Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Congrats on the catches, you two!! Way to go in ridding the world of a few more sparrows!!! When I hear them chirping at big box stores, that sound is like nails on a chalkboard to me! Horrible birds.
Phillyblues, do you have a bluebird nest? I remember you were waiting, like me.
Stebet, you’re right about the doves. I think any activity at the trap is good, as long as the doves don’t climb into the elevator. I’ll never forget trying to get that bird out of that small space…tortuous for both of us! Congrats on the 3 bluebird babies!! You’re having a great season!
Carol, I found a pic of that sparrow shield online. I have dangling fishing line on my one Gilbertson box. It’s the box most used by bluebirds. The lines don’t seem to deter them at all. Actually I’ve seen tree swallows, chickadees and bluebirds checking it out, but those lines with the metal nut weights have been there forever. It could be that your just putting that sparrow shield up means the bluebirds will have to get used to it, although if he was sitting on it and she went into the box, they’re clearly not super deterred by it. I’d leave it off for now since you’ve taken it down. Just wait and see.
Next year, if you want to use the sparrow shield, put it up early in the nesting season, before the action gets going. I will add that clever sparrows with excellent flight skills can navigate between my fishing lines and land at the hole. It’s not many who can, but every so often a clever male manages to do it. The females, not so much.
Carol, I would not give up yet. I had 3 chickadee nests started in 3 Gilbertson boxes in my yard. One had an egg, then right before I put on a hole reducer (was about to go outside to do it), a bluebird went in. The chickadees left the egg & never returned. The egg eventually disappeared, but the nest remains–moss, fur on top. I’ve seen chickadees going in & out this week, so who knows. Meanwhile, I hear chickadee babies in a bamboo box in the Japanese maple. Chickadees love that box but I can’t check it during nesting. I checked the backyard box 2 days ago and a chickadee egg was in it. Yesterday, still 1 egg. I had pruned the butterfly bush nearby (like a small tree), so figured I spooked them. I thought, great, they’ve abandoned again. Then today, the female chickadee was on the nest when I checked. So clearly they’re using that box. I must have a 2nd nesting pair!! A dream come true.
I share all that to say that I had given up, too. No activity, figured it was over, but left the nests just in case. So glad I did! Have you read the Sialis page on chickadees? http://www.sialis.org/chickadee.htm
They say they abandon nest easily because they’re used to being bullied by other birds. I’d say just wait. Is there a chance your camera is spooking them?
Carol, last year I had chickadees in one box with a full nest of 7 eggs. HOSP came by and the chickadees abandoned the nest. I watched closely for 2 days, and on day 3 a wren starting removing the eggs! I have no love for them for that behavior. I like hearing them sing—when they’re somewhere else! You’re doing a great job keeping it busy and away from the bluebirds! I’ll be interested to hear when or if those blues accept that wren guard.
I empty out the nest pretty quickly and any unhatched eggs, disposing of it well away from where the box is located. Clean the box, and Mama Bluebird will likely start building again—sometimes the next day. Check out this page–that question is asked below the bluebird pics: http://bluebirdnut.com/nesting-habits/ —-and congratulations on the successful fledging!
Yes, to the doves–that’s how one got caught in my elevator once. Ugh. I don’t replace the food throughout the day. I just do a morning reset and then let things unfold. I do cover at night with the tarp, weighed down with boards, etc. so the bird isn’t frightened to pieces by something predatory. I want the decoy to be healthy–I’m not trying to be cruel. That’s my thinking. Some people move the trap into a shed at night. I don’t have a good spot for that. Some people put the decoy into a separate bird cage that they sit on top of the trap.
If you search online, I saw a video on youtube about a guy who mounted his DRST on the side of a shed or barn so that the birds could hop into the barn. He built a cage-like thing on the inside, too, where he kept food & water. That way the birds hop in at night. And HOSP love a dark spot. Some people build a small wood box and attach it to the long side of the DRST and the birds can go in there at night and during the day. Look on youtube for videos. I was amazed at what I saw. With your property set up, you might be able to do something like this. You’ll figure out what works best for you.
Watch for the arrival of fledged HOSP babies. They are dopey a& go right into the trap, shortly followed by mama. I can always tell when a new “wave” arrives b/c suddenly they’re everywhere!
