A second pair building a nest have some questions from vets

[BHULL]

I got my first pair this year nesting and have 5 eggs.I had a male hanging around and I think he finally found a female for there is a nest starting to form and I have spotted a fourth martin.If they lay eggs it's a bit late for the first egg was laid a couple of weeks ago in other nest.The housing consists of a 12 trio converted to 6 with two hanging gourds on each side which have the martins in them.Today lowering the housing I finally have evidence of a sparrow couple or two starting to build a nest .I set out a repeating trap in my driveway but generally don't have much success in this method.I also just purchased some glue traps which and I am leary placing them towards the back of the compartment and taping the hole a bit smaller to avoid a martin going in.I also have a trap door that goes on one compartment I've had for years which has been effective in the past but is somewhat damaged and bent up.I'd love to blast them with my shotgun but the martins now are there almost always guarding the eggs and do not want to disturb the martins.I know I've got to get rid of the sparrows but want to be careful not scare away my martins.I am leaning towards the glue traps if trap doesn't work or do both at the same time.The second pair is huge to me for security of the housing and increases my chances of successful fledging.I will have to admit I can get anal about protecting the martins but want a safe and balance approach.advice

[MingjoMartins]

BHULL -

Only a few years ago I was in your situation - I took the bait and used the glue trap, and trapped a martin through a hole that I thought was impossible! My story has a happy ending, I was able through the course of a few days to use dawn soap, vegetable oil, and a incubator to save the martin (who ironically founded my colony). To be perfectly clear - I was lucky and would never again endorse the use of a glue trap.

One of the beautiful things about purple martins are their flexibility to human actions - today, I regularly use a .410 to eliminate the house sparrows who now occassionally avoid being trapped.

My advice, be patient and make your first shot count in eliminating your sparrow problem!

Your martins will flush when you shoot, but will quickly come right back and get back to business.

Best of luck, and congratulations on your newly formed colony!

JohnM

[Laverne]

BHull, I would recommend you replace your trap door thing. You've got both gourds and a house. You need something for each. I would never ever never put a glue trap into "my" Purple Martin housing. I shoot "at" HOSP with a BB gun and have eliminated three males that way this season. I don't even shoot at the females. Kill the male and she will leave -- kill the female and he will just bring in another. I'm no great trapper, but I don't allow the HOSP to keep a nest in my PM housing.

Keep after them -- you will eventually find what works best for you.

[pmcharter1]

i agree with lavern, glue traps work (if) you tape the holes small enough so the martin cant get in, but if you set one, yould better moniter it 24-7! your better off setting outside with a pellet gun, kill the male, clean the room out and hope your martins will take over that room.you do not want a martin to get stuck in the glue trap.if the sparrow keeps coming back, use spring traps or clean that one room out daily.

[TammyBears]

This is my first year so I'm certainly no vet, but have newbie experience. I too was afraid about scaring the martins off with a 22 blast...the first time we shot at a starling the martins just flew up a few feet and came right back down within seconds. The next time we shot at a HOSP, some of the martins didn't even budge! I couldn't believe it. They will love you for it!!!!

[John Miller]

Can the repeating trap be baited with feathers... ? I use feathers or strips of tissue in the ST1 (essentials sparrow trap in the shop here) and works well when sparrows are building, placed below or near the housing.

Not all shims are created equal. Some spook the sparrows, but they eventually go in. Looks like from your profile you may be using Trio housing. The spar door trap, which has a hole that's just 1 3/8 inch and won't admit a martin, is strangely alluring to sparrows...I caught a male this morning at one site..I left trap and went to look at another site, and came back in an hour and he was in there. I did not have my "sparrow removal device" but I have long fingers.

Just be cautious about male house sparrow revenge if you pull sparrow nests with eggs and are not sure of your cavity trapping techniques. I think some folks insert a glue trap into the bowl of a sparrow nest...but research past threads. If you are not confident of cavity trapping, I'd favor letting well enough alone in light of this critical stage in your season with just a few martin pairs getting started, likely with eggs. I'm not advocating letting sparrows co exist. sparrows attract sparrows. but act carefully so as to do no harm.

John M

[tonyg]

If you are able to shoot a shotgun on your property, I would stick to plan A and eliminate them that way. Shooting a gun willl not run your martins off. I do it here all the time with a 20 ga.

[BHULL]

Yesterday I actually figured out the prong thing and tried to solder but wouldn't work so I super glued the thing together place it in the housing.The sparrows were going in and out and weren't tripping the closure bar.I decided to place a glue trap in the compartment and with the hole already so small I knew no martin could go in there.within 10 minutes the sparrows came back and were relucant but I turned my head and suddenly the other sparrow flew off agitated.I figured one went in and was stuck.I decided to wait to this AM to check glue strip and found that the sparrow had ripped out 4 feathers as well as some bottom fuzz to get off the glue strip.I haven't seem them back since one went in the hole.I ripped out their nest and placed the glue strip way back in the back compartment in case they come back or another pair decide to investigate.I am hoping they are gone but will observe and protect. The second nest appears to be the lone subadult male and must have added some nesting material for his comfort but it doesn't appear I have a second pair.

[KathyF]

BHULL - it is not safe to leave a glue trap in a nest box if you don't have eyes on the housing constantly. Remove the glue trap if you can't watch the door to the nestbox. A bluebird, chickadee, etc. could enter that size hole and it could be disastrous.

Another option is to keep tearing their nests out of the housing every day (they can build nests & lay eggs quickly). If your trap doesn't work in your martin housing, try setting up a temporary 'decoy' house next to your martin housing with a trap in it. Like a bluebird house with a van ert trap set in it. Get a t-post and mount the house very close to your martin housing.

WHATEVER you do, remove the glue trap if you're not watching that nest cavity!