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rip mr. hosp

17 years ago

I had my day planned, put the cats up on the sun porch so they wont run out the basement door. Wait till Mom Blue lays 2nd egg. See Mr. Hosp, open door slowly , just a crack, stand with gun peeking out door and shoot Mr. Hosp.

And so it is done.

I have never shot anything before, never killed anything.

I was calm in taking aim and shooting...dead on, he felt nothing, no fear or panic, just here one second, gone the next. Now I am shaking and crying and I just threw up. Please God forgive me and don't send any more my way.

He will be offered up as a snack to our nesting Turkey Vultures.

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Comments (8)

bbcathy
17 years ago
Sorry Lisa that you had to go through that but I'm glad you didn't have to see the havoc they bring upon Bluebirds. That would really make you throw up and cry.
Cathy
luvtheblues
17 years ago
I know it is always hard to have to do that, but it is worse to see Blues pecked to death. I have to say, I am impressed you got him in 1 shot! I wish I could be that good. My DH and I have attempted countless times to hit a HOSP and have not had any luck at ALL!
Alison
Leesburg, VA
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I should not have spoken but each time you post about sparrows your tone seems to accuse anyone that does not immediately rip the sparrows head of as a criminal. Personally I like the beggers and since they eat more than their share of bugs I welcome them. One clue to look for as a poster from another country is if they mention their poor english. You can then click on (My Page) and it may tell you where the poster is from. It also helps to read what the other posters have written. I read the BBC regularly and have been following the declining bird and other animal populations for quite some time. In the US some of the birds are also declining. What the effect of our growing seasons changing is still to be researched but with at least here the blooming season does not follow the historic sequence therefor any bird/animal that relies on certain conditions to survive and breed do not have the conditions there. The house sparrows are also declining in the northeast part of the US so one day they may be considered a rare bird.
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Mr Van Ert gets his orders out asap so you should have it soon. I would for sure get another box to entice the HOSP with and get that trap in as soon as you get it. Otherwise get a good bb gun, I actually get more with bb guns than I do the van ert but I LOVE the van erts! Make sure you tape a leaf over the orange dot on the van ert, HOSP are kinda leary of that orange dot but once a leaf is there they have no problem with it. Good luck! Donna
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You need to get an inbox trap. I use the VanErt. Your questions are good ones. Like you, I had never had HOSP until I put up boxes for the native birds. This spring I had to trap my first HOSP and I had many of the same questions as you. This forum helped me a ton. I don't remember who answered me, but she said to let the HOSP bond with the box for a few days, then set the trap at night and he would go in it first thing in the morning. That is exactly what happened. I was also told to tape a leaf over the orange dot on the trap, so he wouldn't be suspicious of it. I did that and also glued some grass over the trip wire. As for the "Then what?", try looking at the sialis website for the most humane way to euthanize him. The first time is really hard. But I knew if I didn't do it, I would soon have nothing but HOSP. I wish you the best of luck.
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lisa11310
Original Author
17 years ago
Hi Alison, I got him with a 22. I had never shot it before the other day. I dont like guns. I took about 10 shots at a coffee can and was suprised to see I was able to hit the target evey time. It's a very nice gun with a scope. I just got him in the cross hairs and that was it. I was afraid because I didn't want to wound him, I would have felt awful. I took a deep breath and did exactly what DH showed me to do and it was a clean hit. I put he nest in a pine tree so other birds can use the grasses. I hope to never have to do this again but at least I now know I CAN and I WILL if I must.
donnalovesblue
17 years ago
Oh Lisa, what a terrible ordeal you've endured and we all feel for you and others who must resort to these measures to save the blues. Bless your heart and I too, hope it's the first and last time. Good luck to you and your blues.

Donna
mulchmamma
17 years ago
Lisa, hope you aren't using lead pellets. PBA (performance ballistic alloy) pellets aren't lead and are gold in color.

Mr. HOSP can be a tasty snack without being a health hazzard.
bluebirdbabe
17 years ago
Well now u can RIP not worring if that hosp is gonna kill your bb's or TRES. Sorry u had 2 go through this...we all know the feeling.

Karen
lisa11310
Original Author
17 years ago
Of course no lead pellets here. Lead is outlawed in the Manistee National Forest. THANK GOD!
lcmoore99
17 years ago
Oh Lisa, so sorry it upset you so much but I can understand. But you did what was best, what you had to do to protect the rest of the birds.

Hang in...

Linda...

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