Wow guys I shouldn't have went and ran my mouth. Because now my bluebirds are having a battle with the HOSP over paired nest boxes!

The HOSP put material in one box and have been at the other more. I set the trap in the box with the material and Mr. HOSP landed on the door but didn't go in.

The rest of the morning he sat in a tree near by chirping. The male BB indeed has a mate! He and her greeted me as I approached a tree and landed and both gave me a wing wave. Hahaha I think these guys know who I am!

Anyway I got up around 6 and was out from before 7 and came and went but had no luck getting the HOSP. I'll have at it and try again tomorrow morning!

Good luck getting that nasty bird blue! The only way to deal with them is to eliminate them from the picture. Glad you are seeing the Blues already!

I wish you the best of luck trapping that HOSP. I can tell you what has worked for me. If you leave him alone for a few days and really let him claim that spare box he won't be able to resist going into it. I learned from this forum to glue grass over the tripping mechanism so it just looks like nesting material. Then set the trap at night, and check it first thing in the morning. You will usually find he couldn't resist going in there.

I am setting my brand new Van Ert trap this morning in hopes of finally getting this pair of nasties out of my yard. I have cleaned out 6 partial nests from 3 boxes. They go right past the Spookers and the Monofilament to carry in their junky nesting materials. Darndest thing I have ever seen. Maybe today is the day of reckoning for them!! M poor Bluebird pair is all in a flutter about what to do and which box is safe. Not for much longer though! :0)

So my neighbor has informed me that my other single nestbox site ALSO has a HOSP at it. Said she saw it in the morning.

And guess what...went out in the PM and opened the box door and what do ya know? Out flies MR. HOSP! Had I saw him go in I would have ran out there and stuffed the hole and that would be the last of him!

Last weekend was the 1st trapping weekend where I came away with nothing. This year simply isn't the same...the weather is rainy and the temps are holding in the 30's and 40's and occasionally lower 50's with the HOSP hardly building any nests! Last year was different...by this time it was in the upper 60's, I already had HOSP trapped and eliminated, and more coming. And I haven't seen my blues in a few days...but like I said...no nest building. just droppings on and in the boxes and some material. didn't find anything new today. The HOSP are being slow and sneeky this year...hope I get them soon!!!

The HOSPs are sneaky and smart blue. I have never seen such wary birds. It's like they know when you are gunnin for them! Darn things. Once you get familiar with the nature of that beast, you quickly find it intolerable.~~Angie

Great news! Nailed that Male HOSP today! Turns out he was trying to claim all 3 of my boxes! The two paired and the single one. One minute he was at the single one then flew to the paired boxes.

Anyhow I was nearby when I saw the blues in the vicinity of the paired boxes. They sat in a nearby tree and watched as the male HOSP was sitting atop the box with the trap chirping.
Waiting anxiously, it got quiet and I lost sight of him and then I heard a feint SNAP! Circled around and saw that I finally got him. The blues left right after the trap tripped.

Also, at my 2nd trail, I saw the 1st blue. A male who doesn't appear to have a mate. Evidence of HOSP but low activity so I wasn't able to get any. But anyhow...1st trap of the season!

WONDERFUL news blue!!!!! YAY for you. (and the birds) I hope that I get as lucky!! :o)

Keep trying Angie! This one of course took two weekends to get but I stayed patient and got him at almost 10 AM yesterday.

Found a couple more droppings on top of two of my boxes today - I'm anticipating more to deal with in the future...and if you get this one Angie expect the possibility of another to show up and take its place. Good luck!

The funny thing is that I am only seeing this one pair of HOSP's in the yard right now. Earlier in the winter, I had a small group of them here. This one pair will not give up though. I have been emptying their nests and closing off boxes, and they persist in trying to nest here. You'd think that they would eventually get the not so subtle hint!!! I have never seen anything like them. I'm going to remove that orange dot, and I am going to get him. It will happen!! Thanks!~~Angie

Glad you got him!

Okay so I came back to my paired boxes this afternoon...another HOSP! This one is different in that he actually built a nest unlike the other one...see not all HOSP are the same.

But guess how I got him! Stuck a long piece of grass out of the hole! He landed in a tree near by then flew past the box and turned around (must have saw the grass) landed on the front and then SLAM!!! I was 30+ yards away and you could here the trap trip! I thought I had him earlier as I passed but he didn't go in. Forgot to mention my age...16! Yup! No lies! Probably one of the few bluebirders my age. Glad I'm making a difference for these awesome birds! It's my escape from average life...I enjoy it. TRES will be back soon. (Tree Swallows)

Oh blue, that is just wonderful!! I am so inspired by your dedication and enthusiasm for nature at your age. I actually have 2 sons (ages 14 &16) and my house is constantly full of teen boys. Can't seem to get them interested in my nature projects. I still tell them about everything and sometimes make them come and look. Maybe some day they will find themselves interested in trying to feed the birds and grow things. I can hope! :o)
HOSP's and Starlings are really terrible birds. I love all of nature, but once you study and observe the true natures of these particular birds, you come to dislike them intensely. I am also trying to establish a Purple Martin colony, and I just know that this year will be my year!!~~Angie

Oh yeah I know how that is Angie! I'm not all that open about birds but my closest friends know I'm a bird watcher and seem to respect it. I'm still into a lot of other things for my age but I was born a nature lover and look to maybe have my 1st career being landscaping.

And yes, they are awful birds. I've told others that I trap but I try to get them to understand that I'm only doing it for good reasons...:)...the 1st time I had euthanize a HOSP it was tough...real tough...but now, after seing what they do to our good, native, beautiful insect eating birds, I feel no contempt eliminating them. Whatever it takes to restore the balance and keep our good birds alive...

By the way...read my post in the other thread...my neighbor owns a Martin house that I remove HOSP nests from.

ohsoblue77 I am very impressed. For you to be so involved and knowledgeable at your age is wonderful. I knew nothing at your age, and while I loved the birds and feeding them, I was probably feeding HOSPs and not knowing it. I didn't get actively involved in learning about birds until I was almost 50 years old. Thanks for being such a wonderful example to other young people (and older people), and for all you do for the birds.

Not a problem:) I'm glad I'm making such a difference! There has to be SOME others out there my age that are bird watchers but it may be more widespread.

Yeah when I was 10 - 12 I never knew HOSP were like that, then I got into bluebirds and found out the nasty truth.

BTW, ANOTHER HOSP showed up at the SAME boxes! My blues were after it today!