Oh boy. I hate HOSPs. When I started trying for a Martin colony, I had a Martin house and a few gourds. Eventually, I took the house down because I had so many HOSP's wanting to nest in it. They don't seem as interested in the gourds here. They are colonial nesters, so it makes sense that a Purple Martin house would appeal to them. First and foremost, you need to protect your Blues and TRES. Do you have a Van Ert trap and an extra box that you could place near to where the Martin housing is? You can close off your nesting compartments without taking the house down if you'd want to do so, but then they will likely go to check out the boxes with the Blues and the TRES. It's a hard call. I'd hate to allow them to claim the Martin house, but the others need to be safe. Let's see what the others have to offer in the way of suggestions.~~A

I put up a Martin house a few years ago, and it is indeed a HOSP magnet. You can trap in the Martin box. I do it all the time. I don't know what kind of house you have, but there are multiple traps available for different units. I built a T-14, so could not use a trap that would just close off the entry, or the sparrows would escape when I opened the door. You can buy little wire traps which you insert into the compartment. When triggered, you can just remove the whole trap with the sparrow inside. I built one that fits my unit. I just used hardware cloth to make a box that would fit into the compartments. Then I put a plywood front on it (make the opening big enough for a sparrow, but too small for a Purple Martin)Then I used wire which holds up a small piece of metal that will fall over the hole when the sparrow step on the trigger. I got the idea from the Huber trap you can make for Bluebird boxes Huber trap directions I've never had a Martin (yet) but it works extremely well as a HOSP trap. If you wait until they start to nest, which doesn't take long at all, you can add some of their nesting material into the trap and they can't resist going in. Hope this helps.

Kendra it is not an expensive Martin house. It's plastic. It does have the 1/2 moon Starling deterrent openings. I think Hubby got it for me because I had mentioned that the Martin houses down at the lake were not up yet and I though they should be. I tried to take the pole all the way down today but it is stuck aaaarrrrggg. I will have Hubby help me with it tomorrow. I cant trap if I cant get in there to monitor. There was another male Blue here yesterday, I'd hate to have him stuck up there. I will look into the traps if I can get the darned thing down.
Ang, I do have 2 VanErt traps and 2 empty boxes but they have not been anywhere near those boxes. We have also been growing Bird House gourds the last few years and I have 4 or 5 that are large enough. They are dry and ready to be cleaned and painted. So I am stuck here for the moment holding my breath that the HOSPS don't get nasty. They have not been aggressive at all and have stayed to themselves. I hope to have this problem under control soon. Thanks for the advise.

Lisa, The house that I had was the inexpensive plastic 12 unit S&K house, and I am not familiar with any trap that will work inside that house. Plus, as you have mentioned, that telescoping pole is a booger to raise and lower sometimes. Maybe you need a little WD40 on it since it is new? I just don't know what to tell you. You won't get Martins for sure with those HOSPs on/in the house, but the Blues and TRES need protection. Such a dilemma.

Angie I believe that is what it is. I opted to make double sized units. At this point I am not concerned about getting Martins...just getting rid of the HOSPs. I am starting to wonder if everybody at the lake monitors their boxes or if some have them up just for "looks". I know there are established colonies of Martins there, probably formed long before HOSPs invaded this area . I just got a call (while typing this)from a church friend that lives on the lake. Her Uncle has Martins at his place so I will be getting in touch with him. For now everything is quiet out there. No HOSPs so far today, wish the TRES would finish their nest and get to laying, I want to get the spooker up!

Good to hear you don't have too many HOSP Lisa! When I 1st moved here the HOSP population was rather high and growing. My neighbor's Martin house was full of them! 3 nests of babies! Had to do the task of taking them and abandoning them in a field. that could have been a flock of up to 15 HOSP! I would have really regretted letting them fledge.

Now I remove nests if I find them (Esp in Pine trees) Trap with the Van Ert, and have started trapping at the Martin House. Got 2-3 males and 1 female. 4-8 at my boxes. My local HOSP population is noticeably decreasing! And I plan on getting a DSRT soon.

AH HA! PINE TREES! They nest in pine trees too? We have a trading post out here about 10 acres over from our property. About 3 years ago I began hearing HOSPS in the huge dense pine she has next to her store. I have a repeating trap though I have only ever caught a TUTI in it. I also just got a contact for talking to all the people at the lake with Martin houses, one just removed a HOSP nest in his today.....well that does not help me any but may explain why I had an aggressive HOSP show up today. I think if handled properly I will find I am not alone in my quest. I believe I had 3 different Males today.....sleepin with my 22! They have GOT to go! So what was quiet this morning turned scary this afternoon. Add the cat I cought wandering around and the Racoon that was here last night....OMG the stress!

Since at this point you mainly want to get rid of the HOSP, I would suggest getting the pole lowered (it sounds like you'll need help to do that) and leaving it lowered where you can reach. The HOSP will still be attracted to it at the lower level and then you can trap them. I don't know if I'm allowed to name products in particular here, but if you go to the PMCA's website, they have traps that fit just about anything. If you can get rid of them, then perhaps you can get a pole with a winch for next season. You will need it if you are going to host Purple Martins anyway. For this season you could use it as a trap house. They have traps that reduce the hole size so if a Martin happened to show up it couldn't fit through the hole in the trap anyway. I wish you the best of luck. Those HOSP are such a lot of work!

Got him with the 22. RIP. Taking the house down and will work on gourds this weekend!

Thatagirl Lisa! Homey don't play round. They should know that!! Maybe the rest will back off now. :o)
You know, a lot of Martin landlords do use the houses, have really good luck with them, and do not have much trouble with HOSPs in them. I guess it just depends upon the area and the prevalence of HOSPs there. I can't use anything but SREH's (Starling resistant entry holes)on my gourds because I have Starlings here. Round holes for me would mean certain trouble. Additionally, I have never seen a HOSP show any interest at all in any of my gourds. That doesn't mean that someone else hasn't had them in gourds though. It's all trial and error I guess. Good luck, and keep us posted.~~Angie

Hey thanks Angie, that reminded me...I want to get the right entrances on the gourds! I know I have a template here somewhere! Very peaceful today...not one sound that even resembles a HOSP , but I do have 3 Starlings, they never even looked at the Martin house. TRES have eggs now too!!!!!