[wisb] Re: FW: Tree Swallow Nest Boxes
- From: "Kent" <kentsue@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <DanJackson@xxxxxxxxxxx>, "WisBirdN" <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:28:44 -0600
Terri's answer is the best. Any hole that a bluebird
can get through, a House Sparrow will get through.
The only way to get rid of the sparrows is to get
rid of the sparrows.
For those who do not want to purchase the $10 Van
Ert trap, there is another way that is somewhat less
effective but which we use on our 1,320 nest box trail
because our distances are too great to use traps.
Let the HOSP hen lay eggs and start incubating them
(warm to touch). The hen then starts staying with the
eggs all night. After dark, quietly sneak up on the
box, put your hand over the opening and crack open
the lid/side. The hen will be inside the nest with the
eggs. Catch and dispose of her. Then remove nest
with eggs. Brush off the nest platform, remove the
eggs from the nest and crush them on the platform.
Before sunrise the next morning, the male will eat
all egg shells and generally leave for parts unknown,
apparently spooked because he lost both hen and
eggs. This is a technique that has been used effectively
by the Purple Martin Conservation Association.
Usually, the rooster does not attract another hen to
the box, but if he does so, one should consider moving
the box or be prepared to repeat the technique.
The Van Ert trap has these advantages over the PMCA
technique: 1) Often, the male is trapped--he is the main
problem source 2) by trapping as soon as a nest is
started in a nest box, you gain 1 to several weeks for
potential song bird nesting compared to the PMCA
approach.
Kent Hall
Stevens Point (Portage Co.)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan Jackson" <DanJackson@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "WisBirdN" <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 1:15 PM
Subject: [wisb] FW: Tree Swallow Nest Boxes
> Can anyone help with this question?
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
> Dan Jackson
>
> Chaseburg, Vernon County, Wisconsin (Near La Crosse)
>
> www.pbase.com/dejackson
>
> community.webshots.com/user/DanielEJackson
>
>
>
> From: James Rausch [mailto:jrausch001@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 12:30 PM
> To: Dan Jackson
> Subject: Tree Swallow Nest Boxes
>
>
>
> Dan, just a quick question. I've got a couple "Bluebird" nest boxes
> that I was hoping to attract Tree Swallows into and it looked as though
> I was succeeding, until the neighborhood English sparrows discovered
> them and ousted the swallows. I presume the one and one-half inch
> diameter opening, being big enough for Bluebirds, is also plenty wide
> for the English sparrows too. Has anyone you know had success inviting
> swallows and discouraging sparrows by reducing the opening diameter to
> one and one-quarter or even down to one and one-eighth inches? Thanks
>
>
>
> Jim
>
>
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