sparrows around nestlings

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zoefluf
Posts: 587
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2006 5:51 pm
Location: Bush, Louisiana

The soap-opera with the sparrows continues...

The male sparrow has a new love since I did away with his old one and their offspring. Now, they are in the Coates' house on the same gourd rack that has many PM nests with nestlings about to fledge. I don't see how I can lower the pole (in order to trap the sparrows) without fledglings jumping - so all I can do is watch those stupid sparrows as they go in and out of the house. :shock: It is driving me nuts! Any ideas? Or, should I just leave them alone and hope for the best?
Jeanne
"Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap, yet your heavenly Father feeds them."
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Louise Chambers
Site Admin
Posts: 6208
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
Location: Corpus Christi, TX

I would have bait traps with white bread, HOSP nest material, set out, hoping to catch parents or fledglings. And have someone who's good with a pellet rifle trying to pick them off too. Never surrender to House Sparrows or starlings! :shock:
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KathyF
Posts: 3522
Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
Location: Missouri/Licking
Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.

What Louise said. :lol: :lol:

I wish I lived near you - I'd shoot them for ya. :grin:
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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zoefluf
Posts: 587
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2006 5:51 pm
Location: Bush, Louisiana

Humm, Louise, you gave me an idea. I don't have a bait trap but perhaps if I put bread on the ground I could try to shoot them while they are eating. There are too many Martins flying around to try to shoot them on the housing, with my luck I may shoot a Martin. :???:

Kathy,
I sure could use a sparrow assassin around here! :)
"Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap, yet your heavenly Father feeds them."
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~Ray~Gingerich
Posts: 2122
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:24 pm
Location: Delaware/Dover

Is there a way you can use a blind to get closer, that way you could get a clean shot. If you don't have a blind maybe move a car or truck near the house and hide out in that. I picked one off with martins sitting on the house. My martins watched the sparrow fall to the ground then sat around and talked about it for a long time.
~Ray~ Gingerich
1999 1pair, 2006 2 pair, 2008 2 pair,
2009 23 pair, 2010 39 pair, 2011 67 pair,
2012 115 pair, 2013 160 pair,
2014 152 pair, 2015 174 pair, 2016 178 pair
2017 187 pair, 2018 200 pair, 2019 171pair
2020 233 pair
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