Oh Lisa.... :( I know the feeling. I thought I was gonna throw up the first time I did it. But as you said what if u opened the box and saw your blue pecked to death??? I still can't get the image of my TRES. out of my head and it has been 5 years. It is a horrible thing that has to be done. We are here to support you. Hang in there...the blues thank you!!!

Karen

Thank Karen, it does help to read the posts. I know I have the support here. I'm just not one to kill things. I HATE spiders but I still try to take them outside. Im still shakey and queesey and it's been hours. I can only take comfort in the fact that my Blues (and others) are that much closer to a safe nest. I have kept my bedroom door open a crack for 3 weeks now and trust me it's COLD, the Blues are very vocal when they are pissed so I have come a runnin when there has been a scuffle. Dad is the same one from last year ( fighting against the same window) actually think this is my older one that hussy Mom took off withought 3 yrs ago. Anyway, Im cryin I had to kill these birds but we will see what tomorrow brings.

Most of us have been there, Lisa, so take heart. If you continue then you may never have to see the horrors many of us have witnessed. It doesn't make it any easier, I know, but it does help to justify it. They are wolves in sheeps' clothing. Period.
Kathy

So far not so much as a HOSP peep today. Perfect timing as the TRES are begining to nest box shop, now I wont have to worry about trapping one of them and scaring them off. Im crossing my fingers and saying prayers this is the end of the problem for this year.

Lisa, sorry about this. It is probably THE hardest challenge a bluebird landlord is faced with, other than opening a box and finding a bloody bluebird that was the victim of a HOSP attack.... It is very hard for people who love wildlife. But HOSP are like invasive weeds - and most folks don't hesitate to control weeds in a garden. Most people are also okay with controlling rodents.

I've heard people say they would like to release trapped HOSP elsewhere - (which may not be legal in some areas), this is sort of equivalent to catching a rat in your house and letting it go in your neighbor's house.

Wing trimming is an option, but it only works for one season (the HOSP can still fly okay and eat, but will not breed - http://www.sialis.org/wingtrim.htm.) IMO it is better than doing nothing. Unfortunately, euthanasia is the only approach that eliminates the problem. When the birds are "recycled" (e.g., to a raptor recovery center) it is a little easier to bear.

Hang in there. Native birds need our help in undoing the harm we created to the ecosystem by intentionally introducing an invasive species like HOSP. There is a link to an article I wrote on this topic below that might help you.

May all your blues be birds....

Here is a link that might be useful: Restoring the balance

Thanks Bet! I am saddened that the HOSPS have come. The first 4 years they were not a problem. I'm not sure why they have come, there has not been much change to the enviorment for miles and miles. We are in National Forest land and very sparsley populated. A house has poped up here and there but nothing major. There is a Dairy Farm down the road about 8 miles, I guess they are spreading from there as their population grows. There are Horses across the road and Chickens the next property over. They don't eat here ever but I guess my boxes have cought their eye the last 2 years. The HOSP population here is still very small but I am afraid it will grow each year so I'm going to have to get over this awful feeling, Im pretty sure I am the only one in this Township riding the area of these birds. I hope I am luckey enough to never have to witness their destruction. Blessings and Happy Birthday!

Lisa, it's hard to tell you how upsetting it is to find one of your birds dead and know it was done by a HOSP. I am a retired Marine and I have seen plenty of death and destruction in war but opening that box and finding my precious Papa that had been with me for 5 years was a hurt I was not prepared for. I was very angry but I also felt responsible, somehow. Of course I took pictures of his corpse and if you should ever want you may see them at the link below.

I still get the same feelings when I look at those pictures and it has been nearly 2 years.

But I did find some consolation in trapping and disposing of his killer.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Papa's corpse

Yes Lisa, it's tough to do. I used to wonder if I could do it, then 5yrs ago they put me to the test. The HOSP had pecked to death 4 chicks in one of my nest boxes, the oldest being 5 days.I didn't have a Van Ert trap at the time, but I captured the culprit the same day. He'll not ever see another Bluebird. I now have 3 Van Ert traps and use them regularly. No more guilt, only the necessity of doing what has to be done.

Vince

It is gut wrenching, but I try to think of it as protecting birds rather than harming them. I know what the HOSP will do if I don't control them. Plus I try to think of it as reducing the HOSP population in this area. If you let just one pair breed, think how many more the Blues and other native birds will have to contend with next season. They can have four broods per season compared with the Bluebird's two. You would soon be overrun with nothing but HOSP. You did a good deed for the Blues and other native birds. Doing the right thing is not always the easy thing.

I was rewarded with the earliest BB egg ever today and TRES box shopping, I look at these wonderful birds and know I did the right thing. I'm still on the lookout, I don't expect more but you never know. I WILL protect these birds!

I posted to this thread yesterday from work and for some reason it didn't take, so here goes again. Bet, I read with great interest your story about restoring the balance then went on to read House Sparrows Have the Keys to Successful Invasion. I can relate to proof of their intelligence because I have also witnessed them manipulating the electric eye at a local Home Depot. One bird would fly in front of the eye, the doors would open and several birds would fly inside. This was after the store decided to move the bags of bird seed to an inside location. They truly are very intelligent which makes it easier to understand why they are so difficult to retrap if they've managed to escape during an earlier attempt.
Kathy

After having witnessed everything from HOSP pecking the mother to death, having them throw the eggs out and even throwing the babies out, I still couldnt bare to beat them to death or whatever way you are suspose to do it. So, I racked my brain and came up with a way that works for me.

First, I trap the HOSP, and after making sure it really is the evil one, I get a trash can and fill it with water... then I slide the box (I have a Gilbertson box) down the pole into the bucket of water and walk away. Its fast and easy and I dont have to hear or see anything. I come back a little later and dump the water and the bird.

Its worth a try.

Any unwanted creatures could also be taken for a LONG ride then released.

In my area, it is unlawful to relocate any wildlife. It seems unethical to make it someone else's problem. And from what I have read, they (HOSP & Starlings) will more than likely beat you back anyway. Some people have tried tying a brightly colored string around a leg for ID purposes, and driving them long distances, only to find the same one back at their place.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sialis HOSP page

I wasn't implying make it someone else's problem. Just away from a known nest, the culprit might not run into temptation. Killing anything is kind of final. I used to be an avid duck hunter, but now I target shoot at the club range I do lop off snake's heads though. Hope I make it to heaven!!

It's okay-I felt the same sickening thick in the pit of my stomach, too. But the more I became aware and read and did All I could think of was the BB and TRES. Last year we had both nesting and hatchlings in boxes. The eggs were pecked in one while the hatchlings were pecked and tossed in the other.

This year the BB are virtually living HOSP free, I can still hear them in the distance and feel I would be naive to think that they will not pass through...I've been working with traps for the last three years and feels good to walk outside with comfort knowing BB are okay and doing good. Expecting hatchlings within a week! The TRES are looking into the new setup area...I feel very satisfied. I caught 4 male and 1 female HOSP in the nesting box trap before winter was over and 10 in the ground trap recently. Compared to 3 years ago that is a significant drop.

What I also have done is if you have a cat. Just watch your fingers when the cat goes for them.

The HOSP seem so innocent-they are a creation too, but they are little devils and will bully, harrass & kill just because they can!

As Stonewall Jackson said at Fredricksburg- "Kill them, kill them all"