Universal Sparrow Trap - Closes Easily

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Michelle
Posts: 20
Joined: Sun Jun 07, 2020 7:45 pm
Location: NE Ohio

So we have a visitor at our house, and there are 2 pairs of house sparrows that are occupying 1 gourd and 1 cavity (I have a T14 with gourds under it). I have a Universal Sparrow Trap and the problem I am having is raising the house without the red door closing…it is so sensitive! Anyone have any tips on this?
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C.C.Martins
Posts: 3368
Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:15 am
Location: Corpus Christi Tx
Martin Colony History: 2016- Visitors.
2017- 5 pair. 15 fledged
2018- 18 pair. 85 fledged
2019- 17 pair. 81 fledged
2020- 25 pair. 111 fledged
2021- 28 pair. 118 fledged
2022- 33 pair. 151 fledged
2023- 33 pair. 165 fledged
2024- 40 pair. 185 fledged
2025- 40 pair. 181 fledged
HOSP:
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.

Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 49 PMCA excluder gourds; 16 room Lonestar Goliad with Modified Excluder entrances.
2019: Visitors
2020: 3 pair, 11 fledged
2021: 10 pair, 30 fledged
2022: 11 pair, 35 fledged
2023: 18 pair, 101 fledged
2024: 39 pair, 181 fledged
2025: 51 pair, 216 fledged
PMCA member

Is it possible to lower the house enough to get a ladder under it and place the trap in there? Then remove the ladder?
Also, could tighten the thumb screw or bolt in the back where the door pivits just a tad, while loose enough the door closes when they go in. Wonder what it is...just sensitive I guess. Hooe you get your guest.
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
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brent
Posts: 1280
Joined: Sat Feb 10, 2018 2:43 pm
Location: Raceland, Louisiana

Had the same problem here. I had to make sure the arm was securely engaged and holding the door up. So I would lift the trap door and pull the arm up against the front wall. Then lower the trap door so it was held securely up by the arm. Hope this helps. Brent
Brent
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flyin-lowe
Posts: 3789
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

Do you have nesting martins? If not I would leave the house lowered, close all the openings except for those with a trap. If you see martins visiting, open it up and raise the house. If not just utilize the rest of this summer to lower the local HOSP population.
2026 HOSP 28
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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Michelle
Posts: 20
Joined: Sun Jun 07, 2020 7:45 pm
Location: NE Ohio

C.C.Martins wrote: ↑
Tue Jun 11, 2024 8:33 pm
 Is it possible to lower the house enough to get a ladder under it and place the trap in there? Then remove the ladder?
Also, could tighten the thumb screw or bolt in the back where the door pivits just a tad, while loose enough the door closes when they go in. Wonder what it is...just sensitive I guess. Hooe you get your guest.
These are great ideas, I will try tightening the screw first to see if that helps. Thank you!
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Martintown33
Posts: 1366
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
Location: Laplace,La
Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack

Agree with Brent and Tom.. those traps may need a slight adjustment… I had to do the something similar to what Brent did.. also, I did bend the trigger arm slightly so it wouldn’t trigger so easily… if you bend it too much and the trigger is too stiff, then you can bend it back slightly.. keep adjusting it until you get the sensitivity level you want..
Good luck,
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
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