praying for a 2nd chance....

16 years ago

I have purchased the VanErt trap. Hubby installed it in the "slot" type nest box. The "slot" is too big and the sparrows would squeeze out the top. Over and over I saw the orange dot, I would approach the nest box with a weird feeling, afraid of catching a bird. Afraid of what I would have to do to it. Over and over again, the box would be empty.

This morning, I moved the trap to another box, with a smaller slot.

I sat by the window and waited.

Within minutes, the orange dot appeared! I caught one??!! I approached the nest box with my trusty dog next to me, my family watching from the window. I knocked on the box. Nothing. I shook the box. Nothing.

They got away again??? I opened the box and screamed, there were 2 of them inside, I let them go!!

I was literally shaking. I couldn't believe it. Why??! Why am I so scared of them? I am scared to death to catch one!!

I cleaned their nest out of the box. Something caught my attention, the nest seemed too heavy. I inspected the mess and found the remains of one of my bluebirds. Headless.

I began to cry and I feel so guilty. These beautiful helpless bluebirds. Every year this happens to them.

I promise, if I get a 2nd chance @ getting these sparrows, I will not be so freaked out. I will remember the dead bluebird. I will try harder.

Thanks for listening. I'll be here, by the window, waiting.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

lcmoore99
16 years ago
Oh Sissy (hope that is right),

I am so very very sorry for what has happened, what is happening. I've never had problems with sparrows (knock on wood) but I've mourned the loss of young chicks and unhatched eggs thanks to House Wrens. I know that guilty feeling when you feel like you haven't done the right thing or enough and the birds have suffered.

You did the best you could under the circumstances. It's hard to be a steward when nature is not always 'pretty.'

I hope that you do get that 2nd chance. let us know.

Linda... NW Georgia
kendra2003
16 years ago
Sissy, it is terrifying the first time you try to catch one. The first time I tried I thought I had the bag tightly over the box, and boy was I shaking. I opened the door, and I guess I was shaking so much the bag got loose and the HOSP escaped. The second time I was certainly no calmer, but I did pay better attention and caught him. After seeing what you've seen, I'm sure the next time you will be able to stay focused. It is a very hard thing to do, but necessary if you want to have a nest box. I am so sorry for what happened to your Bluebird.
Related Discussions
SS Support Mon. July 27th thru Sun. August 2nd
Q
Comments (22)
Hi all! Another MIA checking inÂand hoping that everyone is doing great! I havenÂt been here since my FIL died in late June, as I came down with a "C Diff" infection the night after his funeral. Rog found me unconscious on the bathroom floor and took me to the ER, and I really donÂt remember anything about that night or July 4th. I was in for 3 days, and was deathly sick for the next 2 weeks. (I did lose 23 pounds during this time, thoughÂnasty way to do it!) IÂm OK at this point, but everyoneÂseriouslyÂthe CDC in Atlanta has issued warnings that this could be an epidemic, and the mortality rate has doubled. Since I donÂt want to squick anyone out, please do a google on "C Diff", and remember to wash your hands, and this is very contagious. The next thing that has went on with me is that not only was I praying for Demerol or death while I was in the hospital, I have found that I am a diabetic. Great. Just screaming great. My sugar level was 453 when I went to the ER. (OKÂwellÂI was on prednisone during this time b/c I ended up in the ER the night FIL died with a horrible rash all over my behind and legs, and come to find out it was a reaction that I had to a spider bite a week prior. I was diagnosed with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) which normally occurs in young boys (yes, I laugh at f@rt jokes, maybe this is payback!) and steroids are the usual treatment for it. It can be serious, and lead to kidney problems, but the chances are small.) So, between the stress (GAD!), the steroids, the ridiculously bad eating habits IÂve developed, IÂm not surprised that my sugar was that high. I didnÂt have any of the usual signs, i.e. excessive thrist, excessive urination, etcÂ but here I am. I am following drÂs orders, but man! I want some sweet iced tea!! AndÂI had to drop out of school for the time being. Which just frustrates me to no end, but whaddya do? When it rains, it pours! So, that it why I havenÂt been here, or anywhere else for that matter. Things are slowly getting back to normal, and things will be good once again. RaeanneÂwhat auction? I wish I was there, IÂd love to call it for you! SuzanneÂI love that pic! WeÂre going to try to grow garlic this fall, so any advice is appreciated! BJÂhugs, my sister! Still busy as ever, I see! DeeÂnew car? What kind? Has anyone heard from Amy or John? Has Patti posted lately? Hope all is well with everyone! Love and hugs, Maddie
...See More
2nd showing this morning!
Q
Comments (4)
Okay, the buyer made an offer on another property. More square footage, but more expensive. The realtor indicated they made a much lower offer. Not sure if they lowballed or not, but either way, it's someone else's offer to worry about. Bummed. I'm going to eat some ice cream.
...See More
cross post-2nd chance for a pair of chairs...
Q
Comments (4)
clairbuoyant- Yup, I would prime them too, and would also look into an indoor/outdoor paint, as franksmom 2010 said, I'm not sure craft paint is up to chair level usage. A good local HW store, HD or Lowe's will have silver and pewter spray paint. Both Rustoleum and American Accents are good quality and will last. I painted several light fixtures and a couple of (decorative) trays with an American Accents Antique Pewter kit, spray on the lighter color and sponge on the darker color. They came out nicely and were easy to do. Good luck- sandyponder
...See More
David Austin Rose - Boscobel (3rd year - 2nd flush)
Q
Comments (4)
This is 2 days after the other Boscobel video. I take back what I said about how the blooms fried in the sun. It was my fault. I didn't water it that morning. Watered the next morning and the blooms stayed pretty the whole hot sunny day. As you can see, it's 91F most of the day and the rose is still looking pretty, though the blooms are more pink than apricot like they were 2 days ago.
...See More
craftylady6
16 years ago
ahh... That's SOO sad! I'm so sorry about the poor blue... Please don't give up though. My male got killed last year and within a week another showed up. I'm thinking that female moved on and I have a new one, this one is young and doesn't fly as well as the last female. There's hope you'll still get to have some babies!

