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Ok guys, I have the Van Ert Trap for trapping HOSP in the BB nesting boxes. The trap works fabulously in an empty box. How can I use it when there is a full nest in the box? Do I carefully remove the full nest until I catch the HOSP……..then put it back? With the nest inside for the trap to work I would need to remove all but 1/2 inch of the nest. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Judy-Michigan
Judy, yes you will have to remove some of the nest from the box if it is a full nest. This year I have had more trouble with this than usual, but too much nest will, most of the time, prevent the trap from tripping. If I am sure the HOSP are around still, I usually will try to take out most of the nest and then set the trap again in the hopes they will be curious and wonder what is happening. But, then, sometimes I will just take out the whole nest. About a week ago I found a HOSP nest with 2 eggs in it, so I took out the eggs and part of the nest, set the trap but after two days they did not come around so I removed the whole nest.
It worked! I carefully took the nest out with a spatula, put it in the empty box temporarily. Set the Van Ert Trap…..had the male HOSP within 30 minutes. Put the nest back in the box and all was well. Funny thing ….as I was doing this the pair of TRES that originally started the nest came and sat on the other box to watch me. I believe it was their way of saying thank you!
Judy-Michigan
Congrats Judy I’ve been doing this as well. One thing about HOSPS is they don’t tend to get too fussy when you wreck their nests.. I have one that is a bit higher up so it gets hard to be too picky – I’ve literally pulled the whole nest out, yanked it apart and put a couple of grassy pieces back in and still had it POP within minutes – thats one nice thing about them being sloppy aggressive little things I guess !
Tammy, the nest was made by TRES…..now the blues have taken it over. I know what to do with HOSP nests. LOL.
Judy-Michigan
Judy, you did real good. I never had or saw TRES in my yard. I do believe they are up the road by the farm, but I have never had them at my BB box. Maybe some yeAr.
Connie
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