So upset!

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Birdguy / OH
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri May 18, 2012 2:05 pm
Location: Cincinnati Ohio area

LisaJ wrote:
Mon Apr 22, 2019 12:49 pm
I finally got my Trap Door trap with sound module.
-Lisa
Curious - where did you hear about this trap? There are youtube videos on it. Make sure you don't use too much bait. Typically I put a small piece of bread on the back only. Good luck!
LisaJ
Posts: 161
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 9:47 am
Location: North Texas

I will never give up. I love a good challenge! I hate sparrows. I love my PMs!! Stay tuned!
-Lisa
LisaJ
Posts: 161
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 9:47 am
Location: North Texas

Birdguy, I learned about the Trap Door trap from a sweet friend in this forum. She has had success with it. I have to be patient and determined. I am both! HOSPs gonna lose this battle!
-Lisa
Kuemic
Posts: 176
Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2016 7:17 pm
Location: Topeka, KS
Martin Colony History: 2015 1 pair, 2 eggs destroyed by HOSP
2016 1 pair, 2 fledged, HOSP 46
2017 1 pair, 5 fledged, HOSP 14
2018 daily visitors, HOSP 12
2019 1 pair, 2 fledged, HOSP 14
2020 1pair, 5 fledged, HOSP 17
2021 2 pair, 7 fledged, HOSP 21
2022 3 pair, 12 fledged, HOSP 18
2023 8 pair, 35 fledged, HOSP 16
2024 13 pair, 55 fledged, HOSP 11

Glad others are using the trap door box with sparrow call module. I found it works best when a male HOSP has claimed a gourd or a cavity and regularly perches outside said cavity making his annoying call, then placing the trap on the ground below the cavity.

After reading about sparrow trapping on the bluebird site, sialis.org, I followed the advice of not looking at a sparrow when setting a trap, lol. The trap door box allows time to set the trap and leave the area before the annoying male HOSP call begins on the attached module, hopefully enticing the actual male HOSP to investigate. We have trapped both male and female house sparrows with this device. Good luck Lisa!!!!
Michelle in Topeka
Kuemic
Posts: 176
Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2016 7:17 pm
Location: Topeka, KS
Martin Colony History: 2015 1 pair, 2 eggs destroyed by HOSP
2016 1 pair, 2 fledged, HOSP 46
2017 1 pair, 5 fledged, HOSP 14
2018 daily visitors, HOSP 12
2019 1 pair, 2 fledged, HOSP 14
2020 1pair, 5 fledged, HOSP 17
2021 2 pair, 7 fledged, HOSP 21
2022 3 pair, 12 fledged, HOSP 18
2023 8 pair, 35 fledged, HOSP 16
2024 13 pair, 55 fledged, HOSP 11

UPDATE: trapped two male sparrows today. A male and female HOSP were hopping on the gourd rack. I don't have an insert trap for the gourds so set up the trap door box with sparrow call module. Did not have any luck until we lowered the gourds to about 5 feet above the trap, then got the male HOSP within the hour. Set it again for the female. She brought another male HOSP to check out the gourds but we got him in the trap house in back (old metal house with 2 spare-o-doors).

Wonder if the female will try to lure another male sparrow (we're calling her the black widow). May be time to set the repeating trap.

Happy hunting!
Michelle in Topeka
LisaJ
Posts: 161
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 9:47 am
Location: North Texas

Ya'll are giving great recommendations!
I can't wait to tell that i finally caught my first evil HOSP!
- Lisa
Cloudwalker
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2016 1:52 pm
Location: Carroll, Iowa
Martin Colony History: I have had Martins for for about 34 years. I moved so I had to reestablish a colony. I did not keep good records but have fledged many birds over the years. I am passionate about Martins and love sharing and helping others enthusiasts!

Lisa....a fellow sparrow hater here......I just ordered 2 gourds and a trap. I plan to hang 2 gourds (1st time) under my existing house which I raise and lower with a pully system (not the deluxe type) I am wondering if anyone has info. for me as I would like to trap a sparrow in the housing but can't find a trap that works. I tried two on the pmca site that don't fit right with my housing. Even the universal was not working. I was wondering about other traps sticky tape etc. Any suggestions as for sure the sparrow will return again and again and build an elaborate nest as you are all aware of. I would just like to read about others success with trapping sparrows and how they do it.
Brad Biddle
Posts: 523
Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2016 6:22 pm
Location: Marshall County AL

Lisa, just know that trapping sparrows is a year round job. They're hard to eliminate without a combination of shooting and trapping with both nest box traps and bait traps. The first year I attempted to get Martins to nest on our farm, HOSP ran them off. I got mad and got even. I started trapping them with a bait trap and caught 270 in just a few months. It's been so long ago I don't remember the details. I use to build and sell a trap but stopped that long ago too. There use to be plans on this website for the trap. I don't know if they're still on here or not. It was "Brad's Sparrow Trap" or "Brad Biddle's Sparrow Trap"

I still have to trap and shoot them. I mostly just shoot now since I don't have a high population of them anymore.
Martin landlord since 2003. Currently offering 162 plastic gourds with tunnels, all with Conley II entrances with the Lewis modification. I have 24 Supergourds and the rest are Troyer Horizontals.
jkillinger
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue May 07, 2019 8:57 am
Location: Annville, Pa

Hi,

I’m new to this forum. I would like answers if possible how to get HOSP to go in trap cages. I bought one after I found a dead PM in my one bird house and that’s last straw! And there’s a lot more to it than that. Last year they kept bluebirds from nesting. Every box I put up they immediately take over! I’m done with them!

I bought a trap cage with middle that holds one. Where do I place it and what do I put in it and how much? I tried white feathers and bread and popcorn to no avail. I really don’t want to spend money on pellet gun if I don’t have to.
LisaJ
Posts: 161
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 9:47 am
Location: North Texas

FINALLY!!! Trapped my first HOSP today!! I have the Trap Door and have patiently watched day after day since end of April. I moved the box to the ground and left it there for several days and I could see the curiosity growing. This morning, WHAM, I heard the trap door slam shut! It was the female. Still have to get that male. So happy!!
wmfamily
Posts: 70
Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2017 8:32 pm
Location: St Louis

jkillinger wrote:
Tue May 07, 2019 1:46 pm
Hi,

I’m new to this forum. I would like answers if possible how to get HOSP to go in trap cages. I bought one after I found a dead PM in my one bird house and that’s last straw! And there’s a lot more to it than that. Last year they kept bluebirds from nesting. Every box I put up they immediately take over! I’m done with them!

I bought a trap cage with middle that holds one. Where do I place it and what do I put in it and how much? I tried white feathers and bread and popcorn to no avail. I really don’t want to spend money on pellet gun if I don’t have to.
Don't give up as it can take some time. I use white feathers and some nesting materials and place it near the martin house where they can see it. Normally if you can catch one you can catch two. The one in the trap will lure in others. I have mine mounted on a t-post where I can move it if needed.

Do a search in the forum and you can find many tips on trapping sparrows.
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