My Sparrow Control = Beeman R7
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Birdguy / OH
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Fri May 18, 2012 2:05 pm
- Location: Cincinnati Ohio area
So far I've had good success this year keeping the male sparrows under control and away from the PM house. I oriented the TRIO pioneer PM house so the side is facing my house. This way I have a clean shot to any sparrow perched and calling a mate - and I will not put pellet holes into the PM house. Inside my garage I am able to use the garage window as a blind and support a Beeman R7 I use for sparrow control. This year I upgraded to a Nikon scope and it has made a big difference. Any questions let me know -
I also need a better air rifle / scope setup. Using the light weight lead general purpose .177 pellets I cannot lower the scope enough to be sighted in at 50-120 feet, and have to aim low with a guess at windage. Did manage to run off a sparrow by narrowly missing him, and he hasn't been back that I can tell.
2014 8 gourds, 3 pairs nested. Ended w/ 24 total
2015 24 gourds, 22 nests. Lotsa birds!
2016 24 gourds and good activity.
2017 32 SREH gourds. Great activity.
2018 40 SREH gourds. Good finish despite big storm damage. No more dangling gourds.
2019 56+ SREH gourds, all on 3/8 rods. Birds did very well.
2020 56 SREH gourds.
2015 24 gourds, 22 nests. Lotsa birds!
2016 24 gourds and good activity.
2017 32 SREH gourds. Great activity.
2018 40 SREH gourds. Good finish despite big storm damage. No more dangling gourds.
2019 56+ SREH gourds, all on 3/8 rods. Birds did very well.
2020 56 SREH gourds.
I have a scope that was being stubborn with the same thing - allowing me to correctly adjust the elevation for the closer shots (approx 25 feet) that I'm taking.
I turned the scope 90 degrees and retightened (since most scopes have windage turrets on the right side of the scope, this means you'd have to turn the scope 90 degrees counter clockwise to still have access to both knobs).
Of course, this made my windage turret (which is now on the top) my new elevation adjustment, and my elevation turret (which is now on the left) my new windage adjustment.
With my particular model of scope, this now gave me more elevation flexibility, and was able to site it in at the shorter distances.
Good for me - bad for house sparrows......
I turned the scope 90 degrees and retightened (since most scopes have windage turrets on the right side of the scope, this means you'd have to turn the scope 90 degrees counter clockwise to still have access to both knobs).
Of course, this made my windage turret (which is now on the top) my new elevation adjustment, and my elevation turret (which is now on the left) my new windage adjustment.
With my particular model of scope, this now gave me more elevation flexibility, and was able to site it in at the shorter distances.
Good for me - bad for house sparrows......
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Russel Loire
- Posts: 44
- Joined: Wed May 22, 2013 1:21 pm
- Location: SK/Regina
I myself use a break barrel. Ruger Air hawk .177. I have it sighted in at 50ft. I used telltale targets from Cabelas to sight it in. I shoot from about 35ft away. I have to hold under a little bit. 4 male HOSP and 1 Female so far!
PMCA Member
2013 - 1 SY Male Looker. Couple of Fly-bys.
2014 - Observed no Lookers :(
2015 - Bird-X Songbird Magnet, Sym and 2 others with him visited 4 days in a row.
2016 - Few Fly-bys at home. Started Public Site, a few vistors
2017 - Home, Visitors, Satellite Site, 3 Pairs, 14 eggs, 10 Fledged!
2013 - 1 SY Male Looker. Couple of Fly-bys.
2014 - Observed no Lookers :(
2015 - Bird-X Songbird Magnet, Sym and 2 others with him visited 4 days in a row.
2016 - Few Fly-bys at home. Started Public Site, a few vistors
2017 - Home, Visitors, Satellite Site, 3 Pairs, 14 eggs, 10 Fledged!
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Fireflyfisherman
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2015 5:26 pm
- Location: TX/Mckinney
- Martin Colony History: 2021 New Site - Fingers Crossed
2020 - 30 pair (122 Fledged)
2019 - 30 pair (120 Fledged)
2018 - 14 pair (52 Fledged)
2017 - 6 pair (20 Fledged)
2016 - 1 Pair (5 Fledged)
2015 - 1 Pair (3 Fledged)
My RWS Diana is a sparrow/starling killing machine. Unfortunately we had a very windy day the other day and I put a .177 through my S&K plastic porch side. Good news is that the shot went through the plastic and into the starling. It just makes me so mad that I knicked my martins house. Wondering if there is a brand and weight for pellets that yall prefer. Starlings are big tough birds.
That's tough.
One of the reasons I use the old style "multi pump" guns, is I'm able to adjust the FPS that I'm sending the pellet at.
House sparrows, I dial it back a bit.
Starlings, like you mentioned, take a little more mustard.
Of course my scope is sighted in for house sparrow mode, so if I'm shooting starlings with the higher power, I have to hold-under a smidge.
Now, the adjustable velocity PCP rifles are the cat's meow, but they are out of my current price range.
One of the reasons I use the old style "multi pump" guns, is I'm able to adjust the FPS that I'm sending the pellet at.
House sparrows, I dial it back a bit.
