Quote: "They have 4 chicks in the other one so.,.. I have to wait to trap Pop!"

Are you saying you are allowing the HOSP to nest in a box in your yard? And that you are allowing HOSP chicks to live and fledge? And you are postponing trapping the male HOSP until those chicks fledge? I hope you realize he is a killer right now and every one of those chicks will grow to be a BB killer too.

And what do you mean,you will trap if you have to? Are you going to wait until you have dead BBs all over the place?

I don't know any BB hosts who enjoy killing anything, including HOSP, but the two species are on a headon collision course and there is so much proof that the HOSP will win (and by that I mean kill) your BBs eventually.

And checking the nestbox daily. Is that supposed to prevent the slaughter?

I don't mean to offend you and maybe I misinterpreted your post, but as I read the posts on this and other bluebirding forums, many of them are talking about tragedy, and most of it seems to involve HOSP. Your plan for helping bluebirds survive and multiply MUST include trapping HOSP.

The two species simply will not coexist.

Dave

Hi Debbie - I have to agree with Dave. Do NOT under any circumstances allow HOSP to breed in a nestbox. As a wise person (Bob Orthwein) said, they will reward your kindness by killing your bluebirds. Nests, eggs, young and adult HOSP are NOT protected under federal law. The young may look cute, but when they grow up they are just regular HOSP, the #1 avian enemy of native cavity nesting birds like bluebirds.

Trapping is very difficult for people who love animals and nature, but is a solution.

Magic Halos are for feeders, NOT nestboxes. Use a sparrow spooker, and if you have bluebird eggs or young in a nestbox and HOSP around put it up NOW, don't wait a second unless you want to open the box and find death and destruction. Sorry to be so blunt, but there is no need to learn the hard way.

See http://www.sialis.org/sparrowspooker.htm for instructions.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tales of HOSP attacks

I agree with dave and bet. I would take down my nestboxes if I couldn't be able to deal with the hosp. Thank God so far the ones that occassionaly fly by never stay long and don't seem interested in the boxes. But, just incase if and when they are needed, I do have a sparrow spooker mounted and do have inbox and a ground trap.

I was NOT allowing them to nest, I didnt know until now that they were killers!!!
REMEMBER I am new to this!!
Thanks for making me feel so GREAT!!

Debbie, I am sorry that Phoenix was killed and I am sorry that what I said offended you. I know you feel sick right now. I said what I did in the best interest of your BBs and in hopes that you might avoid what I thought seemed certain to happen.

There is so much more to Bluebird hosting than one sees at first blush. We all continue to learn. I am sorry you had to see and feel the painful side of it so soon in your experience.

Be tough and remember we all love the BBs and we're all here to help and encourage each other.

Dave