Monday, February 11, 2008

Owls at Work?

By my records, I have trapped and dispatched 42 European starlings and 94 house sparrows since I got my sparrow trap last October. I love this trap because it attracts the non-natives and gives me the opportunity to kill them humanely without harming the native species in any way. The occasional Dark-Eyed Junco, House Finch or Tree Sparrow gets trapped but I can easily release them unharmed--and it's a great opportunity to see the native species up close.

Here's a photo from the seller's website showing a sparrow trap full of quarry:

I haven't killed all the starlings I've trapped. I have clipped the primaries on a dozen of them and released them during particularly harsh winter weather to give the raptors an easy meal. Apparently, it worked (see photo at bottom). I've found two dead starlings with clipped wings in the windbreak, both headless. My first thought upon finding them was that the screech owls caught them and only had the heads for a meal. I've read that, in good times, Saw-Whet owls will eat only the heads of mice, but I seriously doubt there are any Saw-Whets here. I hope other birders with more experience than me will chime in and offer their opinions.

To the uninitiated this practice of trapping invasives and killing them probably seems harsh. But it's a bird eat bird world out there and I feel that I'm helping the local cavity nesters by eliminating as much of their competition as I can. I cringe at the thought of finding starlings nesting in one of my owl or duck boxes! I read an article about managing bluebird trails that simply stated it is irresponsible on the part of the bluebird landlord to place nest boxes for them and not monitor them to prevent competition from non-natives. Trapping is legal since invasive species are not protected under federal laws and in some areas it is encouraged by wildlife authorities.


7 comments:

  1. Well, Heck yeah, girl! Every starling or HOSP you dispatch is a step in the right direction. Good for you, to do what others just disregard as "cruel" and "disgusting". I like to show the bleeding-heart HOSP lovers pictures of what a HOSP will do to a bluebird to claim its house.
    Right on, sister!

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  2. Thank you for your encouragement Susan. Just 6 more HOSPs and I get a toaster oven!

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  3. Amy, this is news to me. I am uninitiated in this area. I just saw a news story about the invasive gray squirrels in England and how they are killing them to help their non aggressive native red squirrels survive. It seems harsh, but I don't know of a better solution. I'd rather have bluebirds than starlings to be sure. Are you participating in the GBBC this weekend?

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  4. Kathie, thanks for having an open mind about it. Invasive/non-native species are a real problem--and living proof of how things can go wrong when humans interfere with the delicate balance of nature.

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  5. Amy, after I wrote this comment this afternoon I was watching birds in my backyard when I noticed something different. It turned out to be a Lincoln's sparrow! A new bird for my yard, but then a male house sparrow landed nearby and attacked the Lincoln's and drove it away! I guess nature wanted to drive home the lesson!

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  6. Amy, I share your opinion. HOSP are new to my house this winter and I'm not liking them, or the Starlings. I'm watching very closely and I'm sad to say I'm not putting up nesting boxes. Last year I had bluebirds visit the pond - there year there are none.

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  7. Mary, I'm so sorry to hear about your bluebirds not nesting this year. What a shame! I've never tried to attract bluebirds but I think I will mount some nest boxes for them next year, after my new trees have been planted. I have an area overlooking the field that is a good distance from the house, and when I look at it I think "bluebirds". I think I've got the HOSP population under good control now and it might be the perfect opportunity for me to invite the bluebirds to come and stay a while.

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