Help with implementing use of gourd insert trap

Bcorbs1217 · Fri May 26, 2017 6:36 am

I have a round holed gourd with the insert trap all set up but don't have it on the rack. I have a new SY pair who arrived yesterday looking around. My other 3 pair have dedicated nests (alpha pair may have layed first egg this morning but I haven't checked yet).

A male sparrow is inside one of the gourds trying to attract a mate. Should I keep chasing him away (time consuming and exhausting) or allow him to build a nest and then switch the nest to the trap gourd. I'm afraid nest tear outs will cause him to investigate PM occupied gourds.

I'm still setting up the old aluminum house with traps. I'm just worried he will cause harm to the other martins (and eggs when they lay) in the meantime. I would really appreciate some advice.

I am determined to be a better landlord but haven't actively fought sparrow invasion over the years on a consistent basis. I'm lucky I still have an active colony. Thanks.

Bcorbs1217 · Sat May 27, 2017 6:16 am

Update. I realize that HOSP management is on an individual basis for each colony. I'm figuring it out. I just have to be diligent. Good luck to all landlords figuring out what's right for their sites.

warbird · Sat May 27, 2017 7:32 am

I don't think chasing the hs away will work. I've not seen the trap your talking about but I would get them as soon as possible. I usually shoot the hs at my place and my gourds have a trap that is very easy to set on any gourd I choose [toyer gourds]. I haven't used the trap yet so don't really know how good it works. I think the longer the hs is there the more hs they will attract and then it becomes a on going thing

DebA · Sun May 28, 2017 9:52 am

Betty,
I like you idea of allowing nest building by the HOSP and then switch and bait and gotcha! It is fortunate if you only have one HOSP at your colony site and you must be doing something right. I slacked all winter and have been trapping and euthanizing heavily and I still see HOSP sitting on my houses. I kinda of growl at them and mutter expletives under my breath. How and what you do is a personal choice. I have come to acknowledge that elimination by euthanization is the only way to really become effective and for your colony to thrive and grow. Plus I am seeing results! So keep at it. I just told my husband last night it does my heart good to successfully rid a gourd or compartment of a HOSP pair and to see a PM sitting on it's porch. Victory.
Deb

Bcorbs1217 · Sun May 28, 2017 10:23 am

You're right warbirds! Chasing away HOSP doesn't work (they certainly have more energy than I do!). Deb, thanks for the encouragement.

I have a question about the insert trap for gourds. Is there a way to make it more sensitive? I've found some nest building in the gourd (it's not on the PM rack) but the sparrow manages to get out even though I find the trap tripped afterwards. It's a puzzle. I'll have to get my binoculars and see what's happening.

DebA · Sun May 28, 2017 11:18 am

I have that trap but haven't used it. Makes sense, huh? When I added interior porches and new exterior ones to my Supergourds I had a gap that I used caulking on so no birdy feet would get caught. But with the interior porch I guess if I can remember...the trap I ordered won't work. So I planned on ordering a spare Supergourd and do the switch out method of the whole gourd when HOSP are committed to a gourd. But, money has been tight for me this time of year so I haven't spent on the extra gourd. I have a trap for Troyer Horizontal Gourds and it works great. Oh, I only have four Supergourds up. So I haven't messed with the trap and cannot answer your questions about getting it to spring better.
Deb

Bcorbs1217 · Sun May 28, 2017 11:37 am

Deb, I reduced the hole to 1.5 inches on my gourd with the trap so I'm fairly sure I won't get any PM's stuck in there. Good to know the Troyer Trap works. I added the tunnels to a few of my round holed gourds and will put them up when I get some gourd rack arms that will work with the tunnels.

Don Troha · Mon May 29, 2017 12:54 am

I have a question about the insert trap for gourds. Is there a way to make it more sensitive? I've found some nest building in the gourd (it's not on the PM rack) but the sparrow manages to get out even though I find the trap tripped afterwards.

I'm not familiar with this insert trap, but what I've found with some of my homemade traps is that if the door does not come down far enough and the sparrow sees some daylight at the bottom of the door, it will get it's beak underneath the door and shove it up and open to get out. To fix this I made the door come down further so there's some daylight at the top of the door. Then the bird will try to get out thru the crack in the top of the door by shoving the door downward and will stay trapped... dt