sparrow trap bait
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Guest
I finally resorted to the ST-1 sparrow trap and am at a complete loss for reliable bait. At first I tried nesting material, trapped 2, then no interest. So I tried bread, no takers. I put in the seed cups and black oil sunflower seed, trapped one. Then no interest. I put in a little suet and all I got was a mockingbird (and boy did he let me know he wasn't happy!) The sparrows are just ignoring the trap and happily building nests in my trio- I had a sparrow-door in it last year but broke my arm last year as well and can't raise and lower the house as much as I used to, so that isn't really helping either. Any ideas on reliable bait that will keep them coming back?
I hear white chicken feathers are supposed to be good, string, dryer lint, material torn out of previous sparrow nests. Some seem to work better than others, some work with individual birds and not others. It's a lifelong task to trap these foreign invaders. Good luck.
Patrick
Patrick
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Ed Svetich-WI
- Posts: 815
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
- Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
- Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.
I have never used bait in the ST-1 traps. I have found that the smaller hole seemed to attract sparrows as they investigated the martin houses. I usually am able to keep my set up sparrow free by using the ST-1 in addition to the three compartment sparrow trap with the center holding compartment ( I don't recall what it is called). I vary the bait in that trap between nesting materials early in the season and white bread later in the year. I seem to catch more young sparrows at that time and they in turn bring in the adults.
I have just acquired an old Trio house from a vacant property that I went by daily. It was always full of sparrows.I tracked down the owner out of town and he gave me the house. I am putting two ST-1 traps and a universal trap in it to see how that works. I plan to keep it up all year near some trees that should be unattractive to my martins to see what effect it will have on the sparrows.
Good luck. Keep trapping whenever you can.
I have just acquired an old Trio house from a vacant property that I went by daily. It was always full of sparrows.I tracked down the owner out of town and he gave me the house. I am putting two ST-1 traps and a universal trap in it to see how that works. I plan to keep it up all year near some trees that should be unattractive to my martins to see what effect it will have on the sparrows.
Good luck. Keep trapping whenever you can.
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Ed Svetich-WI
- Posts: 815
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
- Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
- Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.
Sorry, I confused the two traps. I should have said that I do not use any bait in the Sparrow door traps. The ST-1 must be the three compartment trap. I apologize for my error. I agree with Patrick's reply.
I'm not above using anything that will trap a house sparrow. I've used live traps, homemade huber traps, spar-o-door, glue traps, and mouse traps. I've caught sparrows in them all. Some won't go near certain kinds but will fall victim to others. I had one male sparrow that deserted the nest every time I put any kind of trapping device inside, no matter how well I covered my tracks. I finally got him with a spar-o-door, but even that took a few days. I've had others hop right into whatever I put out there. It's a real hit or miss thing. I find trapping them in gourds to be the most difficult because I don't have a supergourd trap yet. That's next on my list. I'm going to use my 6 compartment Trio house next year by fitting it with 6 spar-o-doors. I'm also going to trap all year. I'm determined.
Happy Trapping,
Patrick
Happy Trapping,
Patrick