Lisa, I have the same problem with the TRES and hosp. I put the VanErt trap on the box I knew the hosp wanted and sure enough the TRES showed up and wanted that box. Off comes the trap. The weather got cold the TRES left back on goes the trap. Hosp showed up leary of the box and didn't go in. TRES come back off goes the trap. These guys NEVER go according to plan. That's too easy.

Just keep trying to shoot the hosp. I'll keep checking back here cuz I have not seen the hosp back, but I know the minute the TRES come back so will that #@#%^ hosp. I need to know what to do too.

Karen

Lisa You will be losing sleep and pulling your hair out before this is over. I have not worked the last few years so I do nothing but watch out the window during nest building. I have seen these situations more than once. This year I am working and can only hope while I'm gone tragedy will not strike. Running out screaming and waving at hosps is always a good tactic. LOL It does work. First Keep trying with the drst. The natives will not go in it again after they get caught. The titmice always bite me when I let them out. So cute! I like to put it near a brushy area where the hosps hang. Next shoot at them with the bb gun every time you see them at the box. You will find out they are very smart. Even if you don't hit them you can sway them to another box by doing this. I would try to notice where they are flying in and out of your yard from and situate the drst there and also put another box with a 1 1/4" hole near there to see if I could entice them to switch boxes. Then let them get comfy and keep them busy. Then use the Van Ert. Of course like all traps it still must be monitored as other birds fit through that hole. You have to stop feeding the other birds or use only safflower seed when using the drst. Once they get busy nest building for real they will be more apt to eat from the trap. Keep us posted on your situation and your sanity. Any questions don't hesitate to ask.
Good Luck
Cathy

If you happen to catch a HOSP, save it to use as a decoy in your DRST. I have been keeping 3 as decoys and it works much better. I put alot of pressure on the HOSP all winter and thought I had them under control. Then one day a couple of weeks ago I had 5 males at the feeder. I caught about 20 in the last 2 weeks after seeing hardly any. For being a non-migrating species, spring has really got them moving around here. But the decoys really help and they are easy to maintain.

Too bad he got away from you when you had him trapped. I would keep putting the trap in as long as you can monitor it well so if you get a TRES you can release it right away. I caught a TRES last year and released it and they nested in that same box. If you get the female HOSP first you can still get the male as it is the male that bonds with the box. I have done this twice, trapped the female resset the trap and just a few minutes later have trapped the male. If you trap the male first the female will leave. I FINALLY have a pair of Bluebirds around and so many TRES that I don't know what will happen here. I love the TRES but I want a nestbox for the Blues too. We have plenty of nestboxes but the TRES are alittle overwelming.
Good luck to you, hope you can rid your yard of that HOSP.

Donna

Lisa I forgot. If you catch a hosp in the box The best thing to have is a mesh laundry bag. I get mine at the dollar store but you can get them anywhere. You put the bag over the whole box pull the draw string tight and open the door. Grab the bag with the bird in the other closed end tight and now loosen the drawstring. Give it a good look. Then you can see what you've got for sure. It may be easier at first to have someone else help you until you get used to it. They only need a sliver space to make their escape. Trust me I've been there. LOL

Cathy

Thanks Cathy, we did find that out the hard way. We actually got him in the plexi sided box so ID was not a problem, he had flown into the bag and as I fumbled to close it up he flew out of the bag back into the house and out of the small space that the plexi didnt cover, right past my husbands head. Hubby nearly got a bird in the eye. Guess it was just not his day to die....it's commin though (God forgive me). No BB egg yet, I nearly always get one for my Birthday so I shoud have one by the weekend!