That is good to hear. I'm taking my dog on a walk to a reserve that has bb boxes up, see what i can see.

My brother has a pair of bbs at his place, feeds them mealworms and sends me pics all the time.

Ive had success with the DRST. Ive used cracked corn and bread as bait, best bait is a live sparrow, so if you catch one, keep it alive with food and water to attract more. The millet may attract desirable birds, you can release those unharmed.

If you can, keep the trap dry - i had the best success sheltered under a carport. The trapped birds will live longer dry.

I've been hearing them singing without being able to locate them, and then three days ago a pair showed up. This pair continues to show up a few times a day for mealworms. I've never had them pair up this early. They are always in a flock until a few weeks into March. No snow here either, and warm. Most of winter has felt more like spring.

I get the millet at a local grain mill. I also use cracked corn and breadcrumbs as bait. Sometimes I've placed the DRST across two lawn chairs to prop it up. Sometimes I've just left it on the ground, and it worked just fine. Just make sure to unset it at night (I put a dowel through to keep the elevator from working). Or else I place it in the shed for the night. When I haven't, I've ended up with deer mice in there with the HOSP. They are very hard to get out.

Love to hear feedback just before the season starts! BTW everyone, I got up early yesterday, went out in the field where the boxes are, and I saw it! The flash of blue!!!! I observed BOTH a male and female bluebird catching INSECTS around 32 degrees! How the heck?! These birds never fail to amaze me! Actually 4-5 of them turned up! The male flew to one of my boxes and sang. Later the female flew up and went inside!! the male was squeeling up a storm! You could hear the excitement! Has anyone else ever noticed the encouragement from the male when the female checks out a box? The Swallows have a while to get here..late March.

I also heard some HOSP. But the air in my neighborhood last morning was mainly filled with NATIVES singing, including Song Sparrows and Cardinals!

The DRST got here today! I already have some places in mind, I just gotta do some shopping. I noticed that the elevator arm gets stuck if too much weight is put on it (Ex. if you hold it to the bottom) anything I should do?

I appreciate the idea sharing!

Try testing out the DRST with two quarters. That is what I've read you are supposed to do. If it drops down and springs back up when the quarters are pushed off, it should be just fine. The HOSP don't weigh enough to put too much weight on it. If it doesn't spring up when you knock the quarters off, check for a wire or something that may be holding it down. Maybe it is hitting into the side and needs a slight readjustment?

The thing is, usually once I put one quarter on it, the second is harder to put on, as the arm already lowers.

I have it outside now, baited up, on a crate with plywood underneath it. It's below an evergreen tree in the woods next to my house.

Is it necessary to keep the bait dry? I have plywood on the top of the trap too. It's been raining here lately, and I don't know if it would lessen the effectiveness of the trap. I'm also trying to get permission to use it on my neighbor's property.

The other thing is, I will eventually end up with a female trapped via Van Ert, but the large majority are males because I trap them ASAP. Should I wait, or take the male out sooner? I've always preferred to nail them ASAP, which makes capturing a female harder.

I have never had one go near the food (bait) when it is raining. Once the food gets soaked, they don't seem to want it. Like you, I put plywood on top of the trap to keep things dry, and that seemed to help.
Go ahead and catch the male in the Van Ert trap, and place him in your DRST to attract more HOSP.

Kendra, have you had any other HOSP drawn to the DRST with a MALE?? I heard that females are priority and that males will attract little to none. Then again, I've had males call to other HOSP while in my mesh bag, so maybe?

It is just NASTY out there today! We have a hind wind warning, the wind is gusting and rain is blowing everywhere. It's supposed to change to snow tonight and tomorrow. I would think snow covered ground would be a GOOD day for catching HOSP. Today, not so much. I looked out the window...appears to still be nothing in it. I think once the wind ends I will set fresh bait.

Heard it can take weeks to get the first bird. I'm confident, and I would hope not, but not even natives appear to be checking it out. Then again, I'm gone most of the day, and check it morning, then once in the afternoon and evening.