house sparrow total control

Welcome to the internet's gathering place for Purple Martin enthusiasts
Post Reply
gray fox
Posts: 115
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2016 8:13 am
Location: Tyrone, PA

Even a few house sparrows around are destroying blue birds and tree swallows and keeping them from nesting. Here at home I can maintain total control. I don't have cattle feed etc. around. No other buildings like the farmer has at the martin and blue bird tree swallow location up the road. I would like a answer . Thanks for any suggestions.
Top
flyin-lowe
Posts: 3788
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

I'm not exactly sure what it is you are asking??
2026 HOSP 26
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
Top
gray fox
Posts: 115
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2016 8:13 am
Location: Tyrone, PA

adult house sparrows most of the time avoid the traps.There the ones killing blue birds and tree swallows. So far they haven't attacked the nesting martins.
Top
Archer
Posts: 786
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:09 pm
Location: Manitoba/Altona
Martin Colony History: six pair in 2014, have grown to 52 pairs in 2017.

What kind of traps do you have? Are you able to shoot?
2011- first year trying, a few visitors.
2012-One ASY pair, raised two young, lots of subby visitors. So thankfull.
2013-daily subby visits.
2014-Six SY pairs
2015-18 pair, 83 fledglings
2016-36 pair, 147 fledglings
2017-52 pairs, 192 fledglings.
2018-60 pair, 246 fledglings.
2019-59 pair, 238 fledglings.
2020-62 pair.
2021-65 pair.
2022-63 pair.
2023-60 pair
2024-62 pair
Top
Conrad Baker
Posts: 754
Joined: Fri Jan 12, 2007 7:43 pm
Location: Paulina, Louisiana

You have to control the Sparrows from the beginning (like now). Once they take over your houses, it's too late-The Martins will probably be looking elsewhere to live because they can't compete with the Sparrows. Trap them or shoot them.
Last edited by Conrad Baker on Wed Jan 29, 2020 7:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
Top
deancamp
Posts: 873
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2016 9:17 pm
Location: Raymore, MO

PMDavid posted a repeating trap build that has been working well for him. From the comments it sounds like it can be baited with food or nesting material depending on when your trapping.
Jeff
Top
PMDavid
Posts: 534
Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 8:50 pm
Location: Boyce,Louisiana
Martin Colony History: 2018 1 lone nut and lots of visitors
2019 6 pair -21fledged
2020 18 pair -60 fledged
2021......to be seen.
24 natural gourds on a satellite rack,9 other gourds scattered around
2-12 compartment trio houses
Rarely see a sparrow or starling,but when I do they don’t last long!
Will have a second satellite rack for the 2022 season and phase out the houses,the martins here strongly prefer natural gourds.

Gray fox if you will check you tube for.....

How to build a sparrow trap by bruntdog, it will have three videos ..parts 1,2,and 3. They are live step by step,the materials needed are minimal. I actually “found” everything I needed for free! If you need some clarification on any of it post on here,I’ll be checking and I’ll explain. It was pretty easy to build .....you can do it. Then you’ll have one of your own.
David
Top
MartinBro
Posts: 26
Joined: Wed Jan 01, 2020 3:21 pm
Location: Mississippi
Martin Colony History: Started off with no martins. Years later, I got a few martins. Now, I get more martins than you can shake a stick at.

Do you have total control or not ? Are you asking how to control the farmers sparrows up the road ? I'm confused.
The only good starling is a dead starling. The only good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
Top
gray fox
Posts: 115
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2016 8:13 am
Location: Tyrone, PA

Dave T would like to try brunt dogs trap?
Top
gray fox
Posts: 115
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2016 8:13 am
Location: Tyrone, PA

Gray fox would like to try brunt dogs trap.
Top
gray fox
Posts: 115
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2016 8:13 am
Location: Tyrone, PA

Would clutter in repeating sparrow trap help attract h.s. more than just feed?
Top
deancamp
Posts: 873
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2016 9:17 pm
Location: Raymore, MO

If food is not getting the job done, put nesting materials in during their nesting period. Long grass stems, feathers and the like.
Jeff
Top
flyin-lowe
Posts: 3788
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

What kind of housing do you have, I have my best luck with insert traps in my T14. Especially before the martins arrive, I can block everything else off and catch them all day long early season.
2026 HOSP 26
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
Top
KathyF
Posts: 3522
Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
Location: Missouri/Licking
Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.

Use a nestbox trap to trap the HOSP in the bluebird / tree swall housing, then throw the trapped HOSP into a repeater trap.

You need 2 traps: one like this: https://www.purplemartin.org/shop/produ ... d-housing/

and a repeating trap like this: https://www.purplemartin.org/shop/produ ... bait-trap/
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Purple Martin Forum”