Sparrow Attractor?
3-4 years ago I purchased from Lowes an S&K house and pole. Never could attract Martins in spite of a couple moves. But sparrows love it Flimsy construction - pole very problematic. Decided to junk it but it sat lowered through the winter until I could get help for removal. It still sits, full of sparrows. My other five condo units are rapidly filling up with returning Martins, with very little interference from the sparrows! A serendipitous stroke of good fortune. Maybe a consideration if you have a big sparrow problem.
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Guest
Don't take this the wrong way, but I do not understand your post.
Are you saying that the sparrows are attracted to Flimsy construction and problematic poles?
I would think that your other housing is being left alone by the sparrows because they have nests and are happy. I would also take a stab that if I were a martin I wouldn't want to live in a house full of sparrows either.
Be careful if you think your problem will go away when you get rid the S&K house. I bet you dollars to doughnuts those sparrows will do some damage to your martins, no matter what house they are in-as soon as you take that house down. in my opinion
Though I am not saying to NOT get rid of the sparrows....but why is it full of sparrows anyway? Do you control your sparrows? ie:trapping, shooting,whatever?
Just wondering
Are you saying that the sparrows are attracted to Flimsy construction and problematic poles?
I would think that your other housing is being left alone by the sparrows because they have nests and are happy. I would also take a stab that if I were a martin I wouldn't want to live in a house full of sparrows either.
Be careful if you think your problem will go away when you get rid the S&K house. I bet you dollars to doughnuts those sparrows will do some damage to your martins, no matter what house they are in-as soon as you take that house down. in my opinion
Though I am not saying to NOT get rid of the sparrows....but why is it full of sparrows anyway? Do you control your sparrows? ie:trapping, shooting,whatever?
Just wondering
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klcretired
- Posts: 2174
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 3:06 am
- Location: Grand Prairie,Tx
dtownes
Please,Please,Please,get rid of those sparrows...shoot trap or whatever you have to do, if you don't your martins won't have any chance for survival.
Please,Please,Please,get rid of those sparrows...shoot trap or whatever you have to do, if you don't your martins won't have any chance for survival.
Pictures Taken with Canon Rebel XT Digital using a Sigma 50-500 Long Lens.
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
I'm obviously not good at tongue in cheek. I do shoot sparrows. But, their love for this junk S&K house has made my job a lot easier. They are leaving alone all th other five condo complexes. Think I'll leave it up for awhile.
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The Olsons
- Posts: 3200
- Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:57 pm
- Location: North Padre Island, TX
dtownes,
The first year we had martins I did not know about the damage a sparrow or starling can do to a martin, their eggs, their babies. One day while looking out the window watching the martins a sparrow showed up who had made up his mind to go into a gourd that was occupied by a pair of martins. The martin male tried to defend the gourd and the sparrow wrapped his legs around the martin's neck and tried to strangle him. Of course, I ran outside as fast as I could and yelled and clapped my hands and banged against the fence with my foot. Finally, the sparrow let go of the martin.....
I went back inside and googled about martins and sparrows and there it was black on white....sparrows are very dangerous to and for martins. After all the information I found that day, the war was on....guns were ordered and the S&S control started.
Please do not trust ANY sparrow or starling near your colony....they will do major and deadly damage to your martins. There are many very graphic pictures about attacks from sparrows and starlings on martins and other songbirds. I personally would get rid of the house they are in and then start shooting or trapping the S&S or do both.
Astrid
The first year we had martins I did not know about the damage a sparrow or starling can do to a martin, their eggs, their babies. One day while looking out the window watching the martins a sparrow showed up who had made up his mind to go into a gourd that was occupied by a pair of martins. The martin male tried to defend the gourd and the sparrow wrapped his legs around the martin's neck and tried to strangle him. Of course, I ran outside as fast as I could and yelled and clapped my hands and banged against the fence with my foot. Finally, the sparrow let go of the martin.....
I went back inside and googled about martins and sparrows and there it was black on white....sparrows are very dangerous to and for martins. After all the information I found that day, the war was on....guns were ordered and the S&S control started.
Please do not trust ANY sparrow or starling near your colony....they will do major and deadly damage to your martins. There are many very graphic pictures about attacks from sparrows and starlings on martins and other songbirds. I personally would get rid of the house they are in and then start shooting or trapping the S&S or do both.
Astrid
Love it or leave it~~~Astrid :-)
I'd rather shoot them
n their own little house than shooting up my t-14!
Mercy, I've fired about 20 pellets out of my r7 and
while i've killed ten s&s, my poor t-14 is taking a beating!
The sparrows don't even slow down these crow magnum pellets.
but i've freed up 4 or 5 cavities just in time for the subbies.
I may have to adapt one of those s&k's into a repeating trap next year
Hmmm, now you got me thinking :)
bk
n their own little house than shooting up my t-14!
Mercy, I've fired about 20 pellets out of my r7 and
while i've killed ten s&s, my poor t-14 is taking a beating!
The sparrows don't even slow down these crow magnum pellets.
but i've freed up 4 or 5 cavities just in time for the subbies.
I may have to adapt one of those s&k's into a repeating trap next year
Hmmm, now you got me thinking :)
bk
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Donnie Hurdt MN
- Posts: 1723
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 11:14 pm
- Location: North Prairie, MN
If you are going to leave it up for a while why not turn it into a trap untill the sparrows wise up to it, (they will) then close it off till next spring when they are looking for housing again.
PMCA member and Martin fanatic....
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
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Sandy - NC
- Posts: 617
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 6:40 pm
- Location: Rocky Mount, NC
bk, how many shots have you run through that R-7? Is it broken in yet (500 to 1000 shots)? Have you been through a pellet sampler to let the gun tell you what it prefers, or are you shooting the pellet that you prefer? Are you shooting the same distance you are sighted in at, and if not, how much difference? Pellet drop can be considerable and must be accounted for. I agree, a sparrow won't slow down the pellet. Heck, a starling won't even slow it down. Believe it or not, domed pellets have a bigger impact hole and do more damage than hollow points, plus they have better flight characteristics. Fortunately, my R-7 prefers a domed pellet. It prefers JSB Exacts 8.4 grain.