phillyblues

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  • in reply to: HOSP seem to be gone #27344
    phillyblues
    Participant

      So sorry Dave. I’ve been there 2 years ago Not a lot of bluebirds in my area and I lost 5 babies who were due to fledge that very day to a HOSP attack. Last year my eggs and mom vanished without a trace.

      in reply to: HOSP seem to be gone #27338
      phillyblues
      Participant

        Wish mine were gone. I lost count how many I have trapped this year. Next day another 2 or 3 take their place.Must be someone on the block who got a hosp bird feeders for Christmas. Worst bird year ever in general here.

        in reply to: Cursed Year What is going ON? #27143
        phillyblues
        Participant

          I should say I did have a bb pair exploring the trail in early April (when it was kinda nice out) but they moved on. I put up a spooker on the former tres box. Maybe that will buy some time while I coonntinue to remove sparrow nests in the other problem boxes.

          in reply to: Anyone seen our precious bluebirds yet? #27104
          phillyblues
          Participant

            Hotel Sparrowfornia this year for me. Constant. Never caught so many this time of year. Almost all males.

            in reply to: I’m SO depressed – no BB nest yet #27047
            phillyblues
            Participant

              So sorry. Same here, Carol. The sparrows are out of control. I think maybe because new neighbors up tye street have a zillion feeders all filled with the typical walmart wild bird (sparrow) seed. Saw bluebirds on my trail a few weeks ago but they disappeared and now the weather turned cold. I trapped 10 sparrows this week alone and they keep coming!

              in reply to: Anyone seen our precious bluebirds yet? #27044
              phillyblues
              Participant

                Never seen so many house sparrows as this year…and I have gotten rid of hundreds over the past few years. Up to 10 just this week. Almost had another today but my laundry bag had the slightest.of holes in it. Amazing how they find any hole in an instant! Thankfully they are right back at it. My neighbors up the street have about 10 feeders full of that costco special waste seed. So frustrating.

                • This reply was modified 7 months, 1 week ago by phillyblues.
                in reply to: Caught a female and male hosp AT THE SAME TIME #26971
                phillyblues
                Participant

                  I actually caught two at once today….sadly I didn’t realize it…the trap door was off center so I didn’t realize it was tripped. I opened the box and they flew out. Oh well. Got 1 anyway later. Soooo many this year.

                  in reply to: Caught a female and male hosp AT THE SAME TIME #26966
                  phillyblues
                  Participant

                    I almost did the other day…saw them both go in but they avoided it somehow. Caught them individually. I swear they are getting smarter…I had one sit on my box all day today but never went all the way in. Keep doing this important work, Carol. Every little bit helps.

                    in reply to: Hi all #26965
                    phillyblues
                    Participant

                      Spotted a pair on my trail last week but not since….and the swallow incoming. HOSP trapping is all at home…more than usual. They just never seem to stop. Weather is beautiful in SE PA this week. Good luck, everyone!

                      in reply to: PVC poles? #26913
                      phillyblues
                      Participant

                        Thanks, Carol! Happy Thanksgiving!

                        in reply to: PVC poles? #26910
                        phillyblues
                        Participant

                          Well I have 1/2 inch metal poles currently, not wooden. So was wondering if I should slide a bit larger pvc over the metal pole.

                          in reply to: Eggs gone…devastating #25927
                          phillyblues
                          Participant

                            Any opinions on a box being in very long grass? I am wondering now if it being in 3 foot long grass has made it a target for snakes or critters? They used to mow a trail through the spot my boxes are on but now they are not mowing that middle trail so all the boxes are in a tall meadow. I started wondering if this is a bad thing or not and maybenthe cause of the predator issue.

                            in reply to: Eggs gone…devastating #25923
                            phillyblues
                            Participant

                              Thanks! This box is in a small park a couple blocks from my house so I can’t see is all the time. My last photo before this was 4 eggs about a week ago. This park has a lot of tree swallows…so I think as soon as the bluebirds were gone the tree swallows started putting feathers in. So I am not sure if I should remove it if swallows are occupying now. The nest seemed completely undisturbed otherwise.

                              in reply to: Eggs gone…devastating #25903
                              phillyblues
                              Participant

                                Thanks Carol! Really is awful because this area is still just starting to see bluebirds so a loss has a big impact. I just don’t have any idea. Nothing looks disturbed. No trees above. In my experience at this spot once the nest fails they don’t come back. Lots of swallows to take the empty spot. I should have greased the pole I guess. It’s the exact aame setup as last year. Ugggh. All that for nothing.

                                bluebird eggs gone

                                in reply to: Nest progress so far. Long season! #25113
                                phillyblues
                                Participant

                                  The spooker

                                Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 232 total)