skip to main content

Did they really leave?

16 years ago

The HOSPs seem to have given up. After being shot at with 22s and BB guns, blasted with the hose and taken down by the Blues I think they have gone. Im pissed that I missed and didn't take any out, Im sure my problem will be worse next year. They do not usually stick around here. Last year was the first year they tried to nest here. I didn't miss that pair. This year there were 2 pair. I think there are so many natural cavities and other folks ratty nestboxes (on post at the dairy farm) where there is plenty of food my place is just not worth the effort. I am relieved for now, but I will keep a close ear out for more trouble.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

bluebirdbabe
16 years ago
probably not. I had a pair of hosp going in and out of the tres box. I got the VanErt trap from the basement and put it in the garage. (getting ready) I haven't seen them since LOL but I am sure they will be back when nesting season becomes more serious.

Karen
lisa11310
Original Author
16 years ago
The population is growing where ever they come from so they are spreading out. Remember the first 3-4 years I never had a problem with them here at all. I need a better BB gun, this one does not shoot straight at all, it's a kids gun. Maybe some kind of real gun that I can shoot in the direction of the trading post or the neighbors through the woods. The 22 is too dangerous. I know I am going to have to thin this population growth myself. I couldnt even get Pastor to take his box off the tree, nobody around here cares.
Related Discussions
leaves on 4 mo old arabicum seedling getting really big
Q
Comments (5)
thanks again for the help.i will leave them where they at now till spring.i know i should re pot them separate. i already did that with one.prune the roots of one and the rest of them is left alone to c if there any difference in the root development. so far i notice the caudex on the root prone one getting a lot fatter from the soil line and taper up.the non prune ones soil line caudex is like a knuckle little slimmer and then get fatter then taper thin. growth on root prune ones slowed down considerably.they took longer than expected to go back to somewhat normal.leaves kinda smaller than the unprune ones.i hope i didn't make that long.i tend to do that.
...See More
leaves with damaged tips really don't grow??
Q
Comments (6)
I will again explain how I did this, and what I used as a guide. My sans grew near my roll top desk, which is 4 feet 4 inches tall. I clipped the tips when they topped the desk, except for the four (4) exceptions that you see, that went a few weeks longer. I had thought I worked this out fairly logically, and rationally, but obviously not 'scientifically'... The broom is exactly 4 feet tall, and a popular, easily available brand. Please compare the height of ALL the leaves to the broom... The pot is 18 inches across to provide reference, and the broom, four feet tall. Too bad the tape, the camera, and the broom weren't more co-operative together! Please notice the symetrical height of the majority of the leaves. How does a fish in an aquarium 'know' to grow this big, and no more? They will fill up the available space, reguardless what you feed them. Sans will grow until they can't anymore (broken against an obstruction) and stop. The whole caboodle.
...See More
It rained! It really REALLY did!
Q
Comments (17)
My rain guage shows we got 9/10 of an inch. It seemed like more. That brings the total up to about 3 1/2 inches since January. There's a chance we may get more. I hope it was enough to help bring the level of the aquifer up. A lot of water was flowing down our street due to so many paved areas uphill, but what happens to it? Most of it gathers in creek beds (that's where the water on our street was heading), joins rivers and flows out to the sea. There should be a way to slow down the flow and let it sink in. And there is. Bamburger Ranch has done a lot of hands on research in that area. By clearing out 'cedar' trees and planting native grasses, etc. on overgrazed dry land, creeks flowed that hadn't flowed for 50 or more years. Read about it when you have a few minutes, and go visit if you ever get the chance. Glad you enjoyed our happy/silly pictures :-) Here is a link that might be useful: Bamberger Ranch ... read the first linked article on the site at least ...
...See More
Is this common?
Q
Comments (2)
It's hard to say really if something happened or not. I have heard of Blues building late nests and then not using them. Hope you see them again. Do you offer mealworms or anything for them? Have you seen the fledglings around? That is great that you are seeing more Bluebirds around the area now, great job getting all those houses out there! Donna
...See More
craftylady6
16 years ago
Everytime I curse those sparrows, my son says to buy him a bb gun... FUNNY, since trapping ALL my sparrows have gone away too?

have you tried the in box traps? They are so cheap and easy to use... this is my first year trapping and I've gotten 6... Sandra

Related Stories

FUN HOUZZ Did Elves Make a Home in a San Francisco Park?

By Vanessa Brunner

Speculation has swirled around a Lilliputian doorway in Golden Gate Park. We give you the true story — and a design dilemma

FUN HOUZZ Double Take: Did MoMA Drop a Mini House in the Yard?

By Becky Harris

Or maybe it's garden art or even a modernist-loving giant's step stool. Use your imagination, then get the true tale here

VALENTINE’S DAY Tell Us: Why Did You Fall in Love With Your House?

By Vanessa Brunner

What was it about your house that made your heart flutter? Share your photo, and it could make the Houzz homepage

DISASTER PREP & RECOVERY Remodeling After Water Damage: Tips From a Homeowner Who Did It

By Judith Taylor Designs

Learn the crucial steps and coping mechanisms that can help when flooding strikes your home

ARCHITECTURE Roots of Style: Where Did Your House Get Its Look?

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

Explore the role of architectural fashions in current designs through 5 home styles that bridge past and present

REMODELING GUIDES Interior Brick: Paint it or Leave It?

Here's how to know if covering that brick is a sin or solution

GARDENING GUIDES What's Wrong With My Plant? Leaves Often Hold the Clues

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Learn how to identify common plant ailments by reading their leaves

DECLUTTERING Downsizing Help: Choosing What Furniture to Leave Behind

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

What to take, what to buy, how to make your favorite furniture fit ... get some answers from a homeowner who scaled way down

LAUNDRY ROOMS Room of the Day: The Laundry Room No One Wants to Leave

By Becky Harris

The Hardworking Home: Ocean views, vaulted ceilings and extensive counter and storage space make this hub a joy to work in

FALL GARDENING 5 Ways to Put Fall Leaves to Work in Your Garden

By Therese Ciesinski

Improve your soil and yard the organic way with a valuable garden booster that grows on trees

Sponsored

Dulles Kitchen and Bath

114 Reviews

Loud Co, VA-Based Turnkey Remodeling Specialist | 10x Best of Houzz!