How invasive house sparrows are helping scientists detect dangerous contaminants

Phys.org

March 2, 2026

The house sparrow is a highly invasive pest in North Carolina, and bluebird enthusiasts frequently throw their eggs out and remove their nests to keep them from overtaking the nestboxes that bluebirds call home. A new study puts those discarded eggs to use in detecting heavy metal contaminants in bluebird habitats, which often border human communities.