Best way to consistently trap HOSP's...

[roblrich]

Just wanted to drop a quick note about my experience this season trapping. I have not been able to set my repeating nest box trap so it will catch both HOSP's and starlings, so I gave up and use it exclusively for starlings.

The repeating bait trap worked for a while this spring, as they usually do, but now I can't get a HOSP to even look at it.

In my frustration, I put up two extra Bluebird Boxes this spring (actual BB Boxes, not gourds). My pair of BB's and TS's nested in the two gourds I prepared exclusively for them. The only thing is the BB's and TS's got them mixed up and I would have preferred them to have the other's gourd as I would prefer the BB's to be closer to my patio, but oh well.

But back to the extra BB Boxes. I have been using them to trap HOSP's. I allow them to start construction on a nest, then and only then do I use the PMCA's BB Box Insert Trap. This has been very successful for me this spring, and I now consider it the "best way to consistently trap HOSP's"!

I wasn't keeping records until a few days ago, but the past week alone, I have trapped 7 male and 3 female HOSP's. I barely take care of one pair or male, and another seems to move in by the next day.

[TreeGreenwood]

... The repeating bait trap worked for a while this spring, as they usually do, but now I can't get a HOSP to even look at it.

Rob, try a couple of things. For me, the best bait for my repeating HOSP trap is a HOSP. I put one that I caught in a nestbox trap into the holding part of the repeating trap. The bait bird attracts more HOSP. The next best bait is nesting material, especially small feathers. The HOSP can find plenty of food so the birdseed that worked in winter isn't effective. For some reason, HOSP really like small, white feathers for their nests.

... I put up two extra Bluebird Boxes this spring ... I have been using them to trap HOSP's. I allow them to start construction on a nest, then and only then do I use the PMCA's BB Box Insert Trap. This has been very successful for me this spring, and I now consider it the "best way to consistently trap HOSP's"!

I agree. During their nesting season, pretty much all summer, nestbox traps are the most effective. I'm partial to the Van Ert insert trap but still use a Huber trap (PMCA's traps are Huber-type traps) effectively for both HOSP and EUST.

I wasn't keeping records until a few days ago, but the past week alone, I have trapped 7 male and 3 female HOSP's. I barely take care of one pair or male, and another seems to move in by the next day.

As the HOSP started claiming cavities, I trapped half a dozen a day for a couple of weeks. Now I'm only trapping a few a day. Unfortunately, I have two male HOSP that are trap-wary trying to claim cavities in my PM rigs. I haven't gotten a good shot at them yet. I got several of their females but there is an inexhaustible supply of the pests. I need to get those two males before my PMs get serious about nesting.

Wishing you the best,

Tree

[Louise Chambers]

EIGHT house sparrows today in the Repeating Bait Trap !!!! 7 males and one femme. took a while to get the first one, but once you have a live decoy in there, they just keep coming on in. I moved two to center of ST1 to decoy some in there, sent one off with another landlord who needed a decoy, and left the others to invite more in.

Big arrival of still more martins tonight. I saw a bunch sitting on power lines above the houses and got a phone call from a landlord about 2 miles away - he reported that all three of their gourd racks were covered and the power lines above were solidly covered with martins. We'll have to send them all up north, take good care of them

Louise

[Guest]

I agree 100% with all above but man you really have to be carefull with the BB box insert trap. Even though by BB pair is commited to a box they somehow can't help explore the other BB boxes in the yard. I have accidently trapped a BB many times and thank goodness they have never been harmed. But please do not leave a BB box trap unchecked for very long!

[roblrich]

Louise & Tree, I put all my trapped HOSP's in my repeating bait trap to be used as lures, but still, it has dried up for me. Not working at any location or any type food, feathers, etc., although it worked very well earlier this spring. I think these HOSP's have reproduction on the brain, not food this time of year. I think it will work again later in the summer. I have put feathers in it also, but I might try using 100% nesting material.

But my repeating bait trap is now "death row", and I keep them alive with fresh food and water daily. But they seem to turn on themselves, and I lose one from attrition every day or so. As the saying goes, "trash in and trash out".

Kent, you are correct, that is why I only put the insert trap once the HOSP's have nests under construction. When I started using these two extra BB Boxes as traps, I initially did not do this, and I caught both a BB and a TS. Since I now wait for nest construction, I haven't caught any friendly since. But I am very dilligent in checking these traps several times a day.