Starlings, like you mentioned, take a little more mustard.
Of course my scope is sighted in for house sparrow mode, so if I'm shooting starlings with the higher power, I have to hold-under a smidge.
Now, the adjustable velocity PCP rifles are the cat's meow, but they are out of my current price range.
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Russel Loire
- Posts: 44
- Joined: Wed May 22, 2013 1:21 pm
- Location: SK/Regina
A .177 should be plenty of oomph to knock a Starling down.
Search Ted's Holdover on YouTube.
Check out this guy on YouTube. He uses air rifles solely. Mind you some of his are quite high quality. He shares the same "passion" for eradicating pest species like HOSP and Starlings.
Very informed guy when it comes to target shooting.
Search Ted's Holdover on YouTube.
Check out this guy on YouTube. He uses air rifles solely. Mind you some of his are quite high quality. He shares the same "passion" for eradicating pest species like HOSP and Starlings.
Very informed guy when it comes to target shooting.
PMCA Member
2013 - 1 SY Male Looker. Couple of Fly-bys.
2014 - Observed no Lookers :(
2015 - Bird-X Songbird Magnet, Sym and 2 others with him visited 4 days in a row.
2016 - Few Fly-bys at home. Started Public Site, a few vistors
2017 - Home, Visitors, Satellite Site, 3 Pairs, 14 eggs, 10 Fledged!
2013 - 1 SY Male Looker. Couple of Fly-bys.
2014 - Observed no Lookers :(
2015 - Bird-X Songbird Magnet, Sym and 2 others with him visited 4 days in a row.
2016 - Few Fly-bys at home. Started Public Site, a few vistors
2017 - Home, Visitors, Satellite Site, 3 Pairs, 14 eggs, 10 Fledged!
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D Little
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2014 5:31 pm
- Location: PA/Felton
- Martin Colony History: 3 T14 houses and 12 gourd...gourd rack.
2019 52 nesting pairs
Firefly,
I echo your sentiments....I too have an RWS Diana and it is accurate and deadly....without a scope. Its an extermination machine!
Donnie
I echo your sentiments....I too have an RWS Diana and it is accurate and deadly....without a scope. Its an extermination machine!
Donnie
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Anthony Neira
- Posts: 1319
- Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:12 pm
- Location: San Antonio /Texas
- Martin Colony History: Started in 1992 From neighbors old 1950-60's colonies. Have 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 4 MPP Poles, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals ,& 2 S&K 11" WITH Troyer Porches ready for 2019 Season !
Me Too ! Matt ! Very old $chool here ! My first BB Gun was the Crossman 760, Now I Still use a new CM 760, 4 pumps & BB for HOSP, more pumps & pellet of starlings! I'm overhauling a used Benjamin right now ! Good luck everyone !
PMCA Member, 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals + Tunnels, & 2 S&K Bo 11"s WITH Troyer Porches ! 4 MPPs, For 2019 Season !! 
Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.
Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.-
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.
I have the RWS 850 and I love it. When I have a new C02 bottle on it, I will dent my houses and break a plastic gourd lid. I swear, sometimes, I think starlings are wearing bullet-proof- vests. I hear the "thwap" if I hit them in the wing, so I try to get back or chest/belly shots.
I could never master the break barrels. Not enough finesse I guess for the "hold" that's needed. I was raised to HOLD ON TIGHT to my guns, so I've never been able to re-train myself. I plinked 4 house sparrows within 15 minutes at a mentee's site....he started to go pick up the first one and I said, wait until I'm done. He said, 'are you kidding me??'. Guess he wasn't used to a girl who carries her gun in her car and can pick them off.
I could never master the break barrels. Not enough finesse I guess for the "hold" that's needed. I was raised to HOLD ON TIGHT to my guns, so I've never been able to re-train myself. I plinked 4 house sparrows within 15 minutes at a mentee's site....he started to go pick up the first one and I said, wait until I'm done. He said, 'are you kidding me??'. Guess he wasn't used to a girl who carries her gun in her car and can pick them off.
"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
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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4th Gen Martin Fan
- Posts: 1498
- Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
- Location: TN/Collierville
- Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
Kathy,
Do you have the .177 or .22?
Either way the RWS/Hammerli barrels are very accurate.
Have you done any modifications to your RWS/Hammerli 850 AirMagnum?
I was reviewing this air rifle and the paintball cylinder adapter combined with a paintball cylinder looks very easy and affordable. 500 shots from one filling of CO2 @ $2.00/filling seems unreal.
Mark.
Do you have the .177 or .22?
Either way the RWS/Hammerli barrels are very accurate.
Have you done any modifications to your RWS/Hammerli 850 AirMagnum?
I was reviewing this air rifle and the paintball cylinder adapter combined with a paintball cylinder looks very easy and affordable. 500 shots from one filling of CO2 @ $2.00/filling seems unreal.
Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
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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.
Mark, I have the .177...and I'm in love with it. I have done the spring mod to it...the spring helps with it gets too hot / cold and the pressure drops. At normal temps the .177 Superdome pellet drops most of them on the spot. From the normal 90 gram C02 bottle that you can buy at Walmart, I get about 250 accurate shots before I put on a new bottle.4th Gen Martin Fan wrote:Kathy,
Do you have the .177 or .22?