Robbe, have any bluebirds set up housekeeping yet? I’ve been waiting a long time in PA this year, too. I just spotted a nest in the box last night. I was watching, so they must be stealth builders. I hear the male singing constantly, but rarely see him unless something goes near the box. We definitely are off to a slow start here. And yet, the tree swallows started laying eggs 2 weeks earlier than normal. I cannot explain it. Keep us posted. I’m rooting for you.
Carol, I didn’t get to reply to your first post about the 2nd egg, and now there are 5!! Wow. I’ll cross some fingers with you, too. That’s amazing. I’ve only seen 5 once, and one egg didn’t hatch. Keep us posted! There’s so much drama this year–it’s really exciting to read about. I laugh every time I think of you outsmarting that house wren. Keep up the good work!
Chris, this is the best photo!! Thank you for posting. Really encouraging to see those baby blues. Keep us posted on the fledging.
David, this is wonderful news!! When I saw the photo of your first egg, I was so happy for you. It’s been a long wait. Yesterday I see what is clearly a bluebird nest in one of my boxes. Hooray!!! Now I’ll hope for eggs. Enjoy the nesting!! Your blues have come home to roost.
I think the key is getting them used to thinking of it as a food source. Once they do that, they’ll hop onto the elevator, especially if you sprinkle less millet outside. I usually put a little bit on the platform just outside the elevator, knowing if they sit there, they’ll see the BIGGER pile just beyond the elevator. Some people put a mirror there, too, against the back of the bait area. I tried that but couldn’t get it to stay put. CONGRATS on starting your catching! Don’t be afraid to leave a few females in there. They’re noisy and draw others in.
I don’t know about the direct messaging. Maybe someone else knows…Because I personally read all the DRST posts in 2016, I know you can’t really clutter a thread–there’s useful info buried. Maybe start a new thread with that as a question, then many of us will know the answer! I hate to put my email out there. I’ve been through hacks with family members, and I’d like to skip that adventure!
Meanwhile, you might just have your trap in a bad spot. I didn’t put it right by the neighbor’s hedge. I put it where they could see it–and where I could see it. The bait lured them in. Look around and think where you might put it where they can see it from their hideout. Or maybe there’s somewhere else they congregate? Look around. But don’t put it near any birdhouses or anywhere you don’t want to lure them.
Yes, I cover it during rain, when rain is called for, etc. I use a tarp folded. The wood will swell when wet, so it’ll need a day or two in the sun to get back to normal. If you’re having all this rain we are, you’ll need to definitely test the arm with the double quarters once things are dried out, just to be sure all is working right. You don’t want your decoy birds to get soaked or they can get hypothermic and die. That’s another reason I tarp mine in rain.
It does take time to catch them. I don’t know how long I waited. Having decoys helps a lot. Someone else might have a good idea.
Robbe, I went with the Gilbertsons because I could manage the pole situation–rebar + piece of electrical conduit that the hardware guys cut for me. I’m not too handy, and mostly do this on my own due to my husband’s wackadoodle work schedule. I also like that they attract chickadees.
I also have 2 wooden boxes–they have holes sized for tree swallows because they showed up here one year. I’m in a neighborhood–you can tell how close the neighbor house is on the pics. But I face the boxes toward the open lawn area, and the birds swoop in. The swallow one faces the wrong way per expert advice, but it faces so I can monitor it from my office. I have trouble with sparrows in all of them at times. I usually put a spooker on the swallow box because it’s close to a tree (perfect for HOSP to haunt it!).
I have 2 Gilbertsons in the front yard maybe 15 feet apart. I tried to pair them for bluebirds and swallows, following the Sialis.com spacing recs. It didn’t work. It was like WW III in our front yard! We could hardly go out there for all the swooping and divebombing! The blues won out that year, so I spent fall and winter prayerfully pondering. I ordered a swallow box and put it on other side of front yard. Typically the bluebirds ignore it–until this year. I think it must be a new bluebird pair. That’s the story.
So glad the pics came thru!!! And yes, btw I have the most HOSP trouble with the houses closest to buildings–a shed and our house. But I use those to trap those buggers using the universal in box trap. It works!
Mine don’t. Not until she’s incubating. Then she’s in there mostly constantly, except for breaks when I’m mowing. She always skedaddles then for a deserved break!
Have to say my neighbor came barreling across the yard toward me nearly shouting, “Where are our bluebirds?!” Last year they nested in the box that faces their patio, and they had a ball watching them. I told him the deck guys scared ’em off to the other neighbors. Then he looked worried and said, “Oh no, I hope they come back.” So many of us are vested in these wonderful birds!!
