sparrows

[DeeCee]

I'm considering raising and opening up my pm house about 1 month prior to the martin's showing up to trap and shoot sparrows. I'm not sure why, but have always been under the impression NOT to do this. Any thoughts or past experiences would be appreciated.

[brent]

Deedee, I’ve read where some landlords do that successfully. I don’t because I don’t want to attract sparrows any time close to Martin arrival. What I have done, because sparrows will nest late into the summer here, is leave the houses up after the Martins leave just to catch any sparrows that might be interested in nesting. Then in or around August I clean everything up and close the houses up. Brent

[flyin-lowe]

Sparrows have a pretty small home range, so the sparrows in your area are already in your area. The more you trap now the fewer you will have to contend with once your martins arrive.

I am seeing more sparrows this year than I typically do. I have already gotten rid of more this year than I had in years past and now that I have my martin housing open up I have 5 or 6 that I am having trouble trapping.

[Martintown33]

Agree. I wouldn’t draw them to your Martin housing. The HOSPS will get possessive of it and aggressive to your martins when they return. It’s best to shoot and or trap them, … using either nest box traps or repeating traps. And shoot any that you can. The use of some kind of blind or hiding spot makes shooting them fairly easy.
Good luck,
Rob

[C.C.Martins]

I'd not. Put it up sure, but plug the holes. Or plug all but one and put a trap in it, even then its dangerous. I do better with nest box traps close to the martin houses. Caught 2 males today.
Robs idea of a blind is a good one, find too many people pop out the door expecting the sparrow to be a sitting duck. It isn't.
In winter and during sparrow fledging I rake them in with the blains ground trap. during nesting a pellet gun and three or four nest box traps keeps them at bay. The ST1 or three compartment wire ground trap sold on PMCA is a fantastic trap. Put a sparrow in the center compartment.

[Thomabear]

I usually open 3-4 cavities that provide a good shot without the risk of shooting through the sparrow and house. I'd rather get rid of them before the martins arrive and maintain as needed through the season.

[DeeCee]

Thanks for the replies. Today I will raise the house but keep the holes plugged.