Either way the RWS/Hammerli barrels are very accurate.
Have you done any modifications to your RWS/Hammerli 850 AirMagnum?
I was reviewing this air rifle and the paintball cylinder adapter combined with a paintball cylinder looks very easy and affordable. 500 shots from one filling of CO2 @ $2.00/filling seems unreal.
Mark.
"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
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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Dave Duit
- Posts: 2145
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Iowa / Nevada
- Martin Colony History: In 2024, 82 pair with 350 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to daveduit@yahoo.com. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.
I got so frustrated with the scope I just took it off and I shoot more sparrows without it.
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4th Gen Martin Fan
- Posts: 1498
- Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
- Location: TN/Collierville
- Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
Kathy,
I read up on the heavier spring and it is an excellent modification.
I did not know that the 90 gram CO2 tank would shoot 250 per canister. I hope you do not have to shoot it that often.
Mark.
I read up on the heavier spring and it is an excellent modification.
I did not know that the 90 gram CO2 tank would shoot 250 per canister. I hope you do not have to shoot it that often.
Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
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Birdguy / OH
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Fri May 18, 2012 2:05 pm
- Location: Cincinnati Ohio area
Circling back to the topic to share some additional info. I chose the Beeman R7 .177 because it is known to be quiet, lightweight and very accurate. I got mine without iron sights and sometimes for up close shots I do miss not having them. I had a cheapo Walmart scope on there and it was OK for a while but didn't do the gun justice. Upgraded to a Nikon Prostaff Target EFR 3-9x40 which is designed for the recoil of a spring pellet gun. It was hard to spend that kind of money on a scope but it really was worth it.
Getting used to the scope either the scope is high for the gun or there is some barrel droop. So I shimmed the rear ring to try to improve things a bit. Not sure that helped. Regardless I think what I've found is the Beeman R7 or at least my R7 is very picky about pellets. I use the predator ones as they work on sparrows as advertised and because they are lightweight. Being lightweight I assume they do not travel as far or hold energy out as far which is important in a neighborhood situation.
I have the scope sighted in for a 12 yard zero range. This makes it very accurate at 12 plus yards but less accurate when compensating for up close shots. It is very accurate when a sparrow is in the range.
Separately in the bushes nearby I have a trap door trap. I usually harvest a male from that trap every day. When the fledgling sparrows start running around in a month I will catch a decoy, place the decoy in a multi-catch funnel trap and then IT IS ON. 9 catches per day is easily do-able.
Getting used to the scope either the scope is high for the gun or there is some barrel droop. So I shimmed the rear ring to try to improve things a bit. Not sure that helped. Regardless I think what I've found is the Beeman R7 or at least my R7 is very picky about pellets. I use the predator ones as they work on sparrows as advertised and because they are lightweight. Being lightweight I assume they do not travel as far or hold energy out as far which is important in a neighborhood situation.
I have the scope sighted in for a 12 yard zero range. This makes it very accurate at 12 plus yards but less accurate when compensating for up close shots. It is very accurate when a sparrow is in the range.
Separately in the bushes nearby I have a trap door trap. I usually harvest a male from that trap every day. When the fledgling sparrows start running around in a month I will catch a decoy, place the decoy in a multi-catch funnel trap and then IT IS ON. 9 catches per day is easily do-able.
hahahaa ..You guys know a lot. This is the next area where the game must be upped so save oneself more troubles.
When it comes to shooting Starlings and Sparrows. This is the guy. I was viewing some of his stuff a year or 2 ago. IM-pressive.
This "young Feller" knows what he is doing. he enjoys his work and good at it.
check it out, he's a pro to me Ted Holdover
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIklqgXi05A
When it comes to shooting Starlings and Sparrows. This is the guy. I was viewing some of his stuff a year or 2 ago. IM-pressive.
This "young Feller" knows what he is doing. he enjoys his work and good at it.
check it out, he's a pro to me Ted Holdover
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIklqgXi05A
2008~(1st yr) 4 pairs, 11 to 12 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged
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tlragsdale
- Posts: 218
- Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2013 12:22 pm
- Location: Wisconsin/New Richmond
Have the RWS Diana model in .177 caliber. It has proven extremely effective in eliminating starlings. Plenty of knock-down power, and very accurate.
Terry & Michelle
New Richmond, WI
2005 - 2014 Hard luck stories
2015 - 2 pair, 12 eggs/12 fledglings
2016 - 6 pair, 35 eggs/35 fledged
2017 - 18 pair, 88 eggs / 85 fledged.
2018 - 23 pair, 119 eggs/115 fledged.
2019 - 31 pair, 137 eggs/133 fledged
New Richmond, WI
2005 - 2014 Hard luck stories
2015 - 2 pair, 12 eggs/12 fledglings
2016 - 6 pair, 35 eggs/35 fledged
2017 - 18 pair, 88 eggs / 85 fledged.
2018 - 23 pair, 119 eggs/115 fledged.
2019 - 31 pair, 137 eggs/133 fledged