I have had an all out war with the hosp. I have purchased everything under the sun to control them but like you they just declared my property, their property. so back in february i went out and purchased a remington 77 bb/pelet gun.. (whic was $80 at walmart) but i couldn't get em... so then i got the blaine johnson ground trap and it was great.. i trapped one male on the 3rd day... but then a month went by and i really think they knew not to go in the trap.. so i went back to the sialas website and called mr. van ert.. he gave me such great advise about catching them. i purchased the universal inbox traps from him .. and trapped all less than a week... and my husband being a good shot, got a female with the gun.. Mr. Van Ert did tell me the ground traps are not as effective for the older sparrows as they are smarter than the younger ones.. he said the younger ones are more able to be trapped in the ground traps. Good luck to ya!

Tim! You can fashion a spooker out of the skinny wooden dowels at the hardware store, you'll need cable ties or duct tape to put them into the "T" position and then duct tape the mylar streamers. If your boxes are wooden you can screw in two little eye hooks or something to the back of the box then cable tie the dowel to the box. If you make them like that you'll have spookers for every box and you only have to keep buying the mylar banners from the dollar store. Like Nicknack said they need to come down right after fledging so these b******s don't become tolerant. Cable tie or duct tape something to the tres box temporarily till you get situated. Right know my spookers are all gunked together due to the rain which makes me real paranoid. Yesterday I ran down my driveway in the rain like a wild beast 'cause I swore there was hosp intrusion at a box but it was just tres relatives going in the box causing a ruckus. I'll relax when the wind dries out the streamers and they unfurl. Good luck Tim, Sue

Thanks again Kendra, Sue, etc. I REALLY want to put the DRST back out but I'm worried there won't be a good enough place where it'll be hidden, and not attract predators like Hawks and Raccoons which could get my bluebirds. I heard HOSP nestlings on this woman's property. They nest in her pine trees. I have 3 properties under control from HOSP. This is the ONE area they are coming from. Her husband suggested if I do it, to do it away from them. Oh the irony!! That's where the HOSP are coming from to begin with! Guess you can't win em all. Luckily they sold the alpacas they had...one time before they said there were birds in there, sparrows, but they didn't stop them I don't believe. So they were probably multiplying more back then. The barns they were in have been closed since last fall. Previously there were HOSP and Starlings in them. So, really, how vulnerable are juvenile HOSP to the DRST?! Does anyone think I'd have a good chance of trapping them after fledging? Unfortunately I can't rip their nests from the trees like I do with the other neighbor's. The 3 plots are the one I rent, the landlords' where my bluebirds are, and the 3rd is where the martin housing is. adjacent is her property. Confusing, I know. Try to be vigilant with this youngster ^^

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! :)