Mike,
I caught a male HOSP today in a nest box trap and moved him to a repeating bait trap to lure in more HOSPs. I got the idea from Toma recently even though it has probably been mentioned before. I think it's a much better idea than your tail clipping routine. These little POWs often die in captivity even thou they have shelter, room and board, including 3 squares a day. Before they pass, they might likely attract more of their own which you could make another new science project for you. These little guys will often expire in their sleep which should make it much easier on you and your students...no muss, no fuss. I just checked on the little guy and it appeared he passed peacefully in his sleep. That's much better than him hopping around scared to death trying to get away from a cat or a hawk....
anyhow, something to consider.
Dale
Another Possible Option for Scully's Trapped HOSP
Dale, thanks for the tip. 
I can make a pretty good case for a tail-clipped sparrow facing pretty decent odds, loss of the tail feathers happening to wild birds often enough.
The most regular example I can think of is our own great-tailed grackle, during their annual late summer molt many pretty much lose all their tail feathers at one time, and sometimes a few flight feathers (on the wings) too.
I would make a case that the loss of tail feathers is more survivable than flight feathers. Lost wing feathers likely means much more energy expended to travel place to place, slower flight and loss of crucial lift when surprised on the ground. Even if not nabbed by a ground-based predator actual starvation looms as a possibility.
Loss of the tail likely means somewhat more energy expended in correcting with the wings what for used to be done with the tail, and certainly loss of a degree of manouverability. They can still get off of the ground pretty quick I imagine. Might fall prey to an Accipiter I guess, not very likely to happen around here just now.
As for wild house sparrows dying in confinement; stress I expect. I gave a trapped but otherwise unhurt starling to a friend of mine interested in making a pet out of it. The starling never ceased attempting to escape and was dead in three days.
Regards,
Mike Scully
I can make a pretty good case for a tail-clipped sparrow facing pretty decent odds, loss of the tail feathers happening to wild birds often enough.
The most regular example I can think of is our own great-tailed grackle, during their annual late summer molt many pretty much lose all their tail feathers at one time, and sometimes a few flight feathers (on the wings) too.
I would make a case that the loss of tail feathers is more survivable than flight feathers. Lost wing feathers likely means much more energy expended to travel place to place, slower flight and loss of crucial lift when surprised on the ground. Even if not nabbed by a ground-based predator actual starvation looms as a possibility.
Loss of the tail likely means somewhat more energy expended in correcting with the wings what for used to be done with the tail, and certainly loss of a degree of manouverability. They can still get off of the ground pretty quick I imagine. Might fall prey to an Accipiter I guess, not very likely to happen around here just now.
As for wild house sparrows dying in confinement; stress I expect. I gave a trapped but otherwise unhurt starling to a friend of mine interested in making a pet out of it. The starling never ceased attempting to escape and was dead in three days.
Regards,
Mike Scully
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Dale Hrncirik
Mike,
I just thought that this option would pass the 'cruelty' test. After all, life in prison is much more humane and just??? than the death penalty, according to most liberals I talk to.
Dale
I just thought that this option would pass the 'cruelty' test. After all, life in prison is much more humane and just??? than the death penalty, according to most liberals I talk to.
Dale
Dale... being serious for a moment, part of the reason I don't preemptively trap (other than the time it would take and the attention that it would attract) is that I want to keep the contact between students and captured sparrows at a minimum. For a whole host of potential liabilities; legal, healthwise and political.
In public school you get used to thinking that way.
Mike Scully
In public school you get used to thinking that way.
Mike Scully