Sparrows! Can you shoot the female first?

James A Lenz · Sat May 12, 2018 7:18 am

Ok I have read on here that if you shoot the female the male will seek revenge on your Martins. Is this true? Sometimes I get a shot on one of them in the air but I can’t tell if it’s the male or female? What if I shoot the male first? Will the female seek revenge too.

pmlover · Sat May 12, 2018 7:29 am

don't worry about what you shoot just kill them when you get the chance
ive trapped the females first many times then I got the male after that

James A Lenz · Sat May 12, 2018 7:41 am

pmlover wrote:don't worry about what you shoot just kill them when you get the chance
ive trapped the females first many times then I got the male after that

So the male will become enraged at losing the nest and eggs but the female going missing won’t cause this behavior? Ok! I almost had one of the them y sterdsy with rat shot but I think I will get many more opportunities.

phldave · Sun May 13, 2018 5:00 pm

The most important thing If u get rid of him she’ll leave. He is the main problem you want to address.
Dave

JamesinIA · Mon May 14, 2018 5:42 am

The sparrow revenge happens when you take out their nest,not if you shoot one of them. I stop doing nest removals when the martins start laying eggs.

Dave Duit · Mon May 14, 2018 8:34 am

ditto. I don't do nest rip outs either. 90%shoot, 10% trap.