A few "newbie" questions please from SE Wisc.

[asop]

So I have 2 or 3 of a 8 apt. house with martins in them. Unfortunately there are also a few with sparows in them. The house moves up & down with a rope and goes directly up & down a center post. Would it disturb the martins if I lower it to remove the sparow nests? Or am I just better off to leave it well enough alone? Just what do these sparows do to the martins?

This is the first year with this house that I got martins. I've put it up now up now for 5 years. Had an old wooden one many years ago that got them every year. Owl ruined that.

Please explain some of the abreviations being used here IE: HOSP. SY. van ert. and whatever else please.

Thanks for your time

[C.C.Martins]

Congrats on your martins, sounds like a trio house good house.
Some rules of thumb when lowering, dont lower in the am or late afternoon early evening unless you have a real problem.
The sparrows will build their nests back quickly, matter of hours so it will be alot of raising and lowering. Only solution is to kill them.
Dizzying amount of acronyms! Like the military, we loved acronyms.
ASY: adult second year, has made the migration at lease twice.
SY: second year bird or subbie, for subadult.
Van ert: is a trap designed by Mr Van Ert. Brilliant, simple trap goes into a bird house. Should have some on hand.
HOSP: House sparrows, our nemesis.
SREH: Starling resistant entrances.
S&S control: starling and sparrow control.

Do what you can about the sparrows, they will never stop.

[scottfreidhof]

I am happy for you that the martins have begun nesting in your new housing after 5 years of waiting. There is always the option to do nothing during this nesting season and hope the male house sparrows do not disturb the martin nests. Then before next year you can plan and purchase the tools needed to prevent or remove sparrows next season. It is important to take down or cover your martin housing during the winter. This prevents the sparrows and starlings from claiming it before the martins return next spring.

I would leave the sparrow nests alone for now. The male house sparrows could very well destroy your martin eggs or nestlings as a direct result of removing the sparrow nests. Heck, the male house sparrows could break and remove the martin eggs or kill the nestlings even if you do not remove the sparrow nests.

There are a couple methods to remove the sparrows without removing their nests. First you could purchase an insert trap specifically for your style of house. It will be easier to catch both adults if they are actively feeding nestlings. So it might be best to wait until that is happening. If you can only catch one adult from a pair, it is best to get that male.

Another option is to trap the sparrows away from the house. Ground traps can work or you can set up a bluebird nest box with an insert trap like the Van Ert or the PMCA trap available online or from the catalog. Let us know what you decide and how it all works out.

[C.C.Martins]

Thinking too...Scott has some good points. Dont be hesitant about doing nest checks. While figuring out your trap options, continue nest checks.
When you do get to it and the sparrows have eggs, remove all but one. Keep doing that, they could have 3 broods. Lessens the chance of that sparrow fledge surviving.