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I plan on putting up a bluebird box in the spring, even if I have to clean it out a lot.
I average about 7 HOSP per day, and the numbers haven’t backed off yet. Even yesterday, in the rain, I got 7, and in 4 hours this morning, I have another 7… I also had a female cardinal somehow make it into the elevator yesterday. Luckily, I was actually watching the trap when she entered it, so I was able to get her out quickly. This was even with my greatly reduced opening!
I’m near Start High School, and don’t really have any grain operations that close, but I do have a lot of open space and fields near me, so maybe that helps keep the population up. And my hedge is the perfect habitat for the HOSP…
If we were having a normal winter, I think tending to the trap would be harder, but I don’t really mind the cold that much. I’m out walking somewhere almost every day. Even tried snowshoeing last year, for the 1st time in about 30 years. I get cabin fever real quick, so getting out in most weather is not a problem for me.
Just caught another HOSP as I was typing this…
Chris
Toledo, OhioI have mine on an upturned plastic garbage can about 3′ off the ground near where they sit before flying to my feeder. I have a piece of plywood under the trap. I started with the trap on the ground, but I was catching a lot of juncos and a few wrens. Then I went to some concrete blocks, but was still catching juncos. When I got it up on the garbage can, I’ve only caught HOSPs. I’ve thought about getting a post to mount it on.
I use a pellet gun to dispatch them, and it is quick and humane. I use a wheelbarrow to move the trap into my garage overnight, where the temperatures stay about 20 degrees above outside. So far this winter, that has worked well. I try to keep two decoys, as they seem to roost together at night for warmth.
I’ve caught 41 in the past 5 days… 209 since mid-summer, when I got the trap. But I have at least that many in a pyramidal arborvitae hedge in my back yard. I got the trap to reduce the HOSP population in that area. In the winter, the ground under that hedge turns white(and not from snow!).
The hedge screens my garage and, in the summer, my RV, so I don’t want to remove it.Since I’m home more in the winter, I have the trap out constantly now, as in the summer, I was always going to one place or another.
Some day I’d like to try a bluebird house, but that’s just not possible right now. But, my cooper hawks and raccoons are eating well!
Chris
Toledo, OhioThe HOSPs around my house seemed to have abandoned my feeder for now. Nothing in the trap for several days either, as the warm weather moved in. Caught 47 in the week before the warm spell, but saw at least that many in flocks in my yard during that timeframe.
Two juncos and a wren early this morning… At least the wren and the juncos had no problem finding the door as soon as I opened it! And I do have the trap setting 3′ off the ground on a plastic garbage can. Baiting with white millet I got from a local garden center store, as well as sunflower chips that are normally in my feeders.
Glad you are setting up again, Tammy, so I have have someone to compare notes with.
Chris
Toledo, OhioI’ve been noticing that I catch a lot when the weather is cold, but hardly any when it’s warm like the last few days. Guess they have enough food elsewhere. My feeders have been quiet during this warm spell too…
Chris
Toledo, OhioI had a MODO in there once too(before the mod). It lost a few feathers by the time I got it out, but was just all in the elevator. Just had to not so gently get my hand around both sides of it…
Ended up with 9 HOSPs today and 6 yesterday. Saved one as a decoy today. I have a small hedge in my yard, and I counted 40 in there yesterday. Guess I thinned them out some the last few days.
I tried one screw at first in the entrance, but the squirrel pushed right past it, and bent the cage somewhat. Two screws worked better, but he then used his arm to knock the seed out of the trap, and then chowed down. The wire has pretty much stopped him. Not that he doesn’t still try, but he doesn’t get much seed…
Chris
Toledo, OhioMaybe sometime you can show a photo of your squirrel proofed trap?
Here you go. Nothing fancy, but it does work. 7 HOSPs in trap so far today (as well as a Junco that I got out early this morning…).
I have the trap set on a garbage can near where they tend to sit during parts the day waiting to fly up to my feeder.
The second pic, the trap is turned 90 degrees. I use an old piece of plywood for the bottom.
Chris
Toledo, OhioBeen a dry spell for a while…until this morning… I put out the trap about dawn, and caught 6 within an hour. It’s cold(29 degrees), clear and real frosty here this morning, and they can’t seem to get enough food!
I’ve had squirrel problems too. I finally put two screws in the front, and put a wire about 3/4 of the way up between the screws. Caught two sparrows, so I know they will still go in, and I watched the squirrel get frustrated trying to get to the food, so I know it works for that too!
Chris
Toledo, OhioDepends on where exactly you are, as we are going to be right on the rain/snow line. The NWS has backed off on the forecast now. North of Toledo, Monroe County has a winter weather advisory up, with 1-3″ predicted. Now looks like 1-2″ for Toledo.
The past few weeks have been a little weird with my birds. Some days, they devour the food, and the next, the feeder isn’t touched… Probably has something to do with the warmer than usual weather we had been having.
Counted 10 bluebirds in the meadows of Secor Metropark last week. Flocking up to head south is my guess, although there are usually a few at that park year round.
On the trap front, I’ve pulled it for a few days, as I have a squirrel that is robbing the food. I tried to put a screw in the front of the trap, but he has actually bent some of the wire trying to get past the screw… I seem to go in spurts on catching too, as I’ll get nothing for a few days, and then catch 3-4 the next.
Edits: Typos…
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This reply was modified 10 years, 5 months ago by
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This reply was modified 10 years, 5 months ago by
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This reply was modified 10 years, 5 months ago by
Chris
Toledo, OhioI know I will have to change how I trap as winter moves in. And we are expecting 1-3″ of snow tonight and tomorrow. I’ll just pull it when the weather turns bad… And I don’t mind the cold weather that much. It’s just part of winter in this area.
I don’t try to keep decoys overnight in the cold weather. Maybe it’s possible if I brought it in to the garage, as at least they would be protected from the wind and some of the cold. Your idea of an old quilt might work too, but right now, I’m starting each day with an empty trap.
I’ve been trapping them with the trap set on a couple of concrete blocks with a small sheet of plywood underneath, and it has seemed to work good, at least in the warmer months. I’m still catching one a day, so I think I’ll keep it where it is. I tried setting it near my feeder, and caught none, as they were more interested in the feeder. I moved it to an area near where they perch, and started catching them.
Of course, this time of year, I’m catching a few more other birds. I have a couple of wrens that have not got trap-wise yet. I release them almost every other day. Juncos are now a little more problem too, so that’s why I thought I’d try to keep it elevated. And I had a tufted titmouse the other day that when I grabbed him with a gloved hand and pulled him out of the trap, was more interested in attacking my glove than flying away! He attacked that glove for close to 30 seconds in my open hand before he realized that he was free. :TildeSmirk:
Chris
Toledo, OhioLooks like I’m going to be the 1st to post a question here on the new site…
I found this forum on the other site, and have been following it for a while. I bought my trap about mid-summer, and have caught 115 so far… And I have a LOT more to go.
So, my question is… Does anyone keep their traps out in the winter in Northern Ohio? I’m still getting one or two a day, but keeping decoys is not going to be possible as the weather cools.
I read through alot of the posts on the other site, and it seemed that everyone put away the traps as winter approached.
So, anyone use them year-round? :snowman2:
Chris
Toledo, Ohio -
This reply was modified 10 years, 5 months ago by
