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Need advice

15 years ago

I've been feeding EABL for a while now. This will be my third winter. They have a lovely feeder box so none of the larger birds can enter it. Today when I filled it wilh mealworms and suet, a flock of dreaded HOSP came down and blocked the EABL and gorged themselves. I have only had occasional HOSP in the winter, and they never entered the mealworm feeder box before. The only other birds that have ever used the mealworm feeder were Carolina Wrens and Tuffed Titmice. Neither of which are a problem. So what do I do? I can not shoot them for fear of harming a Blue Bird. Last winter I tried a ground trap for the occasional HOSP that showed up here, but only caught song sparrows so I took it down. Would sparrow spookers on top of the mealworm feeder help, or do I need a better ground trap? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Comments (3)

lisa11310
15 years ago
I would try to bait them with white bread and the junk mixed seed. Maybe you can get a clear shot at them if you bait them away from the feeder. I never had much luck with the ground trap either but the HOSPs are not daily visitors. I'm hoping to get them before spring. Good Luck!
kendra2003
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks so much for the advice Lisa. I like your idea of baiting them away from the regular feeding area. I will try that. I do so hate feeding them. The flock seems to have moved on, but there is still a pair here that comes for the suet. I sure don't want them here in the spring when the Bluebirds start nesting, and the Tree Swallows return. I have opened up one compartment in my Purple Martin house so if they decide to roost there I can use my inbox trap which works great. I've never had a Purple Martin, but the HOSP love that house which makes for easy trapping in spring and summer.
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erictammy
15 years ago
Hi Kendra. I feel you pain. I'm over run with HOSP year round and hate it when they eat my mealworms or my suet but can't do anything about it except stand at the door and shoo the HOSP away and that is exactly what I do. Grrr. I trap too and right now in the fall they are just walking in my trap even without any bait in the bait tray. It takes time to catch the first one once you have a decoy in there the others come too. My trap is a repeating trap. I have tons of HOSP in my backyard at any given time so I know how you feel.

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