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Thanks for the write up Phillyblues! I ordered the DRST Sparrow Trap yesterday, seems to be a pretty well recommended one. It should get here on Saturday, so I’ll start baiting them with bread and popcorn this afternoon. I appreciate the advice on dispatching them, I was considering several other methods but I live in a subdivision so I’d like to keep it discreet. Your way seems like a good method in the garage with the door closed. I’m sure I’ll end up catching more than I think, I only ever seem to see a couple at a time but I know they’re all over the place. I’ll be sure to double check for any natives in the trap, that’s one reason why I decided on a live trap. I may also order some van ert box traps as well, the same male (probably) that killed my nestlings has been coming back to the nestbox.
As John Rambo once said: “They drew first blood, not me..”
Thanks everyone!
Phillyblues: Yes, the “gloves have come off” as far as sparrows are concerned. I’m considering several steps as far as live traps and in house traps, as well as baiting for them.
What methods have you been using? not sure if you have started another thread on this, but I’d be interested in hearing how you’ve managed to get so many so I can replicate it.
Thanks for the advice everyone!
Checked the nest box on my lunch break, and the last little one didn’t make it. I removed 5 yesterday and I was hoping the last one would pull through. But nature had other plans I suppose. I’ve definitely taken away some good things from this failed attempt, I’ll try not to make the same mistakes next time.
Carol: no, I did not have a sparrow spooker up on my nest box. I had not seen any sparrows for many weeks, after having killed about 12 this spring. However, I will be heading to Lowe’s tonight to get the necessary supplies and will add one to my box in the event that the adults decide to try again. I had been doing well during the quarantine with my pellet gun, but as I’ve gone back to working in the office the spooker may be able to help guard the box while I’m away.
I may also put up a second “dummy” box, and if the sparrows take that one over I’ll be able to eliminate them more efficiently.
The good news is that both adults are still alive and in the vicinity. Hopefully they decide to attempt another brood.
I cleaned the box well and removed the nest; I decided it might be best for the parents to construct a new one, and start fresh again (too much death surrounding the last nest, anyway). I appreciate all the helpful advice everyone has given me this spring!Thanks Carol! I’ll keep this in mind for any future photos. The only reason I even started to take photos was because I’m too short to look inside my box without a step stool LOL
I’ll just let the birds handle any unhatched eggs. Now that they’re hatched, I’ll limit the number of times I open up the box. I’ll check to make sure the last egg hatches and once it is no longer there I’ll let them do their thing until fledging time. Hoping that I’ll be around to see the little guys fledge, my wife and I will be out of town for a week during the middle of May. Hopefully I don’t miss the whole thing! Thanks everyone! I really appreciate all the helpful advice from more experienced bluebird caretakers. I am located in central Indiana, and live in a suburb just West of Indianapolis. My dad was interested in bluebirds growing up, and I picked it up as something to do during the quarantine we went through last year. I did want to see what everyone’s thoughts were about a possible 7th egg; I found a pure white egg in my yard, the same size as a bluebird egg, that looked like it was either dumped or discarded about 30 yards from my nestbox. I’m not so sure the female bluebird may have produced a 7th egg, but realized there simply wasn’t room for another in the nest. From reading online, I gather that, while uncommon, bluebirds can occasionally lay white eggs. They say that if it happens, typically the entire clutch is white. So I’m not exactly sure. It could coincidentally be a different species as well. Unfortunately I didn’t even think about snapping a photo before disposing of the egg
(it had cracked when it dropped).
Really hoping that all the eggs make it and there is a nestbox full of healthy hatchlings in a few weeks!Connie-
Thank you! I saw your earlier post as well, very exciting that you already have hatchlings. Hopeful that yours make it as well. Nature never ceases to teach me how fragile yet resilient many animals are; I’m sure things will turn out OK for you! Good suggestion on the styrofoam; I will see what I have and possibly cover the outside of the nestbox if it gets really cold. My nestbox only has 2 ventilation holes, 1 on each side, so I’m hopeful it will be tight enough to keep them warm. Once these little ones fledge (fingers crossed!) I plan on improving the ventilation in preparation for the summer heat and install a swinging wood cover for colder temperatures.
Looks like many folks on here are off to a good start this spring!Hi everyone
My name is Matt and I live in central Indiana, in a suburb of Indianapolis. I grew up in the northern part of the state, and my dad was interested in bluebirds growing up. He had his first successful nestbox last year, after many years of trying. Growing up in a rural area, I was very surprised to see bluebirds around my home, since it is in more of an urban/suburban setting. After a bunch of reading on bluebirds, I built a hanging mealworm feeder house with plexiglass as well as a NABS style nestbox for them last winter and put both out in January. I’m excited that a pair has chosen my nestbox on my first attempt at bluebirding, and there are 3 eggs in the nest thus far. I have eliminated many sparrows this spring, which I assume is a contributing factor in the blues staying. I’m looking forward to learning about and watching the birds!
