Assistance with HOSP

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  • #1615
    tamsea
    Moderator

      I love the trap too Rich! Have 4 in there right now….three new ones.

      Tammy

      #1616
      Puppygroomer
      Participant

        I also love the trap. I caught 19 last week! With 5 new bluebird babies and tree swallows checking out another box it is a must to catch as many possible. I don’t enjoy doing the “deed” but I know I’m doing the right thing.

        #1639
        tamsea
        Moderator

          19! that’s amazing. I’m freezing them for a person who needs them for taxidermy. Not sure what they do with them. So I’m motivated to trap. Any competition is good for me. I wish I caught 19!

          Tammy

          #1642
          Puppygroomer
          Participant

            That’s interesting about the taxidermy thing. My father was a taxidermist for years I’ll have to ask him why they would want them.
            Most times I would catch a sparrow with the van ert and put him in the cage to attract more. One day I actually caught a male and a female in the van ert, must have followed each other in in quickly!

            #1658
            tamsea
            Moderator

              That is what happened to me the other day.
              It started out with two HOSP in one ground trap (and more in a second). One of these HOSP I worked hard for several days to trap and he eluded me but I finally caught him. A chipmunk went into the trap so my husband put it in the car and took it to a park around the corner but in letting out the chipmunk he let out both hosp. I was not mad but frustrated. I checked a set trap on the walking trail and found one dead male hosp and a live female one in the box! So, that made up for my husband’s faux pas.

              Tammy

              #1678
              Bobs Farm
              Participant

                Hey guys, just bought a deluxe repeating sparrow trap. Going to use millet to attract my first victims. Outside that do you guys have any experience with the use of this trap. Suggestions are welcome. Thank you.

                #1711
                Love my blues!
                Participant

                  Hi Bob- I don’t personally have any experience, but under the bluebird chatter highlighted topics (think it’s 4th one listed), there is a lot of information about the deluxe repeating sparrow traps. I’m sure someone else will respond, but in the interim, hopefully that will help.

                  Nicole

                  #1721
                  tamsea
                  Moderator

                    Sorry, Bob. I forgot to check in. :) Make sure you put the landing platform on. (someone on another forum forgot). ;) To get the house sparrows to come sprinkle seed on the landing platform and on top on the little wood area and of course liberally in the bait area. You can put it off the ground or on the groudn. Directions suggest off the ground but I keep it on the ground. Use white millet or mixed seed with white millet to start out. Later you can try other things. Put in under wherever your HOSP perch and then wait. check it all the time especially when it’s very cold or very hot out. It will trap native birds. You might want to check the weight arm. Two quarters taped together should make the arm go quickly to the ground with very little to no bounce. If that doesn’t work then adjust it. A decoy is a must. Either catch one with your Van Ert and put it in the holding area or wait ….eventually you’ll catch one in the trap. After the first one the others are easier to catch. Keep them alive in the holding area with bird cups that you buy at the pet store with hooks on them with food and water. You want to keep them alive as long as possible to draw the other ones in. Cover at night or in rainy weather to help keep alive longer.

                    Tammy

                    #1725
                    Bobs Farm
                    Participant

                      That’s exactly what mine is. Did you place yours a little bit off the ground? It was suggested just lifting it a little bit above the ground. I also put cardboard underneith it to make it look like it has a floor. I am using millet. I set it by a nesting box where they had a nest a few days ago before I ripped it out. So far no luck though. I’ll let you know of I get one. Thanks for the advice.

                      #1785
                      tamsea
                      Moderator

                        I sat mine right on the ground even though the suggestions that come with the trap say to elevate it. Good idea about the cardboard underneath it. If you don’t catch any there move it around. Do you have feeders up? Put it under one of those. Or next to a favorite bush they are in.

                        Tammy

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