Ann,just be patient,in box traps are very successful and necessary if you want blues to nest.Good luck.......Jane

Ann, sorry I didn't see this until now. You need to leave some of the nest inside the box and even allow some strands to poke out of the entrance hole, if possible. If house sparrows think something has been messing with their nest they are much more likely to go in and investigate. It'll take them a while to get up their courage, but they will. Make certain the trip mechanism is covered with grass, also, so that they don't see it.
Keep up the good work.
Kathy

Thank you...I wish I had thought to ask in advance---yesterday was a waste of time. But I'll have another opportunity in a few days.

Thanks for your help,

Ann

I'm having the same problem. I have to do it b4 my son wakes up or while he's down for his nap. Isn't very convenient! When I hastily put the trap in a few weeks ago, i interupted a female hosp. in there and then both of em stayed away for a good week.. but low and behold the male (not sure if same one) was back on top of the box singing his putred songs trying to attract a female.. well i got him.. now i got another male and this one is playing cat and mouse with me.. i've had to put it in and take it out about 3 times and when i go back in the house, he's peeking his head out of the hole. oh well, sorry had to vent... but if it makes you feel better, you're not the only one.. i go through this every season but it is worth it... ps.. i've succesfully trapped them without the grass covering the mechanism many times.. maybe those hosp are smarter than the elkton md hosp!

House sparrows are crafty creatures--remind me to tell you about the ones at my local Home Depot sometime. They've got a system worked out for how to get inside the store using the sensors on the doors. Not a fluke, I've seen it several times!
House sparrow males bond to the nestbox. If you can trap him the female will usually leave. Try putting the trap in your nestbox at dusk. I've trapped many a house sparrow during the early morning hours because their guard is down--they didn't see anyone around the box, so they aren't suspicious. The ones that have been trapped before (and that have escaped) are especially leery of anything different in, on or near the nestbox. The suggestion to cover the tripping mechanism is, hopefully, to save you time if you are dealing with a bird that is skittish to begin with. Patience is they key and you're right, trapping is definitely worth the hassle since it means the bluebirds can nest in peace and safety.
Kathy

Working ridiculous hours and can't deal with sparrows, but the few minutes I've had to watch out there---haven't seen anyone at my boxes. I watched for the last hour as the sun came up and saw nothing. Would one good scare make them leave?? How can I lure the blues back??? (They come to eat every day) I can move the boxes easily... I'm so stressed....I want those blues SO BAD!

Thanks,

Ann

Nope, 1 good scare will NOT make them leave. Even if they do leave there are many more that will take their spot. I think many of us have learned the hard way what a hosp will do. I know it is hard when ur working, but if u want bluebirds...the hosp MUST go. Sending luck your way :)

Karen

I went out to put the traps in at sunset...and found a dead bird in one box. Not even sure what it is (they pecked its head), but I think a chickadee. Sparrows will die. They are making this easier for me.

Ann

Ann, I'm so sorry about your chickadee and also that you had to see what damage and destruction a house sparrow can cause. Senseless. But now you understand and it does make it easier to deal with the trapping, etc. I bet you'll have trapped one when you check the box in the morning. Remember that it is the male you are after and good luck.
Kathy

I got one!! A male, in the wood house, not the blue house where the chickadee died. (Both house were clearly taken over by sparrows over the last 2 weeks.) It was not hard to do. I just pictured the chickadee and my bluebirds.

That was at 7 am. Then at 11 I noticed chickadee activity at the blue house---and I saw one get trapped!! Maybe the spouse of the deceased? I let him out immediately, of course. I suppose an intense fear experience like that is good for that poor bird, so hopefully he doesn't wind up dead like his little mate! I actually had left the dead bird on the ground there to send a message to his mate but apparently it didn't work. Anyone with thoughts on this?

I re-set the trap, and I'm waiting......

Thank you everyone for your support.

Ann

Good work, Ann. I've caught 3 so far today--a male and 2 females. Found a dead male bluebird in one of my boxes, sadly. My hubby was with me and he got almost as angry as I did. He doesn't mind me trapping but doesn't like to think about what comes after--today he didn't mind so much.
I think what's falling for my traps are young house sparrows. The seasoned ones seem to know that my boxes are not for their consideration and they nest on the farmette behind us.
Kathy

I went out for an hour so I put a big stick in the house doorway---got back 15 minutes ago, took the stick out, and the chickadee is back!!

I'm mostly worried that the chickadee will get hurt---are there ever trap fatalities?? I'm guessing I would have heard about it, if so, but honestly it's hard for me to imagine that it never happens.

Anyway, I'm on this until the little demons are gone.

Thanks again Kathy and others for your help & support,

Ann

Are you sure the HOSP you got is not the same one that killed the Chickadee ?If you have not seen anymore HOSP activity at that house I would remove the trap and let the chickadee have the box.If that was his/her mate they may call in another mate.You could add a hole reducer.That would allow the Chickadee in,but keep the HOSP out.

