by trust representatives Jeff Smith and Sara Hill.

“House sparrows have nowhere to nest in the eaves of new or modernised houses, which is one of the reasons they are in decline,” said Dave.

The trees where the boxes were installed are on land at the junction of Oakwood Lane and Blackcroft Avenue, which was chosen because of its nearness to housing and the number of sparrows in the area.

“Now is the time of year when sparrows look for new nesting sites, and I will be checking on the boxes to see if they are being used,” added Dave, who is licensed by the British Trust for Ornithology.

Each of the Barnton boxes can house a pair of birds, and the boxes at Saltersford Locks are used in the main by Great Tits and Blue Tits.

“The installation of the boxes at Barnton is a nice opportunity for the trust to work with a local ornithologist,” said Sarah Hill, a local ecologist for the region.

Anyone who is interested in volunteering for the trust can ring 03030 404040.