what to do now, blues, tres and hosps?

15 years ago

Well my luck ran out. All these year w/o Hosps now I have a pesky young pair playing with my boxes. I traped him once in the box, but he got away (first time I ever tried). Had a good BB shot 2x but missed. Ground trap has only produced one mad Titmouse. The pair seems to be bonded to this box but they are just playing house. They only come a few times a day and only for moments. Now and then they will stuff something in the box. It's a sad attempt at a nest at best, they cant be serious just yet. As I said they are young, the male has just a slight, thin black bib. I had planned to let them have their way with this box as the Blues are finished building on the other side of the property and out of the Hosp sight for now. I expect the first egg by this weekend (if they are on schedule) then the spooker will go up. Enter the TRES. They want the same box the Hosps have though there is a box 15 ft in front of that box and another one 50 ft away still open for the taking. Close call today, a TRES was IN the box when the male Hosp landed ON the box..I ran out gun in hand and of course he flew off. TRES was gone too. Thats the good news. The question is what the heck do I do now? I had planned on letting the Hosp get real comfey, lay an egg then take out the male while he was sitting on the box gloating. I fear the box trap will get his lady first and he will move on to another box. I am also afraid of spooking my TRES away, (but better than being dead). I decided to open the box for today. The 2 closer boxes may give me a better shot if the Hosp decides to move in on one......I am mostly fearing for the TRES as I think the Blues will be safe with an egg and a spooker within days. Take out the nest in the box the Hosp want to keep them busy, close it? put up the trap? Tres will most likely get caught too. Leave that box open and force them to take a closer box? Risk them checking out the Blues box? My TRES are just as important if not more so than the Blues due to the thousands of miles they migrate to my property. Does anybody speak BIRD to tell me what to do? The birds are NOT following MY plans! I had it all planned out so nicely. AAARRGG. I would like to hear from you with lots of HOSP experiance...I havent a clue what to do!

Thanks and Blesings, Lisa

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

bluebirdbabe
15 years ago
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
bbcathy
15 years ago
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
Related Discussions
n need help with hosps (squmish do not read)
Q
Comments (7)
Lisa, after I get the HOSP out of the traphouse into a bag I take the bag and set something very heavy on top of it in the garage. In this way I do not actually do anything to the bird with my own hands. I tried the whacking once and seriously could not do it hard enough, I cannot squeeze them with my own hands (hubby can but I cannot) so I let something heavy do it for me. Drowning would be good I guess but seems like too much fuss for me. Much easier to take the bag in the garage, set something heavy on it and walk away for a bit. I don't feel bad like you seem to about doing it thankfully but that being said I cannot do it physically with my own hands. Shooting is fine too but like you said, you cannot always get a good shot. Trapping is easier. Good luck!! Donna
...See More
Dees, TRES and now Blues!!!
Q
Comments (1)
Excellent news on all fronts Donna! You must be living right. Congrats! Cathy
...See More
Lets put our heads together... HOSPs
Q
Comments (7)
Lisa, because the males get mates so quickly, I doubt your shooting will cause him to retaliate. Here's an interesting note about the Van Ert: If you catch the FEMALE in an active HOSP nest, try leaving her body in the box afterwards. May sound cruel, but I did this at my 2nd box site, and I caught the Male within 30 seconds of setting and leaving the trap! I walked away and a few seconds later..."SNAP!" ..."Did that seriously just happen??" The only way I caught HOSP in the ground trap (DRST) was by putting a couple live males in first that I caught with the Van Ert. It was sitting out for WEEKS not catching anything before this. I know how impatient it can make you! Keep up with the Sparrow Spookers! I have used them 2-3 seasons now and not had even ONE HOSP attack occur when used. Just remember the time frame to have it up in. With the 3 big control items: Van Ert, DRST, and Sparrow Spooker, I believe this is the best way to bring the population down. I wish they couldn't nest in evergreens! I tear out and destroy eggs and nestings from these year in and year out. It gets exhausting. ~Tim~
...See More
tres, bb, and hosp nesting
Q
Comments (3)
Unfortunately I think it may already be too late for the TRES. They had their eggs taken out by most likely a HOWR or HOSP, although I did see the Blues on top of the house before I went out and found that the TRES eggs were gone; is it possible the Blues took out the TRES eggs? I am still trying as hard as possible to kill those Sparrows. Let me tell you, they have become so smart and sneaky! When I see them go into the house, I run out and cover it with a pillow case and stand out there for about 10 minutes shaking the box to get them to come out. I eventually give up, but I never even see them come out of the house anyways. I can't tell when they're in the house or out, and when I see them on the ground and get my pellet gun, they're gone in a flash. And I went out to get their eggs, but holy heck, they have the most ugly and messy nest I have ever seen from a HOSP. It doesn't even look like a nest, just a box crammed with junk. I don't even know if I can find the eggs in there. I will keep trying, and I won't give up till I succeed. Thanks for your help.
...See More
chris8796
15 years ago
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.
dzyg
15 years ago
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
bbcathy
15 years ago
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
lisa11310
Original Author
15 years ago
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!

what to do now, blues, tres and hosps?

Comments (6)

bluebirdbabe

bbcathy

Related Discussions

chris8796

dzyg

bbcathy

lisa11310
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

what to do now, blues, tres and hosps?

Comments (6)

bluebirdbabe

bbcathy

Related Discussions

chris8796

dzyg

bbcathy

lisa11310Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

lisa11310
Original Author