Matt, I don't know!! But the chickadee died in the blue house, and the HOSP was caught in the wood house, maybe 30' away. The chickadees want the blue house, and the blues want the wood house, but I've seen HOSP at BOTH houses after I got that one HOSP.

This is draining. I currently have the trap set up only in the blue house...I'm afraid of trapping another bluebird! But it was empty this morning.

I just feel like I'm doing something wrong! Some of you guys catch multiple HOSP in a day (though I don't know how many houses you have) and I can't seem to catch any more of these guys!

Tomorrow I go back to work...on work days I only have one opportunity: dawn.

PLEASE continue to give me the benefit of all your experience!!!

And wish me luck!

THANK YOU!!!!!

Ann

Ann,
I have been having a pair of Blues checking out a box every morning for the last few weeks,Just the other morning I see a HOSP sitting in the opening,of the box ,chirping his head off.I go nuts.Then it hit me.I take another box put a 1-3/8 hole reducer on it I mount the trap in it,And I temporarily mount the box 5 feet from the other house ,I mount it about 61/2 feet up.Within 45 min.I had the HOSP trapped.The best way I have found to trap,is, get up early, as soon as you see a HOSP at a box ,set the trap,and watch it like a hawk.You could temporarily put a 1 3/8 hole reducer on your box with the trap,The HOSP can fit in,most of the time Blue cannot.Once you catch the rat bird remove the reducer.You could also put up another box.while you are dealing with the HOSP,that way the Blue will have a backup box.These are things I have done with success.Have you tried the fishing line?Sometime it works,sometimes it does not.Follow the link below for instructions.Go down about 1/3 of the page.

Keep us updated
Matt

Here is a link that might be useful: Monofilament

This is exhausting!
I barely saw a bluebird in the back yard today---and only the male. I feared the worst. No chickadees, no sparrows.

2-3 weeks ago when I transiently had 4 bluebirds I put a house in the front yard. On a whim, I looked inside this afternoon...and there is a nest! A bluebird nest! With bluebirds in & out! Unbelievable. While I watched the drama out back, they went and built a nest! I'll be counting the minutes til an egg appears and I can put up the spooker.

This evening there were chickadees in & out of the wood house (where I got the sparrow) and only a male HOSP at the blue house (where the chickadee died.) The trap has been in there all weekend, pretty much---and he just won't go in! I haven't seen a female---do the males just hang out on top and the females build the nests? Tomorrow I'll have to remove the trap when I leave for work.

I will definitely try the monofilament---looks like it can't hurt, though the offender is clearly already bonded to the box...worth a try.

I will also buy another house, as you suggested, and mount it really high with a trap. (Need to find a way to do this cheaply!!) I do need to get a hole reducer---I don't have one so I'm due for a trip to the bird store.

Thank you again for your help...I'm so emotionally invested in these birds...I just don't want to make any more mistakes!

Ann

Ann, since your male house sparrow seems to be leery of the trap, you might want to remove it for a while and, if he has a lady friend, let them start building. It's likely that if they start a nest he will let his guard down and you'll be able to trap him. Also, with regard to Matt's idea of having a trapping box (an excellent suggestion), I know of several people who've done just this only they've mounted their trap box on the handle of a pitchfork. The box can then be set just about anywhere you have dirt and it is no less effective than a regular pole-mounted nestbox.
Take care,
Kathy

Great idea! I was thinking of using a 10' piece of rebar, just because they like their houses high up....but that means a ladder, etc, and the more complicated this gets, the more stress on me!

I actually bought a cheap house last year for exactly this purpose, but before I wrote the first post in this thread, I put the trap in and found that because it isn't up to the standards, the trap goes off when I close the door. (Door hits the trap.) I may try to alter the house, just to save yet another expense...

I will remove the trap today (no sparrow again this morning) and leave some bits hanging out the door to get him interested.

Thanks again Kathy, Matt, and the rest of the gang!

Ann

Just an update: The blues are happy in the front yard lovenest, and hang out, eat, drink, & hunt in the back yard. The chickadees built a nest FAST in the blue house and I put up a hole reducer. The wood house is vacant. I haven't seen a HOSP in several days!!

Exhale....

Ann

Ann, Is the size of your hole reducer 1-1/8? If so please watch carefully because I actually seen a male HOSP enter in a house with one. You are doing a wonderful job!
Dave

Yes.....it is 1 1/8"!

I was worried, especially since the nest is so huge I'm worried a HOSP can reach eggs/babies just by getting their head in there. Last year I had chickadees in that same house with no hole reducer (I had never had chickadees before and was too new at this) and the HOSP killed the babies. That was the day I ordered 2 van Ert traps and came to terms with killing birds.

Can I use a spooker with the sparrows?

Thank you Dave...

Ann