Super Male Sparrow

[ldybala]

I have a male sparrow who will not enter a cavity whenever there is any change to it. I've waited for him to build a nest, but when I put a trap at the entrance, he will simply switch. I've caught several of his mates. I have Martins, so do not want to keep the entrance unmodified for fear of catching a martin.

I even tried the technique of waiting until the female layed some eggs and then placed the trap. I caught the female and transferred her into a repeating sparrow trap for bate and placed a trap on the gourd. He would not enter the gourd or be lured to the repeating trap.

I'm afraid of sparrow revenge syndrome. I don't mind him hanging around, but do not know if he will get frustrated if I keep catching his mates. I could let him get a mate and put the eggs in the refrigerator for a day to make them infertile and hope that they abandon the site; or I could keep catching his mates both before and after they lay eggs. Advice would be appreciated.

[Matt F.]

Is there a way you can set the trap to temporarily not spring?
Put the trap in, and let his new mate and him get used to going in and out that compartment with the trap in "safe mode" for a day or two.
Then let the trap do its thing.

[phldave]

Are you putting nesting material, eggs, feathers, toilet paper etc in the trap? Things that usually spur their interest. Even after you catch the female he will go in looking for her. Do you have deep traps or just 6 x 6 traps. Maybe put the trap at the back of he compartment and see if he will go in. Keep thinking outside the box and out smart the little stinker. Sorry for the last sentence, I couldn't resist. Maybe close off some other entrances.

Dave

[Anthony Neira]

Why not try the "Wile E. Coyote" trick, and put an "Acme " Painted Black hole around the trap's entry hole ? It MIGHT give him a sense it's a larger opening?