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Hi Tammy,
Thanks so much for your reply and your suggestions. Two days ago I caught one, yesterday 12, and today 10 — all juveniles — everyone’s tips helped. I scoured the yahoo forum (that is now closed) and was able to piece together your method of euthanizing … I think. I wouldn’t mind confirmation but I can’t figure out how to PM you … can you tell me how?
Thanks again,
MaryMary,I just Pmd you. Look on the right of this page and half way down there should be “your cafe mailbox. Once your in you can write someone by just start typing their name and it will pop up as a suggestion. Click on it and write to them. But now you should see my message right away.
Tammy
Hi Tammy,
For some reason my mailbox did not hold a PM from you, but I did figure out how to PM you … not sure if you got it. Fifty-six house sparrows in four days … I think I’m getting the hang of it. It’s only a small dent so far, but I like to think of the broods that won’t happen next year. And, maybe, eventually, a return of the native bird song I so love.
Thanks for your help.
MaryYou’re right, hey my message did not send. I will be writing and I get to my computer later. I’m on my iPad now. It seems like you’re doing well with trapping!
Tammy
Hello! I live in KC Missouri in the suburbs and like so many people was ignorant to the house sparrow problem. In the last two years I have seen around 10 species of birds disappear from my area. I purchased a drst in August and it works like a charm but it does require patience. Have also had some success with homemade box trap that has a wire mesh portal and a modified swinging one-way gravity door.
Decoys definitely help, as well as Ritz crackers. Does anyone know when hs will start looking for nesting sites?Ritz crackers? I like that. Save the stale ones for the HOSP!
I bet they shop for nesting sites early on. Somebody who has them will have a better timetable.
Do you also have a Van Ert trap? It will help you get decoys.
Gin
Atlanta, GAI have several homemade nest box traps but no one is interested so far-hoping when weather turns they will start.
Had to use a glue trap on deck rail to get first decoy but don’t know if I will try it again-too messy and risky!
I’m trying to find info about mist netting techniques-but so far no luck.
Thanks for the reply!HOSP start scouting for nestboxes early in the winter months here in NW Ohio. I can’t remember when exactly but I’d say the end of January or maybe into Feb. Of course they don’t start building then. A Van Ert in-box trap works great. Why didn’t your homemade traps work to catch the first HOSP?
Tammy
I have had some luck with the DRST and a homemade walk-in trap but no interest in the nest box traps yet. I have read they may start looking as early as October but I’m not sure. I wish I had discovered this site five years ago before my sparrow population exploded!
Anyone that thinks hosp can live in harmony with other birds may be right for a few years but eventually the hosp will drive off almost all other birds just by their numbers !
Sparrow hunting in KC
DarrellDid you try your inbox traps early in the season? They work great when they are nesting. Try the Van Ert. Inexpensive and works great. Let them start a nest and then place thentrqp in. But of course watch it constantly so you can release native birds. Please forgive me if you know all this. I hate giving people info that they already know but am never sure. I love the DRST.
Tammy
Unfortunately I didn’t know that the house sparrows were so damaging to native species. I didn’t start trapping until August. The DRST is a great trap although I have had a few problems with the balancing arm getting out of alignment and sticking to the side. It’s an easy fix though. Hopefully when temperatures start to drop they will be easier to trap. Thanks for the info!
DarrellThe numbers you trap will probably go down quite a bit in the winter. At least that’s my experience. August is a perfect time to catch Juvies!
Tammy
I’ll have to try the Ritz crackers too! I just put the trap back out, as I have been so busy this summer, it was not worth it to just set it for a couple of days at a time.
I had my best trapping time in the fall last year.
A neighbor mentioned today that he’s glad I put it back out, as he had been seeing so many other native birds at his feeder since I started trapping. And I’ve seen the same thing at my feeder. After >400 HOSPs trapped in the past year, it looks like I’ve finally made a dent in their population around here. However, I caught four more today in about 4 hours.
Also caught a juvenile cardinal that really bit into my gloved finger as I was getting it out of the trap. And it kept biting my finger for about 15 seconds before it realized it was free to fly away! ;-)
Chris
Toledo, OhioHi Chris! What bait did you have most success with? I’m glad to hear your native birds are coming back-it gives me hope! Be glad to hear any other tips you might have !
Thanks
DarrellI use the same feed as I’m feeding in my feeders for bait, with a little millet mixed in, since I have the trap near my feeders. The trouble with the millet is that it keeps blowing off the trap, so the other seeds in the mix I use stay on the trap longer.
I have had the best luck with the trap elevated off the ground about 3′. I use an overturned plastic garbage can as a base, with a piece of plywood under the trap. This is especially important when the juncos come back in early winter, since they are ground feeders(usually). I have located the trap where they tend to land before going to the feeder too, with pretty good success.
I also have a wire stretched across the opening of my trap to keep out the cardinals and other larger birds(see some of my pics on pages 1 and 2). I do catch an occasional titmouse or chickadee, but only maybe once every couple of days. They don’t seem to fly around in a panic as much as the HOSPs do in the trap, and are fairly easy to grab with a gloved hand.
I mention the gloved hand, because a lot of the birds you try to get out of the trap do like to bite the glove while you are taking them out. Many times, they even keep biting the glove even when I have an open hand out of the trap. They usually do get the idea that they are free within 10 seconds or so, and rocket off.
Chris
Toledo, Ohio
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