house sparrow question

kendra2003

15 years ago

I never got a pair of blues to nest here this spring, and now it appears that house sparrows are increasing in number. This morning I looked out and there were five of them on my deck (three males, two females). I have never seen this in my thirty years of living here! My question is for those with more experience than me. Wouldn't it make sense to attempt to trap them all fall and winter? Especially when a lot of the native birds have migrated, so it would be less likely to catch a native bird? Also, wouldn't this help alleviate the problems in the spring? It is my understanding that house sparrows do not migrate. It seems to me that it would be better to start trapping them before nesting season. Also, wouldn't winter trapping be more sucessful if using bait since they may be less likely to find food? I tried trapping a male house sparrow that was around here about a month ago, but he would not go near the box once I put in the trap (Van Ert trap), then I never saw another house sparrow until today's five showed up. I'm new at this so I would appreciate any advice from the more experienced folks.

Comments (5)

lisa11310
15 years ago
Kendra, I only get House Sparrows once in a while, usually in later winter - early spring. They have never stayed and tried to nest here. This winter I had a hole flock of them so I ordered a ground trap to go with my in box trap. Thankfully they went away (seems the very day the ground trap arrived)! I understand your thinking but you always have to monitor closley for Native birds so you may as well get rid of them while they are there, if you don't their numbers will continue to grow and you will never be able to house Blues safley.
janie_may
15 years ago
Kendra, YES, trap all winter if they are around. From what I've read, that helps.
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bbcathy
15 years ago
I would (and do) trap all fall and winter. Now is a good time to catch the juveniles as they are really stupid. Yes!!!! MONITOR MONITOR MONITOR! Natives are not tough like hosps and can die quickly in the trap. When I use the Van Erts I tape a piece of leaf over the orange dot or just take it off as birds are very color orientated. I also use scotch tape and straw or grass to cover up and disguise the tripping arm. This will get the shy ones. Good Luck
Cathy
erictammy
15 years ago
I trap all year round also. The only downside for me in trapping in the winter is trudging out in the snow or very cold temps to check the trap. Sometimes I give up trapping because of that. And you do have to watch very carefully, because the birds don't last long in the really cold times.
And, FYI, Cathy's ideas with the Van Ert trap work great! I've tried them and it makes all the difference.
Tammy
kendra2003
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you so much everyone! I do only set up the trap when I can monitor it. Cathy, your idea about covering up the orange dot, and disguising the trapping arm is great. I will try that next time I use it. The house sparrow I tried to trap with the Van Ert seemed to know it was there. He would not enter the box when it was in there, and it may be that he could see the color of that orange dot. They are very smart. I promise you all that I will never set up a sparrow trap without careful monitoring. How horrible it would be if I harmed the very birds I'm trying to help!

house sparrow question

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