Too late to change entrances?

[sherylsr]

Finally after five years got my first pair! They've got their nest nearly ready. I'm fighting the sparrows and will trap soon. Then yesterday and today a starling showed up and is going in and out of their nest compartment. I've got the round entrances. But I do have the crescent holes. Is it too late to switch to the crescent? Is this the entrance that causes wing entrapment? HELP!!!

[BIOteacher012]

I would get that entrance changed to an SREH, unless you are ready and able to trap or shoot the starling ASAP. It will drive your martin pair out of the nest and they could abandon your site!! At least with an SREH, the martins have a chance to adapt to a new entrance over time without being cornered or possibly killed.

If anybody else has other thoughts.....please chime in!!

[Louise Chambers]

Go ahead and switch, Sheryl - but see if your husband can't get a shot at the starling(s?) if he can. You can use in-cavity traps like the universal sparrow trap to capture starlings as well as hosp. Your martins can learn to use the crescents fairly quickly - wing entrapments are possible, but not common, usually. Starlings could kill one or both of your martins, so trap, shoot, and switch to crescents - let us know how things go.

[sherylsr]

I went out and did change to crescent on their nest compartment. We haven't had time to use the compartment trap for sparrows yet. But I've been cleaning out their nests twice a day in the meantime. Then this starling showed up, like yesterday. I can't stake out the house all day like I did yesterday but I'm watching with my binocs from my office window. Praying the martins can learn the crescent entrance.

[chickadee]

I am glad you switched. don't worry they can get in that new sreh hole. just hang in their.

[sherylsr]

....if I can be a landlord after all. The starling has disappeared. But now sparrows have started nesting in the martins' nest compartment. Since they haven't learned how to go in-out, they have a disadvantage. We've got so much other life stuff going on that we haven't had time to use the compartment nest trap yet. Repeater trap being shipped now. I'm so discouraged, frustrated, sad. I did take out the sparrow stuff and am back outside guarding. But I won't be here tonight like usual when they come in for night. So I'm worried about that. My father-in-law's memorial is tonight in San Antonio.

[Glynn B - LA]

I too have my first pair. They decided on a round hole in my mini castle. They now have eggs. I'm reluctant to change entrances. I have been very protective over their castle. I've caught and killed many S&S this year. Just this morning I dispatched one of each. The sparrows seem to love a bluebird house I painted solid white and raised up with one of my gourd racks. I have a van ert trap inside that has been very dependable. I took one of the troyer horizonal gourds with the conley entrance, drilled a 2" hole straight thru the existing entrance, painted the front black and use the troyer trap with great results for starlings. I have electrified wire around the castles pole. I guess I will see how this plays out.


Glynn

[AnnieM]

Sheryl, I'm right down the road from u at 281&306. I have all gourds so can't help with your question, but the folks on the forum have so much experience and they help all us new landlords. Do what they suggest and be patient if u can It's so hard to watch, but the birds will figure it out. I saw Blanco got 1.51" rain from the storm. No bugs flying or martins either yesterday but starting to creep above 50 just now so they can eat today. Take care u have a lot going on. U r doing the right thing by asking on the forum. Unfortunately I know a few people who put housing up and never touch it again.