If you do the math on the ability of this species to reproduce (2-3 nestings with 4-7 chicks per nesting) and the average life span (roughly 12 years), you realize how eliminating one breeding pair has the potential to have a tremendous benefit on species diversity, even within a small area. Kate: Sounds like you have had a lot of success. The Huber trap is a great idea. There are also others that are nice. Here is the web site for one: http://www.vanerttraps.com/universal.htm You may be aware of this, but I just think this caution bears saying for those who are reading: The one problem with putting in-box traps in a bank of martin houses is that you are likely to trap native birds as well. You have to monitor these kinds of traps hourly (which might be hard given the height of them) to make sure that the trapped bird is the intended target species. If it is not, you actually risk the life of the native bird(s), which, of course, is illegal as well as inhumane. So monitoring is absolutely essential. I would agree with everything else that you have mentioned. Certainly the males are the ones that control the area and have the most potential to harm native birds through passive and active competition. Most people who do this would agree that one of the best ways to catch them is with in-box traps during the heat of the nesting season. They are very saavy about ground traps. You can sometimes bait the ground traps with nesting materials that are glued to a heavy piece of wood (ripped plastic tarp material, trash, tissues, yarn, etc.). The best season to catch the adult males (and females) is the early spring. During the summer, it is best to use a ground trap baited with white bread. You can catch young birds and females by the dozen this way. I have included a link for a very good repeating ground trap. Good luck to you Rose. I think that everything here is really true and if more people would consider doing a small piece of this big problem species diversity could be noticably improved. Of course, this is all contingent on the laws in Canada. Here is a link that might be useful: Repeating Ground Trap

Our TRES returned earlier this week, I think Tuesday. Yesterday a pair of Blues started house hunting, checking all the boxes. Apparently one of the TRES pairs has made thier decision on a nestbox already as there was a big fight this morning between the Blues and the TRES when the male Bluebird approached this nestbox. One of the TRES took him to the ground, the female Bluebird came to see what was going on and the other TRES attacked her. The TRES returned to the nestbox and the Blues to a tree nearby. The Blues did not try to go back to that nestbox but have been checking out a few others on the other side of the yard now. They have plenty boxes to choose from right now, until all the TRES return that is, they get kinda thick around here. Donna

Thank you all! I was taking a little break, meanly too busy with too many things. >>I have tree swallows that like my purple martin house that fell down to about 6' above groundOh dear...everything still OK? >>How far away from the birds were you when you took the pic? About 2 feet, this picture was done with a cheap, second hand point and shoot camera Sony P43, about 4 megapixel, ....and was shot by itself by means of motion sensor/controlboard, camera needed to be hacked, 3 wires soldered inside and hocked up to motion board, this can be programed on how often pictures are taken. Camera and board is put inside a Pelican case/ sealed. 3 holes are drilled, one for flash, one for lens and one for sensor, glass is glued over for the lens and flash hole. Then all you need to do is put it up, in this case there was another tree beside the box, strapped on. Here another one, this one with a Sony P32...3 mega pix. Konrad

Tree Swallows do not eat seed or crumbs. They don't eat anything off the ground at all. They eat on the wing only...which is why when there are prolonged periods of rain (3+ days) they will either leave or die and their nestlings will die...they simply don't eat anything off the ground. Can you describe the birds exactly. The only time I have seen Tree Swallows on the ground was when they are nestbuilding and are picking up grasses.