Truely, I didn't like the idea of "dispatching" those sparrow either, until my male got his eye's pecked out. Now I feel very victorious when I get one! I yell out to the blues "your welcome"!! Alot of people really hate the fluttering of birds' wings.. just remember they can't do much harm being so small.

ps, Don't ever let one of those sparrows trick you again!!
bluebirdbabe
16 years ago
I knew I should not have read this post! :( I am sorry for the loss of your bluebird. It makes me sick what those @#%$# house sparrows will do!!! I learned the hard way too. I didn't know hosp. killed other birds. It killed my tree swallow momma still sitting on her 4 eggs. The bast*rd bird started building his nest on top of her. That was all it took!! It has been like 5 years and I can't get that sight out of my mind! That is all I need to get rid of hosp. I still shake when I do it and sometimes I cry. But I will NEVER let a hosp. kill another one of my birds. If I put boxes up, it is MY responsibility to protect the nesting birds. You can also use sparrow spookers to keep the house sparrow away from the box. I have had great success with them. I hope you get another chance and I hope you will protect the bluebirds. It is a hard lesson to learn and I think everyone of us have learned the hard way. Good luck!!
Karen
dzyg
16 years ago
I sure hope you can get another chance "if" you will be committed to elimanting the HOSP from your yard. Never open the box if the trap is sprung unless you have a large clear thick plastic bag over the entire box secured at the pole with one hand around the pole/bag the box is mounted on. Nothing should be able to escape this way. I have never had a HOSP escape when I have trapped them by using this method. After seeing what these birds can do you should not feel any remorse in elimating them. You should continue with the trapping even though you let them go, they could be back. Just keep a close eye on the trap! Good luck.

Donna
craftylady6
16 years ago
ahh... That's SOO sad! I'm so sorry about the poor blue... Please don't give up though. My male got killed last year and within a week another showed up. I'm thinking that female moved on and I have a new one, this one is young and doesn't fly as well as the last female. There's hope you'll still get to have some babies!

Truely, I didn't like the idea of "dispatching" those sparrow either, until my male got his eye's pecked out. Now I feel very victorious when I get one! I yell out to the blues "your welcome"!! Alot of people really hate the fluttering of birds' wings.. just remember they can't do much harm being so small.

ps, Don't ever let one of those sparrows trick you again!!
bet_from_ct
16 years ago
hi Sissy, that sucks... so sorry. Might want to read the link below - believe me, we've pretty much all been there.

I use a laundry bag whenever opening a box with a tripped Van Ert trap because they can't rip thru it (they will go through a lighter plastic bag) and you can see the bird. Cinch it at the bottom before opening the box. You can get them at any dept. store.

Slot boxes (which in my opinion do NOT deter HOSP) are tough to trap in using a Van Ert. One option is to block up the sides with piece of wood (lightweight) or plastic so that when the trap trips, the bird can not escape out the sides.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bluebirding blues

praying for a 2nd chance....

Comments (7)

lcmoore99

kendra2003

Related Discussions

craftylady6

bluebirdbabe

dzyg

craftylady6

bet_from_ct

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US