OK - I did as I read on the forum in diverting the TS from the martin housing and set up another gourd for the TS about 25-30 feet from my martin housing - Oh by the way I am a wanna be - second year trying. Anyhow when I got home from work last evening the TS have attracted to the gourd on the shepard hook but to my dismay the ___ sparrows were hanging around the martin porches and checking out the gourds. Yes I tried shooting the sparrows with the pellet gun - but my aim is common. Question - do I close up the martin housing - or what do I do?????
Any advice is appreciated.
Laura from SE Ohio
TS and the SPARROWS
Laura,
If you are truly doing "what you're supposed to" using the TS Interference protocol, then your martin cavities would already be closed when you are not there to monitor.
http://www.drugfreeworkplace.com/~Dan/E ... GENCY.html
The problem of sparrows and starlings is a problem completely independent and separate from TS interference; so there is no reason to think that configuring for TS interference would suddenly cause a sparrow attack... or a sparrow problem to get worse.
Also your description of your sparrows' behavior makes me believe that maybe they are not sparrows after all; so things may not be as bad as you think. There are LOTS of house finches in these latitudes (which look somewhat like a sparrow... but also quite different if you study the matter. The males have red heads & necks.) They will often get interested in martin housing and check it out... and even nest in martin cavities; but they are absolutely NO PROBLEM OR INTERFERENCE with your getting martins... and you can ignore them... or just "shoo them away" ...which is a command they usually follow.
The behavior you describe... i.e. "hanging around" and "checking out the gourds" ...and letting you test your aim with the pellet gun is NOT SPARROW-LIKE at all. Usually they get right to work and are busy nest building by the time you see them... and then you are lucky to get off one shot and they are GONE, GONE, GONE... until you turn your back ...and you might need to build a blind to get another shot at them. They are that shy... and that savvy about knowing when you are there watching them... even from inside your house. [Starlings are the same way.]
For the sake of your success at getting martins, I HOPE that what you are seeing are house finches. If so, it is not legal to harm them... nor is there any need. If, indeed, you do have sparrows, find a way to get rid of them; for they are just as evil a presence for the tree swallows as for the martins.
Good luck... and please post again with a follow-up report!
Dan
If you are truly doing "what you're supposed to" using the TS Interference protocol, then your martin cavities would already be closed when you are not there to monitor.
http://www.drugfreeworkplace.com/~Dan/E ... GENCY.html
The problem of sparrows and starlings is a problem completely independent and separate from TS interference; so there is no reason to think that configuring for TS interference would suddenly cause a sparrow attack... or a sparrow problem to get worse.
Also your description of your sparrows' behavior makes me believe that maybe they are not sparrows after all; so things may not be as bad as you think. There are LOTS of house finches in these latitudes (which look somewhat like a sparrow... but also quite different if you study the matter. The males have red heads & necks.) They will often get interested in martin housing and check it out... and even nest in martin cavities; but they are absolutely NO PROBLEM OR INTERFERENCE with your getting martins... and you can ignore them... or just "shoo them away" ...which is a command they usually follow.
The behavior you describe... i.e. "hanging around" and "checking out the gourds" ...and letting you test your aim with the pellet gun is NOT SPARROW-LIKE at all. Usually they get right to work and are busy nest building by the time you see them... and then you are lucky to get off one shot and they are GONE, GONE, GONE... until you turn your back ...and you might need to build a blind to get another shot at them. They are that shy... and that savvy about knowing when you are there watching them... even from inside your house. [Starlings are the same way.]
For the sake of your success at getting martins, I HOPE that what you are seeing are house finches. If so, it is not legal to harm them... nor is there any need. If, indeed, you do have sparrows, find a way to get rid of them; for they are just as evil a presence for the tree swallows as for the martins.
Good luck... and please post again with a follow-up report!
Dan
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Guest
Let me try this again in regards to the sparrows - they were not hanging around they were sitting on the housing. I pretty sure they are not finches - but I will look more closely - I do have a pair of finches nesting close by the martin housing in a pine tree.
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Glen Webb Jr
- Posts: 478
- Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2004 1:03 pm
- Location: Illinois/Stewardson
Personally, I would not close up the martin housing now, if you've already had it open. I say this for one reason. If you close it up now, to get rid of the sparrows, I'm afraid they may attack and harass the tree swallows, and that is a horrible sight.