OK, please excuse my ignorance, but what does DRST stand for? Another question: What do you do with the HOSP after trapping them? We have few HOSP but many house finches here at my house in Hickory, NC Good luck to you and the chickadees...

Deluxe Repeating Sparrow Trap. The link for it is below in case you don't own one and are looking into it.

Although I cannot tell you how to do it, because it may be offensive to others, the best thing to do is euthanize the bird...HUMANELY that is. Also check out www.sialis.org. It's is an EXTREMELY comprehensive website with just about anything in regards to bluebirds. Releasing the bird is HIGHLY discouraged, because you will either give someone else the problem, or it will beat you home. It may be tough at first, but once you witness or see any photos of what they do to our natives, you will have plenty of motives to quickly dispatch the bird upon capture. Or in the case of the DRST, trap as many at once and euthanize all captures. Not releasing them is ALSO IMPORTANT because they will become trap shy. The bird knows better after being through trapping, and will be EXTREMELY difficult to capture again. One slipped out of my mesh drawstring bag last year, and boy, was I angry and depressed! It took about 3-4 weeks to recapture in the SAME nestbox. That's right. Despite being thorugh the trauma of trapping, the bird may CONTINUE to try using it, and preventing any natives from laying clame to it. This is why quick, humane dispatches are so IMPORTANT.

Alternatively, Sialis.org mentions passive ways (no killing) to discourage HOSP. Though they aren't as effective, and used alone, you will still likely have HOSP trouble. I've been using Van Ert and Spar-o door inbox traps the past 2-4 seasons, and a few still linger. This has motivated me to go OVER THE TOP and take out ANY HOSP in my neighborhood. It's for the good of all our beautiful, native, insect-eating song birds.

Yes, House Finches are also very abundant. Almost as much as HOSP. Both were introduced, but the finches are not known for aggression, don't usually attack other nesters, are protected, and their flight patterns and appearance are VERY similar to that of the HOSP. This is why you MUST identify the bird trapped before taking any action.

I am a little saddened about what happened with the Chickadee. I'm not certain I could have done anything. I've checked it while out 2-3 times a day, but am gone from about 8 am to 3 pm on weekdays. I will soon be attempting to trap on my neighbor's land..as they are often in the area, and I'm less likely to attract natives likes Chickadees. I am also shocked that Blaine Johnson claims to have not had a native casualty with the DRST. From what I've seen, being trapped is very stressful, and being with other birds doesn't help. But I NEVER saw this kind of aggression from Chickadees. It's still shocking.
~Tim~

Here is a link that might be useful: Deluxe Repeating Sparrow Trap

I am so sorry this happened to you. I have had a DRST for a few years now, and have never had a BCCH go near it. I would have thought using the millet (especially where you have the black oil available for the BCCH) would not attract them near the trap. I use white millet, bread crumbs and maybe some cracked corn to attract the HOSPs. I have had deer mice get into the trap which are a pain to get out, but never BCCH. So sorry this happened to you. My only suggestion would be to move the trap to a different location where there are more likely to be HOSP, and less likely to have BCCH.

Thank you Kendra! I also thought the same. Even my native sparrows (which, btw, are pretty darn high in numbers!) would be on the ground and occasionally be near the trap, but I haven't trapped them at all.

I am moving it farther from home, but closer to HOSP. Still in my neighborhood...but 2 doors away...where, even though a feed lot was recently closed (

...Yay!and a martin house used to be filled with them, they still hang around. I never got to use many bread crumbs. Is this a real draw for HOSP? It seems it would be.

It didn't post the rest. This was to be one post. What's with that?!

Dont feel so bad for the dee... I would be a liar to say i have never killed one
by accident in all my traps. But I do what i can to protect them and there chicks
that way they always can produce some chicks every year. They are priceless
and little busy bodies that are always looking for trouble. Kind of like a young child that just cannot sit still. The bird may not have even been hungry but just had to check out that trap. People love them just as much as bluebirds and will fledge hundreds across the country. I have trapped doves by accident in the same trap must keep a watchful eye on it during the day.

Thanks for the input Ray! I'm just gonna try and make sure no attractive food is really near or in the trap. Which means removing sunflower seeds. I will also try harder on the bread crumbs, and mine didn't last long (mixed into seed, not visible)

Hopefully moving it will increase the HOSP odds for trapping...which leads me to this. How long, on average, in an area common with HOSP, does it take to get the first one? The thing is, they rarely congregate on my property. But they are OFTEN in the area I'm moving it to.

Those traps are more popular in the fall when you can trap numerous fledgling
sparrows. i would hold off till the mid/late summer. And just use next box
traps for now...

I would Ray, but I just got it in the intent to use it this spring. Maybe summer too. Everyone says fall, but we must remember that HOSP can fledge as early as April or May.

But I will certainly try when fall comes. The trap is in much more dire need at my other nest site. I have some time off in April (about 9 days) in which I hope to stick around there to trap them. They're much more out of control at my other site. Plus, there are less boxes over there.

I can tell you my experience with how long it takes. I've had the DRST out for days with HOSP around and caught nothing. Then I moved it to a different location, looked out the window, and watched one enter within minutes. So if you're not catching anything, try moving the trap. Sometimes even a few feet makes a difference. I wish I could tell you why one location worked better for me than another, but I haven't figured that one out. I had the trap in fairly open areas both times.

I'm rather concerned about it being in the open. A neighbor feeds birds and I would be concerned about them seeing the trap, with birds in it, thinking "They're trapping our birds! They can't can't do that! etc."

I have, however placed a statement in front of the the elevator arm stating the use of the trap and my phone number for any questions.

I just put it in the new spot, so we'll see. HOSP have been within 10-20 yards of the trap. They're always in the area.

I'm sorry about the chickadee! I have the same situation here,alot of natives but a few rogue hosp that do alot of damage. I wouldn't leave the trap open to captures unless you can check it every 1/2 hour or hour. Maybe on your day off or something? If I leave the house I close up the Van ert traps 'cause with my luck I'd catch a hosp and bb at the same time.I would die.Hope you have better luck at other location.

Well, so far Lexa there are little - no signs of HOSP using my boxes. So no Van Ert Trapping.

For the first time in at least 2 years - my bluebirds have staked a first claim from one of my box pairs. There are now a few pieces of grass formed into a circle in one of my boxes. The male and female bluebird were hanging around behind the box, so I'm thinking it has to be them. Plus I haven't seen any HOSP on/near my boxes yet.

Unfortunately, today I trapped yet another Chickadee. 4th one. My brother put some bait in there I didn't want him too, so this is probably what got the chickadee. The little guy was going back and forth. Approaching I saw it but couldn't tell what it was. Was thinking "come on, HOSP please" nope, another Chickadee. Although frantic, he had no damage and appeared healthy. It took him a minute to find the exit. Little guy bursted out and the next minutes he was up in the tree calling away. I'm not giving up yet! I've brought bread crumbs to the equation. I should have one eventually.

Indeed with the "rogue" sparrow Lexa! I am gonna convince my neighbor to get a universal trap for his Martin Trio house, as removing the HOSP last season caused European Starlings to move in and start nesting. The Spar-o-door traps are too small for Starlings.

I'm just glad my overall efforts to get rid of the HOSP have been successful. I've really changed things around here.