Sparrow trap question-what would you do

[C.C.Martins]

Seeking input,
All but one nest of our martins have fledged at the preserve, they are crowding the front, maybe a week for them.
Swung by, there's a male sparrow on one empty gourd rack has claimed a gourd, and a pair in the empty trio. (The martin nest is in the other rack).
The trap house had a door tripped, female sparrow currently lounging in the ground trap.
I am not worried, soon as those martins fledge its all coming down...yet I tried.
Put an excluder gourd insert trap in the sparrow gourd, stuck a wisp of grass out of the hole and put a bird barrier sparrow audio call box under the inner porch, turned it on and waited. He came by, very interested, but refuses to enter. Of course. He did see me fiddling with the gourd. Took the trap out after about an hour and a half.
Could use the ST 1 and stick my new female in the center? Plop it down near the rack...
Could put a troyer tunnel trap in the trio, (equipped with troyer tunnels)...
Could not bother, going to come down in a few weeks yet its a good exercise and I cannot stand sparrows on the gourds. All is just not right with the world.
Can't shoot.
No sticky traps, hate those things.
What would you do?

[Martintown33]

Well Tom.. you’re the trapping guru! You’re way more versed on trapping than me… agree, just the thought of a HOSP in the gourd , doesnt sit right. If it’s coming down in a couple weeks, he won’t have a chance to breed. I would shoot, but I know you said you can’t.. what about one of your gourd traps, if that’s what he’s in. Reduce the entrance hole size, and just wait til he goes in? Or your ground trap. Guess either one will work..
Good luck
Rob

[C.C.Martins]

Rob, I wish! Best trapper I know is Louise Chambers, wow can she trap like no ones business.
Tried the gourd trap Rob, think he's onto me now. Trouble with that one is its GOT to be committed and you have to raise and lower each time. I like it, works great, but big drawbacks.
No, they won't get a chance to reproduce. Good point.
Think ill try the ST1 with the female in the center. Ill add some cellophane by weaving it in the wire and add some white feathers.
If that fails ill not bother and make it all dissappear. Go figure, last birds to nest in the soon to be retired trio is a sparrow! Good news is its almost over, theres no eggs to peck or young to worry about otherwise might just have to conduct some black ops.

[Martintown33]

Ha! Black ops indeed!… late in season yes.. but I know what you mean about getting him. When I see a HOSP like as in this situation, wrap up time, he can’t do any harm , i think , well maybe just ignore it. But then the math kicks in... if i let him go, then by next year this one hosp that I let go, will have maybe 3 broods. 3 x avg 4 chicks per brood = 12 HOSPS. Then those exponentially reproduce. How much trouble I can save myself, by not letting him go. And also that many less that I will need to be eliminate later. I know you know the logic..
good luck
Rob

[C.C.Martins]

Yes sir, exactly! Man yesterday maybe I missed them but didn't see squat for sparrows out there. Must have missed them. Crazy.
Yeah your right, its a gonner. Going to get em. All of them...then we shall have peace. (Play on star wars, love the emperor) haha! Peace.......

[C.C.Martins]

Ha! Black ops indeed!… late in season yes.. but I know what you mean about getting him. When I see a HOSP like as in this situation, wrap up time, he can’t do any harm , i think , well maybe just ignore it. But then the math kicks in... if i let him go, then by next year this one hosp that I let go, will have maybe 3 broods. 3 x avg 4 chicks per brood = 12 HOSPS. Then those exponentially reproduce. How much trouble I can save myself, by not letting him go. And also that many less that I will need to be eliminate later. I know you know the logic..
good luck
Rob

Rob,
2 down. Based on the time of day and foot traffic thought to trap in the house vs the ground trap.
Drag my ladder, make the little walk, sure enough male is chilling on the porch. He takes off when I'm within 40 feet, no sweat.
I wind the house down, open the compartment and it's stuffed to the gills with nesting material. Plugged the entrance just in case shes in there, no luck, found the nest bowl and no eggs.
Finagled the universal sparrow trap (round entrance) in through the weeds and to the front...it wasn't easy setting the trap but once done put it right at the troyer entrance tunnel, disgused it as best I could...
Closed the door, put the house back up, grabbed my ladder and disappeared. I found a nice spot on the preserve main building porch I can watch the entrance. Watched with binoculars, no need really but I wanted to catch that door if I could.
30 minutes here comes the female! She lands on the entrance, almost goes in and stops! She sees something, i had blackened the silver on the trap but she is nervous. Sits pouting on the rail now. I was just willing her to go in, nope. She takes off...15 minutes pass, here they both come and he has nesting material. He hesitates, she just watches him. Took forever and slowly slowly he goes in, she pops in right after him.
I can't see the door, wait 30 seconds or so, run out, forget my ladder, go back, get the ladder, lower the house and sure as crap doors closed! Plugged the entrance in case one slipped out. Retrieve my trap got em both!!!!!
Pulled all their nest BS and tidied up. They are toast, not going in the ground trap.
One more to go.
And we shall have peace....

[brent]

That’s great Tom. Good posts too Rob. I have a situation here where I have a nest with 3 chicks who are 25 days old today. Parents are ASY female and SY male. Late nesters. I had no sparrow problems until now. He’s building in a compartment on the opposite side of where the martins are. I’m going to wait until the nestlings fledge and then put in the universal sparrow trap. I’ll catch them. Can’t believe they nest so late. No wonder there are so many. Brent

[Martintown33]

Excellent work Tom! 4 down… almost done! Amazing how skittish and smart they can be. That female knew something was up. The males drive to reproduce and pass on his genes, made him a little less careful. Great job on camouflaging your trap. It’s definitely a challenge getting them… whether it’s trapping or hunting.. both definitely take strategy, skill , and a little luck!
Good luck on getting the rest.
Rob

[Martintown33]

Wow Brent.. you still have some martins left to fledge!! Great! Yep. Agree, At 25 days old , I wouldn’t bring the house down either. That hosp will still be there and he can’t do any damage at this point. Get him after the martins are done.
Brent, my BBs showed up last week, for a mid summer brood. I didn’t think I’d see them til next February.. but she built a nest, started laying eggs 2 days ago. I quickly made some shade panels for the west facing nest box wall and roof and installed them. Should be ok with the heat I hope. Good luck with your last fledglings!
Rob

[C.C.Martins]

Rob,
First for me, was really hoping for one. Been an excellent Monday, just shot one off the trap in back. Two ladies with kids watched as I ripped the nest out and gleefully grabbed the trap. Wonder what they were thinking.

Brent,
It is late! Amazing isn't it? I took a good look at the male, younger, not the older full bibbed guys...dont know what that means.
Soon as they fledge its on and its a gonner. I love those traps. Tough to wait though.

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I purchased a trap this spring. I caught probably 100 this summer. I catch an average of five on a good day. Still didn’t put a dent in the population.

[C.C.Martins]

Is it the repeating ground trap? Good trap, if it is try putting some wood just under the trap entrance, give them something to hop around on, maybe Sprinkle it with millet. They find the entrance easier.
It can take a bit, but you will notice a drop in the local population.