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I agree with Tammy. Van ert is a literal life saver. I have seen bideos where people set up cardboard house sparrow boxes just for easier trapping and temporary mounting. At minimum, by trapping you save your neighbors bluebirds and or their babies from getting killed. It is only a matter of time. I trap all year round and it made an impact allowing swallows to move into yard boxes that would otherwise be taken by the rat birds. Another trap is the ground cage trap you can bait with bread and crackers. I usually get a fee every week with that but tougher during the height of spring as they are more concerned with nesting. But trapping over the off season with the cage and van ert will make things easier in the spring and summer. Need any tips let me know.
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.
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.
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.
Hotel Sparrowfornia this year for me. Constant. Never caught so many this time of year. Almost all males.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
