I have a question for anyone that has used a supergourd insert trap. I installed my first one today, the male sparrow comes and goes and doesn't trip the trap. How can I adjust it to catch this #@*!?
Patrick
Supergourd insert trap...
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Guest
Patrick, the metal part where the bird is suppose to step on bend it slightly higher so in more in line in his direct path. They tend to jump over that piece.
Also the bar the holds the metal plate up bend that ever so slight so it only sits on the metal partial. Sparrow are very light in weight. Make sure its screwed in the gourd because there is play when its not screwed in. The only problem that I encountered is that a good wind sometimes trips it, but its the only way that I found to be very sensitive to work. I caught two males and a female sparrow along with one starling.
Also the bar the holds the metal plate up bend that ever so slight so it only sits on the metal partial. Sparrow are very light in weight. Make sure its screwed in the gourd because there is play when its not screwed in. The only problem that I encountered is that a good wind sometimes trips it, but its the only way that I found to be very sensitive to work. I caught two males and a female sparrow along with one starling.
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Guest
Hello Patrick,
Finally got around to using my SG insert traps the last week or so.
GottaShadow was correct about tweaking trip bar. Starlings and Martins
seem to trip the trap on 1st entry, most likely their larger size ( IMO )
It took about 3 entry's to trap a very persistent male sparrow 2 days ago.
It's a good, simple & economical trap for super qourds. Now I want to find
something like it that works on natural qourds with crescents or round Hole.
Good Luck and hope you have successful martin season.
George Lewis - Whispering Creek Colony
Victoria, TX
Finally got around to using my SG insert traps the last week or so.
GottaShadow was correct about tweaking trip bar. Starlings and Martins
seem to trip the trap on 1st entry, most likely their larger size ( IMO )
It took about 3 entry's to trap a very persistent male sparrow 2 days ago.
It's a good, simple & economical trap for super qourds. Now I want to find
something like it that works on natural qourds with crescents or round Hole.
Good Luck and hope you have successful martin season.
George Lewis - Whispering Creek Colony
Victoria, TX
Thanks for your suggestions. I modified the trip bar a bit, bending it upward to be more in the line of entry for a sparrow. I also tried to offset the bar where the trap door rests on it. Maybe I'll catch this **** tomorrow.
Helping martins, one sparrow at a time,
Patrick
Helping martins, one sparrow at a time,
Patrick
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Glen Webb Jr
- Posts: 478
- Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2004 1:03 pm
- Location: Illinois/Stewardson
I commented on this a while back as I have the same problem. First of all I shouldn't have to 'adjust' a product so it works like it's supposed to when I buy it. Secondly, I think no matter what I do to the insert trap, sparrows seem too light for it. They go in and out, in and out and will even sit on the rod inside the gourd.I have a question for anyone that has used a supergourd insert trap. I installed my first one today, the male sparrow comes and goes and doesn't trip the trap. How can I adjust it to catch this #@*!?
But for the most part, I do not have problems with sparrows at the gourds unless it's the Troyer horizontals, which the starlings love too because they enter them with little difficulty.
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Frank Hargis-IL
- Posts: 121
- Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2003 5:22 pm
- Location: Illinois/Flora
I've used the Super Gourd insert trap for a few years now and have never had a problem with it. Guess it was adjusted just as needed right from the start.
I've also made my own insert trap for porched crescents and they work great also.
In making these I noticed that the trip wire, right where the trap bar sets on it, must be bent just right. Take the trap out of the gourd so you can see how it's working. Set the trap, then move the trip wire slowly. If the wire tries to raise the trap bar it takes a lot more weight to trip it.
Hope this helps a little,
Frank
I've also made my own insert trap for porched crescents and they work great also.
In making these I noticed that the trip wire, right where the trap bar sets on it, must be bent just right. Take the trap out of the gourd so you can see how it's working. Set the trap, then move the trip wire slowly. If the wire tries to raise the trap bar it takes a lot more weight to trip it.
Hope this helps a little,
Frank
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Frank Hargis-IL
- Posts: 121
- Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2003 5:22 pm
- Location: Illinois/Flora
Patrick,
I guess I should have explained a couple of things a little better. First, all my crescent gourds have exterior and interior porches made by me. The first trap is made to work on my porches. My porches are made of 1/8" PVC and are about 3 1/4" X 3 1/4". After mentioning the trap in a post here I had some people express interest so I thought I'd try making one to work on about any size or thickness of porch BUT.... I've never seen a boughten porch, only pictures and the pictures look like the porches have a lip/bend on the end away from the gourd opening. I have came up with a trap that will work on different size porches but it will NOT work on a porch with this lip. I asked, on another post, if it would be a problem or too much trouble to cut this lip off but no one answered. I've thought about trying to market this trap and a winch extender that I've designed but don't really want to start a "business". I'm 69 years old and retired and like my free time. (lazy??) What I'd really like is to find someone to manufacture these for me. I did receive an email from the PMCA once stating that they might be interested in manufacturing the winch extender but have never heard from them again. I also emailed S&K Manufacturing about the extender but received no answer.
Anyway, back to the trap. As I said the trap is made to work on a crescent gourd with an interior porch and this porch CANNOT have the lip. If someone has porches like this or can modify one (remove the lip) I might make one for someone to try, to see how they work for them.
Sorry for the long post,
Frank
I guess I should have explained a couple of things a little better. First, all my crescent gourds have exterior and interior porches made by me. The first trap is made to work on my porches. My porches are made of 1/8" PVC and are about 3 1/4" X 3 1/4". After mentioning the trap in a post here I had some people express interest so I thought I'd try making one to work on about any size or thickness of porch BUT.... I've never seen a boughten porch, only pictures and the pictures look like the porches have a lip/bend on the end away from the gourd opening. I have came up with a trap that will work on different size porches but it will NOT work on a porch with this lip. I asked, on another post, if it would be a problem or too much trouble to cut this lip off but no one answered. I've thought about trying to market this trap and a winch extender that I've designed but don't really want to start a "business". I'm 69 years old and retired and like my free time. (lazy??) What I'd really like is to find someone to manufacture these for me. I did receive an email from the PMCA once stating that they might be interested in manufacturing the winch extender but have never heard from them again. I also emailed S&K Manufacturing about the extender but received no answer.
Anyway, back to the trap. As I said the trap is made to work on a crescent gourd with an interior porch and this porch CANNOT have the lip. If someone has porches like this or can modify one (remove the lip) I might make one for someone to try, to see how they work for them.
Sorry for the long post,
Frank