Kurt,

Replying on list because I think this might be of interest to others:

I personally don't mass-trap HOSP (I don't have time), although I do trap 
them in nestboxes when they infest.

However, I read bluebird-L, and I believe the key ingredient your friend is 
missing is a live HOSP in the trap, called a "decoy": trap a HOSP in a 
nestbox and then transfer it to the repeating trap.  Also raise the trap off 
the ground, if not already.

Lots more at: http://sialis.org/hosp.htm#decoy

He may want to subscribe to bluebird-L, THE list for nestbox monitors, 
although the traffic is considerable, and not nearly as disciplined as this 
list.  Subscribe info here:
http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/bluebirdl.htm

There's also lots of good info at http://bluebird.htmlplanet.com/

Finally, the book, _Bluebird Monitor's Guide_, while a couple years old now, 
is still the bible of nestbox monitoring.  Well worth the money.

Paul Kilduff, Baltimore


Date:    Tue, 3 Apr 2007 19:11:09 -0400
From:    Kurt Schwarz <>
Subject: Dealing with House Sparrows

A colleague at work maintains Bluebird boxes on his property in Carroll
County.  He also wages relentless war on interloping House Sparrows.  He
utilizes devices that trap the sparrows in the nestboxes sucessfully.=20
However, he has also obtained a three chamber trap, that is baited.  He
tells me that no matter what bait he uses, it fails to draw any House
Sparrows.  He was told that they could not resist white bread.  He report=
s
that it was a dismal failure.  Does anybody know any good baits to draw
House Sparrows into three-chamber traps?

Please reply off-list.

Kurt Schwarz
HowCo
goawaybird at comcast dot net

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