Should I be a sucker again?
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Guest
Have had my house up for the past 4 summers. The first 2 I had a family move in and lay eggs. One summer the *%!& sparrows got them. Put out a trap that year and next and did away with many of 'em. Last summer only had 1 bull that I couldn't get. Acouple days a martin or 2 would check it out but moved on. Is there any possible hope if I try again this year or after this many summers have the martins "passed the word" to each other and I'm just not ever going to have success. Would greatly appreciate your thoughts.
I would keep trying if it were me. You have nothing to lose. New martins should check out your site and if acceptable you should be able to re-attract. I would go for it and of course control those sparrows.
Dennis D
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
Your problem is quite common. Its hard to say if they will try to visit your place and stay as long as you have some sparrows. Try to get the sparrows again, and hope for the best
Then if you do get a pair, and some sparrows come again, you will have the same problem, and they may run off the new pair.
What it all boils down to is that its difficult to get or keep martins if some sparrows continue to stay there. Some people do have both sparrows and martins, but the outcome quite often is not good.
Something that I usually do not use is a glue trap. If a sparrow is using one compartment, then put a glue trap into that compartment. Monitor it closely, and catch the sparrow, then quit using glue traps. They do catch native birds also. Sometimes a bull sparrow does not enter a cavity, so that would not work either if he comes again...
Then if you do get a pair, and some sparrows come again, you will have the same problem, and they may run off the new pair.
What it all boils down to is that its difficult to get or keep martins if some sparrows continue to stay there. Some people do have both sparrows and martins, but the outcome quite often is not good.
Something that I usually do not use is a glue trap. If a sparrow is using one compartment, then put a glue trap into that compartment. Monitor it closely, and catch the sparrow, then quit using glue traps. They do catch native birds also. Sometimes a bull sparrow does not enter a cavity, so that would not work either if he comes again...
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Stephen Cruse
- Posts: 168
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 12:17 pm
- Location: Texas, Hitchcock and Rocksprings
When I was a kid my Dad had a martin house that was absolutely full of martins. One year we had a sparrow build a nest in one holes and in the process brought in some string. Unfortunately one of our females got tangled in the string and died. This was back when we had martin house that lowered by tilting them over and we could not get to her quick enough. From that moment on and for several years not one martin would take a look at the house and we live in a martin rich area. I finally convinced my Dad to replace the house with a new one and the following year we had martins. Did replacing the house help? I really don't know but it worked for us. Sometimes changing certain items on the house will help attract birds. Try changing the paint color to match houses around you that are active if you don't want to replace the whole house. Couldn't hurt.
Stephen
Stephen
2014 - 72 pairs
2015 - 127 pairs
2015 - 127 pairs
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Bill Kepley
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:10 pm
- Location: Ohio/Richwood
When I first put up my T14, I was still working and didn't have time (and didn't know about) how to keep the s/s away. Last year I retired and was here all day to tear out nests and shoot/trap sparrows. I had one pair nest and raise babies and there were lots of visiting aunts & uncles during fledging time . I am hoping for more residents this season.
Bill
Bill