Hi,
I just put up a dedicated 8 cavity Trio house. I closed off all but 3 cavities and I am using Spare-O-Doors on those openings. The house is very close to a couple of trees but the side with the trap doors is in full view of the Martin housing. I was hoping to see the sparrows standing in line to get a look but what I got was a mass exodus from the Martin houses and a frenzy of at least 30 Martins checking out the "new" housing! You can't tell me that Martins don't recognize housing when they see it! It is a good thing the Martins can't get in the Spare-O-Doors. I am wondering, with all the interest, would a martin actually try to nest in it even though it is just feet from a big tree?
Dedicated Sparrow Control House
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Mary Dawnsong
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:17 pm
- Location: Michigan, Livingston County
Hi Nannette,
My martin housing is all gourds, but newly-arrived martins often fly straight to the Trio trap house - even though it is near a tree.
I have had female martins fixate on the trap house, sitting on the porch for a day or two while their mate waits patiently nearby. Some of them try to enter the tiny round holes. I suspect some of those females eventually leave my site in search of "real" martin housing. And, yes, I believe they would move right into the trap house if they could get into the holes -even though- it is located by a tree.
Nannette is your martin housing all gourds? If so then I expect a dedicated trap house to be very effective at trapping House Sparrows -but- only when HOSP are actively cavity-seeking. My Trip Grandma trap house has caught 71 HOSP since April 5, but only 3 in the last week or so. Either I've really diminished the local population or the remaining HOSP are busy raising young in nests elsewhere.
Also, if your martin housing includes houses, then I would not expect the dedicated trap house to be quite as effective. HOSP are very attracted to houses so will still probably be attracted to your active martin houses. This is the #1 reason why I will probably always offer only gourds to martins - makes HOSP control with a dedicated trap house so much more effective.
My martin housing is all gourds, but newly-arrived martins often fly straight to the Trio trap house - even though it is near a tree.
I have had female martins fixate on the trap house, sitting on the porch for a day or two while their mate waits patiently nearby. Some of them try to enter the tiny round holes. I suspect some of those females eventually leave my site in search of "real" martin housing. And, yes, I believe they would move right into the trap house if they could get into the holes -even though- it is located by a tree.
Nannette is your martin housing all gourds? If so then I expect a dedicated trap house to be very effective at trapping House Sparrows -but- only when HOSP are actively cavity-seeking. My Trip Grandma trap house has caught 71 HOSP since April 5, but only 3 in the last week or so. Either I've really diminished the local population or the remaining HOSP are busy raising young in nests elsewhere.
Also, if your martin housing includes houses, then I would not expect the dedicated trap house to be quite as effective. HOSP are very attracted to houses so will still probably be attracted to your active martin houses. This is the #1 reason why I will probably always offer only gourds to martins - makes HOSP control with a dedicated trap house so much more effective.
Click here to see my colony
"In Michigan every martin matters"
"In Michigan every martin matters"
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Glen Webb Jr
- Posts: 478
- Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2004 1:03 pm
- Location: Illinois/Stewardson
Mary and Nanette, I am doing this next season I think. I saw Mary's house trap photos on the board and I think it would work wonders for the martins, and especially for all the tree swallows and bluebirds that I have to constantly keep up with. I also found a spot for an S&S controller, so I'm going all out war next year.
+1 on the S & S Controller. It's my no maintainance sparrow and starling vacuum. I just come home every evening, grab the basket and do away with the pile of parasites 
Works great.
Works great.I'm a "nestcamaholic" Is 18 hours a day a bad thing? (I have 2 this year, luckily I have 2 eyes!)
Hi Mary,
I have 48 cavities. I have a T-14, a Trio Wade and a Trio Castle. Both the Trio houses are modified to larger cavities. Hanging from the houses is a total of 16 gourds. The T-14 and all gourds are new this year. Out of all the "housing" there are 4 empty cavities.However, NONE of my gourds have attracted martins! I did notice a martin "hanging out" on one today and when I did a nest check on that gourd I found a pine needle in it. I am not sure why my martins don't find the gourds "attractive". I did notice a sparrow checking them out but not before he destroyed two eggs. I removed the pinned eggs 2 days ago and when I did my nest check today, the two eggs were replaced. Hopefully she will keep on laying. I was also very surprised to find a 7 egg clutch! I have never had one of those before. So far I have 80 eggs !! I am very excited!
I was just so amazed at how the martins were so worked up about the new Trio (trap). I only wish the sparrows were. I keep checking for the red flags but none yet. Hopefully they will be interested when it comes time for another clutch.
I have 48 cavities. I have a T-14, a Trio Wade and a Trio Castle. Both the Trio houses are modified to larger cavities. Hanging from the houses is a total of 16 gourds. The T-14 and all gourds are new this year. Out of all the "housing" there are 4 empty cavities.However, NONE of my gourds have attracted martins! I did notice a martin "hanging out" on one today and when I did a nest check on that gourd I found a pine needle in it. I am not sure why my martins don't find the gourds "attractive". I did notice a sparrow checking them out but not before he destroyed two eggs. I removed the pinned eggs 2 days ago and when I did my nest check today, the two eggs were replaced. Hopefully she will keep on laying. I was also very surprised to find a 7 egg clutch! I have never had one of those before. So far I have 80 eggs
!! I am very excited!I was just so amazed at how the martins were so worked up about the new Trio (trap). I only wish the sparrows were. I keep checking for the red flags but none yet. Hopefully they will be interested when it comes time for another clutch.
Fledge on!
Nanette
Nanette