So upset!

[LisaJ]

I did a quick nest check and found a dead pm female that obviously put up a huge fight, but lost. This is the first time i have had a HOSP kill one of my sweethearts and i am so mad!
I made my new Van Ert trap looked used and put it up in the tree the HOSP go to when thry see me.
There is not a PM in sight now. Will the demise of the fmale keep the rest from coming back??
I hate HOSP s
-Lisa

[GFB]

Don't get upset, get mad! They will come back. My martins didn't get here yet but I've been dealing with a group of starlings. As soon as I open the house door they flew off. After about 5 times I finally had it and put a mouse trap on the hole they were using,two minutes problem solved. I don't suggest doing this unless your watching close and sure no martins are around.

[BillieJR]

I'm really sorry - those rotten miserable sparrows!!!!!

[LisaJ]

I am so mad! I now have 8-10 PMs each day, well, 9 now. I sure do not want to do anything to hurt the pms when trying to eliminate these damn sparrows (my daily name for HOSPs).
I hope my new trap will catch em. I have received a lot of great suggestions from this forum. Believe me, i will be doing a happy dance when i catch these mean, evil, HOSPs.
Stay tuned!
-Lisa

[John Miller]

Had you pulled a nest of house sparrow babies? That is a scenario -- sometimes called male house sparrow revenge syndrome -- I've seen where the male house sparrow will actually brutally attack adult martins, using its beak to inflict wounds. Might do it if eggs near hatching were removed. Otherwise while determined and will quickly fill a nest cavity blocking martins, they usually won't physically wound martin adults. A male sparrow not yet with a female will go around tossing martin eggs and sometimes new martin hatchlings.

[LisaJ]

John, i pull sparrow nest stuff out daily or every other day. No eggs were in there.
The female pm that was killed was building her nest. That may have been a trigger.
I used to play softball and thought about using my precise accuracy to launch a softball at the sparrows. They would be gobe in a second! May have to resort to a pellet gun.

[John Miller]

Well...I didn't think daily pulling would result in this type of aggression (I know it will if one removes house sparrow babies) but I've been known to be wrong, and as the season progresses I have read that the male sparrow's testosterone increases. I would suggesting trying to set a cavity trap where sparrows are building, with consideration to shimming it to keep martins out. John M

[Kuemic]

LisaJ, you might look at this topic on the forum, more ways to trap house sparrows. I also sent you an email. Hope you get that sparrow!

https://www.purplemartin.org/forum/view ... ox#p268209

[LisaJ]

Ya'll are the best!!

[flyin-lowe]

What type of entrances do you have. I know it happens but I have never seen a sparrow kill an adult martin. When it comes to fighting I have seen SY martins do more fighting then sparrows. I've only seen sparrows peck eggs. I wander if a starling could have gotten in. Especially if you have SREH and one was able to barely squeeze in. It might have started fighting since it couldn't easily get back out...

[Dave Duit]

Hi Lisa,
I feel your frustration. Dirty sparrows can be a real headache. As mentioned before, sparrow revenge. I learned from the long ago past, that nest pulling is not the key to the sparrow problem. These days I only shoot or trap sparrows. Sorry about your loss.

[LisaJ]

All, thank you for sharing what works and what doesn't.
I have the half-circle, Starling resistant openings and have never seen one ever attempt to go in. I cant be certain though.

My sparrow trap door with male sparrow calls module has not come on yet. Counting the days!! This is supposed to be a very effective trap.
Had 8 PMs, now, 7. They are beginning to bring nesting material. They gang up on the sparrows and i shoo the sparrows too when they land on the porches.
Love my PM'S!!
Lisa

[Dave Duit]

Happy sparrow hunting Lisa. Good to see that you are getting some shots on the sparrows. I always make sure the martins are not close to the sparrow when shooting.

[rrmartins]

Sounds like your doing great!! Takes a little practice to start trapping rat birds, you’ll make it!!

[brent]

Lisa, I'm sorry to hear this. I am so concerned about this happening to one of the birds here. I have sparrows that fly from one location right over my houses to a cattle field and many stop on the martin perches lurking. I have to go out and chase them away. I did buy a PMCA Repeating Bait Trap and have been using it to catch sparrows in front of my house. So far I've been able to eliminate 12 of them. But perhaps some one can help me with my concern. Because it seems the sparrows that stop at he martin houses are flying from one place to another. Should I set the trap up closer to the martin houses and bait it with bread to attract them? Or should I continue to trap them in the front of my house where my neighbor has a bird feeder that is attracting sparrows? Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Brent

[rrmartins]

Black feathers and nesting material work better as bait this time of year, they’re in breeding mode now.

[FarmerHarv]

Brent, I would get another trap and have one at each location. More chances to remove HOSP = more happy martins.

[brent]

Thanks FarmerHarv and rrmartins. I'll follow through with your suggestions.

[LisaJ]

I finally got my Trap Door trap with sound module. I placed it under the martin house where there are bushes they like to hide in.
I put bread and birdseed. No success yet, but with the sparrow calls, they are interested. I can't wait for my first successful trap!!!
You all give me hope! I hate sparrows!
I love my PMs!!
-Lisa

[Kuemic]

Will be waiting to hear! Trapped the first male sparrow last week, first one we have seen this year. Got him in a Spare-O-Door.

Good luck!