sparrow trap ?s

Jim 1990 · Sun Mar 08, 2015 10:20 am

I have some questions about a trap . I built a large troyer V trap and the entrance has 1x 1/2 wire bending down at 4 inches on both sides of entrance and the entrance is 1 1/4 wide I have caught starlings at this width but seems the house sparrows do not enter it I might only get a couple a day .I also have 6 sparrow decoys at the bottom of the trap in cage and it does not seem to draw them in the trap. Should I make the entrance wider.

taxidermy lady · Sun Mar 08, 2015 8:47 pm

Jim,
I would love to have one of these. I always thought it was for starlings??
Hopefully someone with one can give you some advice. Good luck!

Jim 1990 · Mon Mar 09, 2015 6:06 pm

I have been wanting this trap for years. I finally did build one this year I first started catching starlings which I thought would not enter a entrance as small as 1 1/4 inches. I have been catching more sparrows now maybe it just took some time for them to get used to it. I did have some good info I read years ago on the net but I tried going back to this site and the info must not be on the net anymore. The info talked about making a canopy or roof 5 inches above the entrance so the birds would not see the sky and escape he also added that putting plexiglass 4 1/2 inches down the sides keeps them from not escaping so much . I do not have the Plexiglas on mine but may add it in the future. If I can find the site again I will post the link.

I have one of the deluxe sparrow traps also I would trap a lot of sparrows in this for a few years then for some reason they act like there afraid of it I had the trap tuned with 3 quarters I don't know what happen that there trap shy of it. I tied the teeter totter so it would not move and put food in the bait tray to see if they get used to this trap again,but they stand and look at the bait then fly away

terriergal · Fri Mar 13, 2015 1:50 pm

Jim 1990 wrote: I have one of the deluxe sparrow traps also I would trap a lot of sparrows in this for a few years then for some reason they act like there afraid of it I had the trap tuned with 3 quarters I don't know what happen that there trap shy of it. I tied the teeter totter so it would not move and put food in the bait tray to see if they get used to this trap again,but they stand and look at the bait then fly away

Put a dish of seed on top - like, a large terra cotta plant saucer, and jam the elevator for a week or so. I have the Uncle Blaine's repeater trap and usually jam the elevator with a slender stick stuck through the trap mesh under the elevator (like a thin bamboo plant stake). Keep the bait section also filled. Eventually they will realize the elevator isn't moving, ONE of them will try it and the others will be encouraged to try since that allows them to eat without having to compete with others. I allow the terra cotta dish on top of the trap to empty and then usually by that time they have gotten used to the trap enough to step into the elevator if I remove the stick. I only remove the stick on calm dry days so that the elevator isn't moving in the wind. Usually with this approach you can get a ton in a short time. I also usually provide the birds in the trap a stick stuck across through the trap to sit on to get their feet off the ground, especially if you keep a decoy in there for months on end. It's just kinder to their feet.

They are yakking up a storm outside here checking out all my swallow houses too. Grrr. I set out my trap and my new puppy wants to eat all the seed off the dish on top. (!!)

I also use the terra cotta dish as shade for the decoy bird(s) in the hot summer and shelter from the rain as well. I position it so that one edge of it is over the elevator compartment and covers that 'corner' where they tend to hide near the one-way entrance which is covered by the flap of mesh. Let me know if you would like me to take a picture.

I had a few males somehow get out of my first repeater trap - somehow they managed to get back into the elevator compartment and it was only a matter of moments for them to sit on the elevator arm to bring it down and climb out over the top of the elevator as it went down. I've also accidentally let them loose while trying to retrieve them from the trap. Blaine has added a rubber flap over the access door now which prevents them sneaking out very easily.

After the escapes, they avoided it like the plague. I had to give up on those guys and find an alternative way to catch those particular males. I know it's not ideal but the only way I got them was to put black plastic mouse glue traps in the houses they were using. I have accidentally caught non target birds this way and then had to carefully remove them from the glue trap, remove any adhesive with orange cleaner, bathe them with hand-dishwashing detergent and then dry them and let them go.

After escaping, they wouldn't even go in if their babies were in there screaming for food. (although I always keep a ceramic condiment crock of seed inside the trap, underneath the terra cotta plant saucer as well, in the corner near the door but separated by the little wooden wall that sticks out to prevent side access to the door by trapped birds when a new bird enters.

re the photo below:
I took this just now in my backyard. Note I have a screw currently wedging the elevator in place. I would rather use a stick that goes the entire width of the trap.

the dark colored crock is the size of dish I keep full inside the trap usually - because it fits through the door! It all needs cleaning, I just set it out today and it is a few years old and weathered. Normally i put the food dish for the decoys in the corner closest to the one way door, under the plate on top to keep rain out as much as possible. If you set it there, decoy birds will usually sit on the rim to sleep at night, with their tails facing the main portion of the trap and so their droppings won't usually end up in the food dish.

keith e · Fri Mar 13, 2015 7:46 pm

my name is keith would like to talk to you I am also in ft wayne call me any eve pmning after 6;15 pm 433-1004

terriergal · Mon Mar 16, 2015 8:36 am

Jim 1990 wrote:I have some questions about a trap . I built a large troyer V trap and the entrance has 1x 1/2 wire bending down at 4 inches on both sides of entrance and the entrance is 1 1/4 wide I have caught starlings at this width but seems the house sparrows do not enter it I might only get a couple a day .I also have 6 sparrow decoys at the bottom of the trap in cage and it does not seem to draw them in the trap. Should I make the entrance wider.

Also, are you sure you need 6 decoys? Much easier to take care of one or two and they cause a lot less commotion that might cause birds to avoid the trap.

since they're nesting now, a pile of straw (if you're not using it) might be a better bait especially for the males.

Carolyn C · Tue Mar 17, 2015 7:38 pm

I have one of those traps and just white bread as bait. I put pieces around the entrance . When I have sparrows, I put some bread inside around the sides to feed the birds and attract others. When I empty the cage, I usually leave a female in as bait. I've caught quite a few but some days none at all-- like today.