Late season HS invasion

[jcassiday]

I have 5 feathered-out young babies which I guess to be at least 20-22 days old. this is my first success at having a pair and having young PM. My site consists of a T-14 (with Troyer tunnels) and 4 Troyer Horizontals gourds all with Conley II entrance. My site has been invaded by a flock 6+ HS's which are stuffing all available nest; besides the PM nest gourd there are 2 gourds and 4 T-14 nests open. At my weekly nest check yesterday I tore out the HS nest. They are back at stuffing the nest this morning. I do have several visiting PM's, not nesting, beside the parents.

Question- Should I close up all of the open nest? Try trapping the HS's? or since the young are close to fledging continue taring out the nest, I am concerned frequent lowering the houses might cause the young to jump.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I do not want to jeopardize the site success.
Thanks for your support,

Jerry

[scottfreidhof]

Jerry,

Since your nestlings are less than one week away from fledging, I would leave the house sparrows alone for now. Leave the cavities open and let them build nests and lay eggs. A week or so after your martins fledge, remove the HOSP nests, and trap and/or shoot. It is late in the nesting season, and by letting the HOSP nests develop before removing, you may very well make this their last nesting attempt for the year.

[Hanover Bill]

Jerry;

I feel your pain. I am experiencing the worse HOSP siege in the 7 years I have been at this. Thankfully my young have almost all fledged with the exception of one nest. Scott's suggestion sounds like a good one.

I will spend a lot of time in the "off season" figuring out ways to eliminate the problem for next season.

Best of luck;
Hanover Bill.

[ToyinPA]

Jerry:
I'd let them alone, as long as they aren't destroying Martin eggs/chicks/etc. They often will retaliate if you rip their nests out & they take it out on the Martins. Once your colony is gone then work on getting rid of them.

Once the HS chicks fledge all heck breaks loose. They form small flocks & go looking for places to start nests. The adult males tend to become aggressive. I saw some chasing Martins in the air tormenting them over & over. We trapped at least 20 HS so far.

Toy in PA

[jcassiday]

Thanks for your input and suggestion. I plan to leave the HS nest alone until the PM chicks fledge and then set my traps. It does look like, as you mentioned, that the HS are this years fledgelings and have flocked together.

Jerry

[Carlton]

I you have a bait trap I would use this opportunity to trap the pests. Use white bread. The younger HS are fairly easy to catch and they will be your problem next season. I would not tear out any more nests. Do not want to have the male HS take revenge on your martins.

I am noticing the same thing in DE. There is a super abundance of young HS in spite of all my trapping all season. People put out birdhouses but just allow HS to use the houses for 3 or 4 broods. On top of that they feed the birds year round and that encourages more HS populations.

Carl

[jcassiday]

Carlo,
Thanks, I do have a trap and just set it and baited it with white bread. I placed about 25' from the pole next to my asparagus patch where the HS visit quite a lot. Pic is the 5 I hope fledge soon so the HS does no harm.

Thanks,
Jerry

[Carlton]

So cute. Yes, just let them be now so they can fledge on the correct day.

Trap those HS!