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Hi everyone. I have eggs. Should be 3 today but I’ve been busy with the grandkids. It’s always nerve-wracking when I have eggs this early because if she’s still laying and temps get below freezing the eggs freeze. I told her to wait but she didn’t listen.
Tammy
I always thought a cylinder baffle was enough to keep snakes out. It is up here in NW Ohio because we don’t have many snakes and not those really huge rat snakes. But what I’ve learned from being a Purple Martin landlord is that down south where they’re are huge rat snakes netting is needed. The snakes are able to get past Martin predator guards. You use garden nettimg and make several fluffy layers of it and put it above the predator guard. If anyone is interested I’ll try to find info on how to do it.
Tammy
Does imgur cost anything? Or is it free? Thanks for your help with this. I haven’t tried it, yet.
Tammy
🙋♀️ I’m seeing it. I’ve been super busy. Had a weird season though so I’ll have to write a post about that soon.
Tammy
Speaking of wren guards. I’ve never had wrens at my house but the last couple of years they have visited. I strongly discourage. This year one gave up early on and I have a new one. I can’t stand the sound!! Scares me and just annoys me. I’ve had a terrible bluebird year, I can explain later, but I’ve had no successful nests. I have eggs in a box and a wren flitting around. Wren guard is up. I’m making a new one out of sign material. And making it so I can open and close it with nest checks. (front load box). How far does all of yours hang below the hole. Directions say right below but I think I like it a little lower.The one that’s on now is hangs more than what is in the directions but the bluebirds are going in. I’m making my new weather proof one now.
Tammy
So sorry. Been there. Watched a HOSP remove 4 babies from a nestbox multiple times.
It’s a dilemma. Because if you remove the baby to trap the house. Sparrow the parent might lose interest. If you have an extra box put it up close by and put a Van Ert trap in it. I put mine on a nail that’s on my fence post that’s nearby.
For now, I think I would bring in the baby, keep it warm and feed it half of a mealworm at a time.(crush the head first) . Call a rehabber.Tammy
I’ve never had them kill the babies, although I’m sure it’s possible but sometimes the drive to mate is so strong that the female doesn’t keep taking care of the nestlings or fledglings. Glad your female is doing good still far. Mine happened after they fledged. She abandoned them right after they fledged. I don’t think any of them made it. 😭
Tammy
Keep a close eye on those babies. Did you check to make sure they are still doing well? They’re all still alive? I had a Coopers hawk kill my daddy blue one year and when a new male came along he woo’d her away from her babies. You can always take them to a rehabber if they aren’t being fed.
Tammy
Carol, don’t be afraid to touch them or even pick them up. Unless they just died you’d probably know because their color would be off. But it’s not sounding good if the parents aren’t feeding them. The heat might be keeping them still right now. Maybe they need a heat guard? Open that box and pick up one or at least move out with your finger. Let us know.
Tammy
Jill, that happens occasionally but not very often. I don’t believe there’s a fix. There’s a new trap out there from a different vendor that fixed that problem. It has a piece of thick plastic? that covers the hole instead. So HOSP can not escape. It also has a shelter box that the HOSP can go into at night and get out of the elements during the day. There are a couple of downsides to the trap but over all I love it. Now because of Covid and the cost of products and shipping issues, it’s way too expensive.
One way you can help with that on your old trap is to clip the wings of your House Sparrows after you catch them. So as a decoy, they have clipped wings. So that if they do escape they most likely will not make it. I’ll show you some photos of this new trap from Troyers if you are interested. (they sell purple martin housing and products)Tammy
Sorry for your problems, Dave. I know little to nothing about Word Press platform. But I can help get in touch with Cher so she can help. Now I know how to accept posts when needed. It isn’t personal, just a glitch. Did you see my message with an additional way to contact me.
Tammy
I should just let Carol answer because she’s so good at it. That is probably a Carolina Wren and they are awesome birds to have. It’s the House Wrens that will take over your nestboxes and peck eggs. So enjoy that Carolina Wren. They nest in the most fun places.
Tammy
Sounds like a raccoon. But it could have been any wild animal I guess. I’ve never had it happen personally but I’ve heard of it plenty of times. I have had my trap smashed a little from a nighttime visitor. If it tipped over the wire flap that goes into the holding area would be open and the house sparrow could escape. I’ve had them lift that up and escape that’s way.
I just heard someone on FB say that something pulled a house sparrow out of their trap. The decoy was gone and there were feathers all over.Tammy
