HOSP Question

16 years ago

A pair of HOSPS showed up at my property recently and they laid a nest over a Dee nest. The Dee's have abandoned this nest and are nesting in the box 20' away. I hate HOSPs and feel violated by them.

My question is: I never see HOSPs at the BB boxes. Every time I go into my barn they fly out or in. What are they doing? Do they make nests in barns? I am confused. I have a Phoebe laying on eggs in the stall next to where I see the HOSPs each day. Last year all the Phoebe babies got thrown out of their nest. I was able to save them and put them back. I thought it was HOSPs last year but never saw them. Now I am certain they did it.

What to do? Why are they in my barn. The BB boxes are at least 300' from my barn- any ideas?

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Comments (12)

dzyg
16 years ago
Why is what in your barn, your statement was a little confusing. Are there Blues or HOSP in your barn? HOSP love barns! If I were you I would get a Van Ert in box trap and set up a trap box for the HOSP and dispose of them as quickly as possible. If they have an active nest right now in that other box it will be easy to trap that pair.

Donna
bluebirdbabe
16 years ago
I'm with Donna. You need to get rid of the hosp. The phobe's and chickadees are not safe. hosp. love barns and I am sure they threw the babies out and they will do the same to the phobe's again. I hate the hosp too. They do not last long in my yard. Hope you can get rid of them.

Karen
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Well Tim, It's NEVER safe to assume! After I had posted here yesterday, I looked outside, and what do you think I saw? YEP! Another bull HOSP checking out my Titmouse box. YIKES!! I guess that female went off and brought another male here to nest! Well, I just went on out and hung my nice trap box in its place, complete with a piece of dried grass hanging from the hole! Didn't get him yesterday, but maybe I will today. I do have Sparrow Spookers and use them religiously once my Blues have laid the first egg. I did place them onto boxes early this year trying to deter this determined pair of HOSP's, and I watched them carry in their nesting materials with the Spooker right on the box. Didn't seem to bother them a bit. ~~Angie
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Wow! What a wonderful picture! To be that close!! I am nervous about this dispatching business. I have lost nests with eggs every year. I always thought it was a cat, until I started doing some research on here.... I have many pairs of bluebirds that come to my feeder for mealworms, but they are beaten out of the housing market every day by the sparrows. I saw in the one post that someone recommended to you to set your trap at dusk, so I just went out there and pulled some of the nest thru the hole, so it looked disturbed. The sparrows come and sit on top, but they haven't gone in. It's only been a couple hours, though. I don't have a mesh laundry bag. I don't know what I'm going to do. I will have to be ready. Can you believe all we go thru for these bluebirds!
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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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Comments (19)
Doctors' offices, hospitals, schools, etc are all prime places to pick up something undesirable. Even a grocery store is a pit of unsanitary conditions! Whatever you had, I hope you're feeling better. Be *sure* you keep taking plenty of fluids. Having been seriously dehydrated a couple times, I know it's no fun, especially when you wind up having to have a couple quarts injected into you which can be an easily result. (I know.) With both ends "blasting" you really take the fluids out of your system, I'm sure you know. I don't think people realize what dehydration does to the body. They blame "the flu", "cold", "virus" or whatever else for feeling like you got punched in the gut when often it's a hydration warning. Sometimes it's hard to keep fluids down, (as you know!) but that's when you have to be extra careful. I tend to keep a bottle or two of water near me and sip a little ongoing. I think it's made a big difference One thing I'm a firm believer in, is to get fresh air. This time of year places are closed up, furnaces running so much, especially this year, and the amount of fresh air is lowered. I literally go stand outside for a few minutes occasionally to get a breath of clean air. Dust, bacteria, germs and the like get recycled through the air and I don't mind the door being open a bit to get a little fresh air into the house. I also don't overinsulate and overseal my house. A little air leakage is healthy IMO. While you're replenishing your fluids, keep up with your rest too. The body tells you what it needs and when it says rest! it knows what it needs. Wash your hands often, wipe down phones, remote controls and other germ-grabbers (yes, even the computer keyboard and mouse!) and I'm sure you'll come through just fine. Take care of yourself! Hope hubs is feeling better too! And make sure poor little Buster isn't starving! :)
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nhsuzanne
Original Author
16 years ago
I guess I am confused. I thought they were cavity dwellers and only would nest in a cavity. Where should I look for the nest in my barn?

Going right now to order the Van Ert.
dzyg
16 years ago
While HOSP will nest in a cavity they will also nest on a ledge/crevice/opening. Have you never seen all the birds nests on storefront signs? Those are all HOSP. They don't need a cavity but still kill cavity nesting birds. Hope you got that Van Ert ordered, he ships them asap. I would look where the HOSP go to find the nest, they could just be looking for food in the barn too but they are probably nesting in there somewhere. Good luck!

Donna
griffin_MD
16 years ago
Suzanne, you might also want to consider purchasing a repeating ground trap. I usually use mine in the late summer/early fall to trap any juvenile house sparrows. The trap allows you to capture more than one at a time.
Kathy
nhsuzanne
Original Author
16 years ago
Yesterday afternoon I discovered them making a nest in the hay loft. There is no way for me to get up to those rafters safely and my husband is away. I read on Sialis that some people have luck catching one in a small have-a-hart trap. So I set one up on the shelf in the stall that they hang out in. With any luck I will get one of them and then I can reset it. I am so frustrated by these destructive birds. There are only two right now and they seem to be running my life! I am deeply concerned about the mama Phoebe sitting on her clutch in the stall next door.
nhsuzanne
Original Author
16 years ago
Yesterday afternoon I discovered them making a nest in the hay loft. There is no way for me to get up to those rafters safely and my husband is away. I read on Sialis that some people have luck catching one in a small have-a-hart trap. So I set one up on the shelf in the stall that they hang out in. With any luck I will get one of them and then I can reset it. I am so frustrated by these destructive birds. There are only two right now and they seem to be running my life! I am deeply concerned about the mama Phoebe sitting on her clutch in the stall next door.
kendra2003
16 years ago
The have-a-heart trap is a great idea. I think I will try that myself. Most years I have to trap one or two in the in-box traps, and this year I seem to be over-run with them. They are hopping all over my lawn. I've read that they love white bread, so I'll try luring them into the trap with that. My Blues were due to fledge today, but they haven't yet, and it makes me so nervous. I wish you the best of luck!
bbcathy
16 years ago
The problem will be getting them out of the have a heart trap. You need a mesh laundry bag with a draw string that fits over the whole have a heart or you will lose them trying to get them out. Then they won't go back in the trap again. The repeating ground trap will work great too. At my friend's barn the hosps took over all of the Barn Swallow nests until I started trapping them.
Good Luck Cathy
juanital
16 years ago
The repeating trap is an awesome trap, esp if you have lots. 3 summers ago we had hosp's & hosp's, trapped batches last year-this year caught a batch to date. I leave it set up always and monitor regularly so I can take out any other natives that may go in. Last year a couple cardinals, this year a couple juncos.
nhsuzanne
Original Author
16 years ago
I cannot believe the incredible luck. When I got home this evening both male and female HOSP were in the hav-a-hart! Now I have to figure out how to do the deed. I wish DH was home but he's not. I have to do what I have to do for the Dees and BBs.

Wish me luck. I hope I am as brave as I am right now
kendra2003
16 years ago
Here's wishing you the best of luck. I know how hard it is.

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