How do you remove sparrows from trap?

[KellyG]

I have a Songbird Essentials Sparrow Trap. It is the one with 2 trapping compartments and a center compartment. Any ideas on removing sparrows without them getting away? I caught a male this morning and he didn't go to the center compartment. I took it in my Utilitiy room and sure enough, he got out. I had quite a circus catching him. I put him in the center compartment with food and water and went to town. I came back and had another male!!! They are both in the center compartment now and trying to call their friends. I use a 1 gallon mesh paint strainer to get them out of my gourd traps, but not sure of the best way to get them out of this trap. Thanks for any help.

[Louise Chambers]

I put a clear plastic bag (like produce bag) over my hand, then drape towel over top of trap, so HOSP don't see escape route. I slip my hand in, grab the HOSP, and pull the bag down over my hand as I remove it - that way the HOSP is in the bag and I have that safely clutched in my hand. works well for me. The towel really helps.

[CMF]

Mine usually croak overnight or at least by the next afternoon. Easy to tilt the trap to get them out and don't run the risk of an escaping fresh one. The longer they're in there the better channce you have to get more. My automatic trap has wiped out all the house sparrows from my colony immediate area. Over 40 this year and they are scarce now

[Louise Chambers]

We keep a few in the trap as decoys and supply them with food and water and shade. It does help attract more HOSP quickly if there is a decoy or two.

[John Miller]

I'd think Louise's method would work. A guy I mentor uses CMF's method, which I'm not a fan of, but if it protects martins, okay.

Using the trap you have, I slip both hands, fingers first, slowly in under the lid. The sparrow moves to the back. I can usually use my hands to block any escape.

John M

[Robert Richerson]

I use a couple of sparrow repeating traps. As far as keeping the decoys alive, I find if I offer fresh water a couple times a day, feed fresh white bread at least once a day, keep in shade at least in the hot afternoon and IMO just as important is to change locations every few days, the decoys will survive quite a while.

The trap sitting stagnant in one spot becomes nasty and smelly, unpleasant for me and I would suspect not too healthy for the sparrows.

[~Ray~Gingerich]

I have a wood box modified to fit the spare o door, I found the cup and plastic bag method does not work very well, they do not come out right away and when they do will flap around and eventually escape. What I do now is spray several 3 second shots of starter fluid into the entrance hole then you can open the door with no problems from the sparrow. Did one in today.

[KellyG]

Which is the best decoy, male or female sparrow?

[M.Stephens]

Ray 04 How do you know it's a sparrow in your trap if you can't see him ...seems that you could kill a native bird that way.