novice 60, I hate red wasps, their stings are so painful. I have an old Dirt Devil canister vac that the DW has tossed many times. The wheels are missing and it's held together with duct tape, but it's small and has a powerful motor, so I keep rescuing it from the trash. I use it to vac wasps from my feeders - they go in, they don't come out. Could be because I also use it to vac loose fur from my dogs. The noise scares the hummers away, so they're not in danger. If they do become accustomed to the noise and start getting too close, I'll cover the end of the hose with a piece of 1/2" mesh hardware cloth. Each wasp makes a new nest in the spring, so every one that you can get now means you're destroying a whole nest. Try it, it works for me. AND IT'S FUN!!!

I don't know why, but the last 2 times in as many days that I've tried to respond on this thread, my comment has just disappeared into the Bermuda Triangle or something. Today, from inside my house, I heard the same screaming. Stepping out on my front walk, I could tell it was up in my pine tree. Look as I might, I could not see the hawk, but there was a ton of noise and commotion up there. I think I saw some grackles and some bluejays hoppping around, and I still wasn't positive there was even a hawk up there, despite the screams (not being a bird expert, I don't know the calls for certain). I thought maybe it was the blue jays screaming. This time I had the camera. i took a step onto the grass under the trees to aim for a better vantage point, but before I could do anything else, a HUGE (wide wingspan) bird flapped out of the tree, away from me and my house, and flew off into the distance. With him flew at least two smaller birds (same as last time). He didn't seem to be chased by them. They seemed to be companions? wingmen? LOL I dont' know. Anyway, I stupidly was trying to turn on my camera although it was already on and I didn't get a picture. I'm marvelling at the fact that this large bird can hide itself in the trees so well. This is the second time I was certain of it's location in a particular tree but still could not see it. Anyway, I think it's pretty cool!

Hopefuklly the link will be here..Mike Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00ybRPxIRsg

David, I understand anyone's dilemma of choosing their method for controlling hosp. My decision for how I would deal with hosp was actually made easier by the hosp themselves. I will never forget the image of 6 BB babies, dead, on the ground under their nestbox in my front yard (the event that plunged me into this wonderful world of bluebirding). Add to that the many horror stories and graphic pics that I have since heard/seen while visiting sites such as this, and the observations of their increase in population and moving into what previously was "hosp-free territory". I don't think that my method of disposal will ever be non-traumatic or easy for me. It is extremely difficult...every single time. But, when I find that I am questioning myself as to "is this the right thing to do", I just remember the image of my 6 BB babies. I believe that, unfortunately, controlling hosp is an ugly side to what I feel is my responsibility to these birds. (I, too, liked the idea of donating for a good cause. Could not find any takers in my area.) Good luck in your search for options and in making your decision.