For Sparrow Shooters

[terrapincove]

I had had a tenacious sparrow that always spooked way before I could get into shooting range.

Today I made a discovery. I was on my loader moving mulch near my martin racks. Even though many of the martins flushed the sparrow had no fear of the tractor (a diesel 45HP).

So it was that simple.

[Matt F.]

Nice work Hugh.
Sometimes it definitely takes conducting house sparrow "psy-ops", to figure out a way to get them.
One thing I've noticed at times, is when a male house sparrow takes an interest the the Martin housing, he'll sit in a nearby tree, singing away trying to draw in a female, instead of actually sitting on the house.
Sometimes, all it takes is for him to hear another house sparrow in his vector, for him to land back on the house.
When I'm in that situation, I sometimes use my smartphone to play one of a few house sparrow songs, streamed from a website, broadcasting next to me in the window I shoot from.
There are times that's all is takes, to get him back to the house, and in good position to engage.
Again, great job on finding a new, effective tactic.

[willbird]

I have noticed watching the PM's that I can get a lot closer on the Craftsman riding mower than I can on foot before they "spook". And I have been doing nest checks every 1-2 days so they "know" me by now I would think.

Bill

[phillip26r]

I'm proud to say I sent one of those little pests to her eternal reward today.

[Mr. K.]

This being my first yr.,maybe I am doing this wrong, but here is my story about these pests. Got the first pair of HSP sometime in April. Shot both. A second pair arrived a week later. Shot one of them. The third pair was unlike the first two. Very smart, elusive, never allowed me a shot. I decided to let them build their nest, lay eggs, then I'd tear it all out. I did exactly that finding four eggs. I didn't see them for awhile, then a pair started the same thing once again and I couldn't get the shot again. I wonder if they were the same pair b/c, after allowing them to build their nest, I once again tore it out and found five eggs! Can Sparrows lay eggs more than once in a season? They acted the same as the elusive pair before. Again, I had a short time without the pests then another pair arrived. Again, I allowed their build to take place and today I tore it out and found four eggs. This time they were really upset, so much so that one sat perched where the nest had been and looking around confused. I got the air rifle out and shot it. Am I going about this wrong? I have one PM nest with four babies and they are growing. Sparrows don't seem to bother that nest and that's why I let them build theirs thinking they would give up if I kept tearing it out each time. Anyway, I got one of them today and destroyed their eggs as well. I welcome any advice. Jesse

[KathyF]

Jesse, first, stop tearing out their nests. There's a good article here on male House sparrow revenge.

http://purplemartin.org/forumarchives/a ... evenge.htm

Get a house / gourd trap and trap them, if you can't shoot them.

Or get a blind (ie, car, sheet, etc.) and setup and shoot them from that.

Let your HOSP build their nest and lay eggs. In the meantime, order this trap:

http://purplemartin.org/shop/product_in ... c0687d0de3

Once they lay eggs, pull the nest out and keep only the small cup and eggs and some of the nest to camoflauge the front door.

Step 1: Cut out 3 square cardboard pieces that will fit inside the trap as liners. Paint them flat black. Insert the cardboard pieces on each side and the back of the trap. This keeps the sparrow from seeing how big the trap is when they peek in.
Step 2: Put the nest cup and eggs in the back of this trap. Place the trap in the nest compartment and using some of the nest material tuck it around the entrance of the trap covering up the front of it as best you can. You can even leave a little bit hanging out of the door. You may have trouble keeping the trap from springing when you try to raise the house back up, so you could just raise the house tall enough to work on with a ladder. The sparrows will come back no matter the height, if they have eggs.

Once you have one of the HOSP, put them in your repeating trap if you have one.

[Mr. K.]

Thanks for the advice. I am ordering the Universal Sparrow Trap today. I built the trap detailed by Tim on this forum, and the sparrows will go on top of it but not inside. Link offered some interesting info, some that exactly fits what has happened to me. The house Is a Coates 12 unit. Again, thanks. Jesse

[Vern1]

That's one reason I have a rifle rack in my golf cart...
We drive around all day in and under the racks and they get a little too relaxed.....