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Are Dees safe from hosp

15 years ago

While I've been sick with bronchitis this week. A pair of hosp destroyed newly laid eggs in my blue bird box. I've never had Hosp before but if I had known about the bb eggs in time a spooker would have been up

The hosp had laid an egg by the next day. The only thing I knew to do was to pull out all the nesting material and destroy the hosp egg (still have the nest) so at least they couldn't multiply. I don't have a trap.

Not more than 8 feet away from the bluebird box I have Dees approximately 8 days old in a Wren house with a 1 inch opening. I think the opening is too small for them to get in but they are fluttering around the opening showing some interest.

Are my dees safe?

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Comments (7)

dzyg
15 years ago
I don't think a HOSP can enter a one inch opening however they can get in a 1 1/4 inch opening. I would assume the Dees would be ok but can you put up a spooker on that nestbox? Sorry about your Blues nesting....a van ert is a must have for anyone offering nestboxes. They are cheap easy to install and he ships them asap!

Donna
kendra2003
15 years ago
I agree with everything Donna said. I would put up a sparrow spooker on that Dee box, just so the HOSP loose interest and don't torment the Dees. They can't get into a one inch hole, but they can still be a nuisance. The Van Ert traps are just a necessity if you offer housing to the Bluebirds. Like Donna said, they are easy to install and quite inexpensive. I can't imagine not having them. I am sorry about your Bluebird eggs. That is very sad.
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Sorry to hear of it Lisa. As Kendra said, there wasn't anything you could have done. We all put up SUCH a battle with HOSP! Even then, they still find a way to cause problems. They destroyed my first eggs this year and I only left ONE DAY! Before I could get the spooker up. Then my bluebirds were ready to lay and the HOSP took over their box! That Male HOSP is now K.I.A. The blues moved to my other box and quickly layed but things have been going down (see my posts) All this, and their #s are still seriously down in my neighborhood! I've taken babies, eggs, adult HOSP, you name it. But it only takes one HOSP! Just stay at it, and the HOSP will pay in due time! It's an endless battle, but believe in me and sialis, you CAN get their population down! It's all a matter of time. They were once on the increase in my neighborhood (neighbor's Martin Complex WAS FILLED with them a couple years ago) Continue to make note of others' effective methods. Kendra, how in the HECK do you catch THAT MANY HOSP in just ONE WEEK??? I've had the thing with 2 males and 2 females in it and it can take AT LEAST a WEEK to catch even one or two more! I've caught Chickadees, Song Sparrows, Chipping sparrows, etc. I've had 2 fatalities. 1 dee and 1 song sparrow. But lately it's been mainly all HOSP. I had to remove it from my other site because there were 8 in the trap, and it was knocked over and 4 HOSP (thankfully HOSP!) were found bloodied and decaying in my DRST. I believe it was cats. This was a day or two after my last check. In total, over a 2-4 week period I caught 4-6 HOSP. The other site has a much more explosive population, yet the trap doesn't seem to attract as much attention as everyone on sparrowtraps.net says. Remember though, this is my first season with the trap. In total, not many natives trapped. Wishing you better luck with the HOSP Lisa! When all is said and done, you should have some success this season.
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bandjzmom
15 years ago
Agree with Donna and Kendra. Get the spooker up onto the Dees house. Nasty, hateful HOSP savages. I am sorry that they did that to your Blues. It really is a matter of constant vigilance and removal that keeps them in check. I get very nervous if I see one in my yard, and I set the Van Ert immediately.~Angie
ohsoblue77
15 years ago
Anything bigger than 1 in. HOSP can get through. So while they can't affect the nest, they have been known to harass dees.

I really recommend the Van Ert and as the others said, they're cheap, extremely easy to install, and very effective. I've posted a link to it below. However be advised that some HOSP (Esp. certain males)can take patience to successfully trap. Some go in right away and get trapped and you could have one like I had a few weeks ago that took 2 - 3 days because it wouldn't go in. Sometimes they will sit in trees or bushes near by and chirp their heads of until a female shows up, then he usually goes in at last and she will fly off and abandon the site.

A sparrow spooker is another must! They can be cheap to make or you can buy one from sparrowtraps.net. I use the commercial one and haven't had a single nest attacked with one in place. Although usually by this time in the season (April - May) I have trapped the majority that are interested and no others take claim, allowing native species to move in. Oh and don't forget Sialis.org! It has any other info you could possibly want.
-Tim-

Here is a link that might be useful: Van Ert In-Box Traps
renee1958
Original Author
15 years ago
Well the baby Dees successfully fledged today! And the Van Ert Trap came in the mail.. Just in time because something is building a nest in the bluebird box again. Don't know for sure what yet but if its Hosp I'm ready!
renee1958
Original Author
15 years ago
Male Hosp dead. Caught in Van Ert trap. Plastic bag and brick paver put to good use.
ohsoblue77
15 years ago
Nice job Renee!!! It's always a great feeling to know you've freed a nestbox from HOSP! And the annoying chirping of the male comes to a halt!

Be aware though, some HOSP take time to trap. Even with the Van Ert. I once had my trap in place 2 days in a row and finally caught the bugger! He was sitting in the trees behind the box and wouldn't go in.

Good luck from here!
-Tim-

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