Repeating trap at work

[deancamp]

I've starting seeing starlings around looking to nest. I have sreh on my gourds but have Duracraft Castle with round holes and would like to leave it that way for sentimental reasons. I keep a close watch for sparrows and starlings, so they do not last long. This morning a starling landed to check out the castle and the Martins got after him and he left. Well he found a nest hole that no one cared if he entered. This makes 4 starlings in the trap and one shot and add to that one sparrow shot. I have not caught any sparrows in the trap this year or last.

[brent]

Deancamp,
Did you make it?
Brent

[deancamp]

Brent, yes I did. It's from the plans on the DIY plans from this site. NB Compact Trap is what it's called. It took a bit to get the balance correct but has been worth the effort.

[C.C.Martins]

Nabbed!

[Donnie Hurdt MN]

Starlings do not come in to my yard too much anymore but my repeater trap like yours made sure that two of them that did come did not leave.

[deancamp]

Donnie, I see by your signature you have an going problem with tree swallows. Have you tried the tree swallow emergency protocal to deal with them? Several people have had success with it in getting the tree swallows to nest close by and not harass investigating martins.

[Donnie Hurdt MN]

I have tried everything to keep the Tree Swallows in their own housing and for the most part they will nest in housing I provide for them the problem seems to be the Tree Swallows like to perch on the perches or the housing for the martins when I put it up and they claim it all for their own. The Blue Birds that nest in our yard will do the same. I don't see much interaction between the Tree Swallows and Bluebirds when they use the same perches but the Blue Bids will often join the Tree Swallows to harass visiting martins.

[Archer]

I have tried everything to keep the Tree Swallows in their own housing and for the most part they will nest in housing I provide for them the problem seems to be the Tree Swallows like to perch on the perches or the housing for the martins when I put it up and they claim it all for their own. The Blue Birds that nest in our yard will do the same. I don't see much interaction between the Tree Swallows and Bluebirds when they use the same perches but the Blue Bids will often join the Tree Swallows to harass visiting martins.

Not to beat a dead horse, but have your tried adding perches to your tree swallow nesting boxes. If you would add a 3 foot dowel with a T perch for them above their nesting box, they would likely stay home. Removing the perches from the Martin houses would also help. Once you have an established martin colony the martins will win out over the swallows.

[Donnie Hurdt MN]

Thank you. I will have to give that a try.

[deancamp]

I can now report that the trap has caught it's first sparrow.