Deluxe Repeating Sparrow Trap Information

[dogsandbirds]

Lice? You are not apt to get lice from birds. Sometimes birds do have feather mites and handling an infested bird might cause transfer to your skin but you would see them. Water rinses them right off. And then the skin crawlies start…

Gin
Atlanta, GA

[stumpy75]

Well, for the past week, I thought I had a pair of Carolina Wrens setting up house in my BB box. They were coming in and out as if they were serious…

Then, this morning, I saw a male HOSP going in and out… I set a VanErt trap, and within 30 minutes had a large male HOSP in which to bait the repeating trap with. But he was so frantic in the BB box that he knocked most of the wren nest out of the bottom ventilation slot. So, I guess we’ll see if the wrens come back. I did see a male BB sitting on top of the box two days ago, even as the wrens were around. Don’t know who would have won that fight… Kind of a wet and drizzly day here today, and not many birds at my feeders this morning.

Chris
Toledo, Ohio

[tamsea]

Carolina Wren! Jealous! I’ve only seen one once or twice!

Tammy

[stumpy75]

I’ve seen the wrens around for the past 2-3 weeks, and caught them at least twice in my repeating trap… Was glad to see they found the box, as many people I know already had the first brood of BBs in their boxes, and I figured it was a little late for my box.

Now, with the nest mostly destroyed, it will be interesting to see who comes back to the box.

Chris
Toledo, Ohio

[Dale]

Hi everyone,
I just got my DRST out but not having any luck. Is there to much easy food around for them this time of the year down here in southern Louisiana? I have see way more Starlings than HoSps around here. I’ve tried it on the driveway and set it up 3 foot off the ground with no luck. I’ve tried bread and cheap bird feed from walmart. The doves love it.

what is a good bait for starlings? I would like to thin them out also.

Thanks,
Dale
Denham Springs, LA

Dale

[LonesomeDuck]

Suet is usually a good bait for starlings, but I think winter time is the main time to catch starlings with bait.

I switched to millet as the feed in my trap last week and have caught several sparrows since then. Up to ~100 sparrows and starlings killed since I moved in last year but they still keep coming! One or two male HOSP’s insist on perching on my purple martin house and I have yet to take them out, will only be a matter of time though!

[Dale]

Thanks a million.
I will try that. Good luck with the flying mice.

Dale

Dale

[tamsea]

Dale, winter is a better time to trap Starlings with a ground trap and peanut butter works really well. It’s almost impossible to trap them now that way though. It would be better if you had a nestbox trap for them. I don’t have one but I’ve heard they work really well. The starling goes into a nestbox hole to start a nest and is trapped.
Once you have a decoy in the repeating trap you’ll catch more. It’s that first one that is hard to get. That’s why many of us have a van Ert inbox trap and we will catch a house sparrow with that and then put him in the holding area of the repeater trap.
You can still catch HOSP without a decoy but it take more time. If it doesn’t work off the ground, try putting it on the ground (that what I do). Try different locations, under a feeder, by some bushes that they frequent, under a fence where they perch. Is the weight bar right? Put two quarters (taped together is easier) on the arm and if the arm makes a quick drop to the ground with no bouncing then that’s perfect. (for house sparrows). Are you sprinkling seed on the landing platform? And maybe on the wood part of the cage on top? This brings them in. And of course a lot in the bait area too. I’ve heard recently of people putting nesting material in the bait tray and even in the holding compartment. Try everything.

Tammy

[Dale]

Thanks Tammy. I will give a try. Down here in Louisiana I can’t even get the Bluebirds to eat live mealworms. I’ve tried everything I have read in the forum and still no luck but I will not give up we have 2 families of Blues living in my yard. I may have to wait for Fall for that also.

Thanks,
Dale

Dale

[Dale]

I have tried just about everything you have mentioned I guess the Southern
bird down here are a little different. The only thing I have caught in the
DRST are Chipping Sparrows, Doves, Brown Thrashers and a tufted titmouse
and one House Sparrow. I can’t even get my Bluebirds to eat live mealworms
on my feeder. I guess natural food is way too abundant around my home. I
have placed live mealworms in dishes right at their feet and they don’t
even pay any attention to them. I have caught two male House Sparrows in
my nest box trap that’s how I trapped the only female in the DRST. The
trap functions quite well. I think I will try a number of different
locations to see if that works better.

I will let you know how that works.

Thank you for all your help.

Dale

Dale

[Dale]

Hi guys,

It’s all about location! location! location! I move the trap to a new location and trapped 4 house sparrows, 2 Brown Thrashers and 1 Northern Cardinal. Of course I let the Thrashers and the Cardinals go and keep the Sparrows for decoys.

Thanks again for all the help it paid off. Just a simple thing as location.

Dale

Dale

[tamsea]

Glad it worked for you, Dale. I’m sure you are giving those decoys food and water so they stay alive as long as possible in the trap.
It takes some patience to teach bluebirds to take your live mealworms. But if they have babies it should be easier. You have to just keep putting them out where they perch. Put them in a clear or white shallow ceramic or glass dish (smooth sided so the mealworms can’t escape). Put it low like on a step stool or plant stand and right under where they perch. Sometimes it takes a couple of weeks of doing that.

Tammy

[stumpy75]

Just a quick update… My battle with HOSPs continues. I have trapped 4 males out of a Bluebird box using the VanErt trap, and placed them as decoys in the repeating traps. I’m still getting a couple a day with the repeating trap.

Yesterday, with sparrows around, I set the VanErt trap again, and within 15 minutes, caught something. However, this time, it was a male bluebird!!

Oh course, he was immediately released. Sure hope he comes back though! :-)

Chris
Toledo, Ohio

[tamsea]

I’m getting some with my van ert and a few with my DRST (repeating trap) but not two a day. Jealous!

Tammy

[Bobs Farm]

Hi guys, looking for some suggestions. I’ve had my trap going on three weeks now and haven’t had any luck. I’ve used millet in hopes to deter other types of birds but it seems it’s not working on the HOSP’s either. I’ve tried placing it on the ground and also elevating the trap in three different locations. First by my BB box that they tried to take over, then under the feeders. I’ve now moved it it to a bush area where I see them camp. Still nothing. I do have mealworms and haven’t tried using them yet. If I was to go that route, do you put them inside the trap I suppose? Because if I put them near the entrance they will most likely crawl off on me. Just looking for ideas, thanks.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 7 months ago by Bobs Farm.

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