tres, bb, and hosp nesting

14 years ago

Our Bluebirds have chosen another house and have layed 4 more eggs. We also have a nesting pair of TRES that took up the previous house of the BBs. We also have a big problem: a pair of HOSP has nested in our third house which is about 100-150 feet from the other two houses. I believe they also have eggs.

It is a major problem to have these Sparrows nested near the other birds, and I'm unsure of what to do. I have been trying to either shoot and kill the sparrows, or trap them with a pillow case. They however have become very aware of me, and they only show up at the house for periods of a few seconds several times throughout the day. As soon as I open a window or step outside, they are gone. I hung a sparrow spooker on the BB house, however I have not done anything to the TRES house.

Should I take out the HOSP nest or should I continue to attempt to kill the sparrows? I am afraid that continually removing the nest would result in more aggravation.

What should I do??

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Comments (3)

bbcathy
14 years ago
Get a spooker up on the TRES house asap. Tough choice as I believe they can go into a rage and kill your other birds if you kick them out. The spookers work quite well but I would definitely kill these birds eventually. Get a Van Ert in box trap. They work great. You can refrigerate those eggs. Take half of them out and put them in the refrigerator overnight and switch them with the others and just let the birds sit on them until your trap comes in the mail. You could also oil them with veggie oil. If you don't have the heart to eliminate the hosps take your houses down. You will eventually end up with dead Blues and Tres.
Been there before,
Cathy
lisa11310
14 years ago
Hey Ken, Shooting is the best,I was able to get one out of a 3" cracked door. I guess it all depends on how far you are from the box. If thats not possible I think Cathy is right....let them nest and get the trap in there. I have heard shaking the eggs works also. Get that spooker up. Good luck!
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ken3592
Original Author
14 years ago
Unfortunately I think it may already be too late for the TRES. They had their eggs taken out by most likely a HOWR or HOSP, although I did see the Blues on top of the house before I went out and found that the TRES eggs were gone; is it possible the Blues took out the TRES eggs?

I am still trying as hard as possible to kill those Sparrows. Let me tell you, they have become so smart and sneaky! When I see them go into the house, I run out and cover it with a pillow case and stand out there for about 10 minutes shaking the box to get them to come out. I eventually give up, but I never even see them come out of the house anyways. I can't tell when they're in the house or out, and when I see them on the ground and get my pellet gun, they're gone in a flash.

And I went out to get their eggs, but holy heck, they have the most ugly and messy nest I have ever seen from a HOSP. It doesn't even look like a nest, just a box crammed with junk. I don't even know if I can find the eggs in there.

I will keep trying, and I won't give up till I succeed. Thanks for your help.

tres, bb, and hosp nesting

Comments (3)

bbcathy

lisa11310

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tres, bb, and hosp nesting

Comments (3)

bbcathy

lisa11310

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ken3592Original Author

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ken3592
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