Yes.MamaBruff wrote:...Are we as a society so far removed from nature, that we no longer observe or understand it? *sigh*
Mary
Oops, a "non-believer" asked about my PMCA NB trap
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Mitch Booth
- Posts: 480
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:23 am
- Location: Akron, OH
- Martin Colony History: 2012 - 0
2013 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 2 fledged
2014 - 0
2015 - 1 pair, 5 died during week of rain
2016 - 0
2017 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2018 - 4 pair, 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2020 - 17 pair
I just witnessed a HOSP eject two tree swallow eggs. I have many bluebird boxes and some are not occupied. This was an act of pure evil in my opinion. I will eliminate every HOSP I can.
Mitch
Mitch
2020 - 17 pair 77 eggs 69 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2018 - 4 pair 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2017 - 1 pair 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2016 - 0 only visits
2015 - 1 pair 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 dead on days 6-7
2014 - 0 only visits
2013 - 1 pair 3 eggs, 2 hatched, 2 fledged
2012 - 0
2019 - 7 pair
2018 - 4 pair 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2017 - 1 pair 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2016 - 0 only visits
2015 - 1 pair 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 dead on days 6-7
2014 - 0 only visits
2013 - 1 pair 3 eggs, 2 hatched, 2 fledged
2012 - 0
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MamaBruff
- Posts: 1466
- Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:21 pm
- Location: SW Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Mitch,
I had seen posted here or on another site, can't remember for sure, but like BBs, the TS will also accept a Sparrow Spooker if placed after the second egg is laid. Good luck to you, we are all in the same boat, and therefore not alone.
Mary
I had seen posted here or on another site, can't remember for sure, but like BBs, the TS will also accept a Sparrow Spooker if placed after the second egg is laid. Good luck to you, we are all in the same boat, and therefore not alone.
Mary
~Mary B~
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
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KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
Mitch, try putting these homemade plates on your nest boxes that have tree swallows. These help a LOT - they're not HOSP *proof*, but they are like TRES SREH and are more resistant to HOSP.
**Note - bluebirds cannot enter a box with these plates, so they are still at the mercy of the HOSP.
Just cut a slot 2 1/4" long and EXACTLY 7/8" tall into some plastic, enlarge the entrances on your tree swallow houses, and screw on the plastic plates. The swallows have no problems entering, but the round fat sparrows can't.
I used some left over siding. Don't use wood, because it makes the entrance too thick and the TRES can't grasp the edge and pull themselves in.
**Note - bluebirds cannot enter a box with these plates, so they are still at the mercy of the HOSP.
Just cut a slot 2 1/4" long and EXACTLY 7/8" tall into some plastic, enlarge the entrances on your tree swallow houses, and screw on the plastic plates. The swallows have no problems entering, but the round fat sparrows can't.
I used some left over siding. Don't use wood, because it makes the entrance too thick and the TRES can't grasp the edge and pull themselves in.
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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Mitch Booth
- Posts: 480
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:23 am
- Location: Akron, OH
- Martin Colony History: 2012 - 0
2013 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 2 fledged
2014 - 0
2015 - 1 pair, 5 died during week of rain
2016 - 0
2017 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2018 - 4 pair, 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2020 - 17 pair
Mary,
What is a sparrow spooker? Where do you find them at? I just removed my bluebird feeder that they LOVE because the HOSP are now getting in as well to feed on meal worms.
We have wood ducks and mallards eating whole corn and now I've trapped 3 HOSP in a repeating trap using cracked corn. I've decided to leave the HOSP repeating out year round now. I will not tolerate them around our place!!
Mitch
What is a sparrow spooker? Where do you find them at? I just removed my bluebird feeder that they LOVE because the HOSP are now getting in as well to feed on meal worms.
We have wood ducks and mallards eating whole corn and now I've trapped 3 HOSP in a repeating trap using cracked corn. I've decided to leave the HOSP repeating out year round now. I will not tolerate them around our place!!
Mitch
2020 - 17 pair 77 eggs 69 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2018 - 4 pair 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2017 - 1 pair 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2016 - 0 only visits
2015 - 1 pair 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 dead on days 6-7
2014 - 0 only visits
2013 - 1 pair 3 eggs, 2 hatched, 2 fledged
2012 - 0
2019 - 7 pair
2018 - 4 pair 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2017 - 1 pair 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2016 - 0 only visits
2015 - 1 pair 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 dead on days 6-7
2014 - 0 only visits
2013 - 1 pair 3 eggs, 2 hatched, 2 fledged
2012 - 0
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MamaBruff
- Posts: 1466
- Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:21 pm
- Location: SW Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Mitch,
Glad you are seeing the HOSP for what they are. Now you are "Secretary of Defense" for the native birds on your property! It's a tough and yukky job, but worth the effort!
KathyF is the resident sparrow trapping expert and McGyver.
I'm not so sure that taking away the BB feeder in nesting season is a good idea... Keep trapping/shooting the HOSP and their numbers will drop. You might even want to put up a HOSP "hotel" near the BB feeder... Use a 1 5/16" ( thx KathyF) hole saw to cut a BB excluder hole out of scrap wood/metal/plastic. Sears has them or order online. Then screw the reducer on a cheap store bought or homemade BB house and mount nearby on a pole. Be sure your insert trap will fit.
As for Sparrow Spooker, you can google that. I went ahead and screwed the Spooker mounts onto the BB house so in the future all I have to do is add the Spooker rods and Mylar. It works good to protect from HOSP... But don't forget about raccoons and snakes.
Good Luck and thank you for helping our native birds!
Mary
Glad you are seeing the HOSP for what they are. Now you are "Secretary of Defense" for the native birds on your property! It's a tough and yukky job, but worth the effort!
KathyF is the resident sparrow trapping expert and McGyver.
I'm not so sure that taking away the BB feeder in nesting season is a good idea... Keep trapping/shooting the HOSP and their numbers will drop. You might even want to put up a HOSP "hotel" near the BB feeder... Use a 1 5/16" ( thx KathyF) hole saw to cut a BB excluder hole out of scrap wood/metal/plastic. Sears has them or order online. Then screw the reducer on a cheap store bought or homemade BB house and mount nearby on a pole. Be sure your insert trap will fit.
As for Sparrow Spooker, you can google that. I went ahead and screwed the Spooker mounts onto the BB house so in the future all I have to do is add the Spooker rods and Mylar. It works good to protect from HOSP... But don't forget about raccoons and snakes.
Good Luck and thank you for helping our native birds!
Mary
~Mary B~
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.