I have had, I think 1 or two males retrapped but the majority have been
females, and of age HY. These guys, by my views are rather smart. I notice
many times watching the nets that the birds VERY quickly learn where the
nets are and then start to avoid them as they fly through, "once caught,
twice shy". This I have also noticed with the Starlings to the same degree.

Incidentally, anyone can catch House Sparrows (passer domesticus) because
they are not protected under the Migratory Bird Act, but I must say that if
one were to try and catch them with any trap; remember that other birds may
fall in these traps you set up, and if you catch those without a federal
permit there are penalties.

Cheers
Libor
============================================
Libor Michalak
Sr. Environmental Biologist
Geomat International Inc.
201-1600 West 6th Ave
Vancouver, BC, V6J 1R3
Phone: 604-738-5551 x225
Fax: 604-738-5529
e-mail: libor at geomatics.com
Web Site: http://www.geomatics.com/geobc/
============================================

> -----Original Message-----
> From: TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu
> [mailto:TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu]On Behalf Of Russell Rogers
> Sent: Thursday, January 07, 1999 12:32
> To: Tweeters
> Subject: RE: House Sparrows at Feeders
>
>
> Hello again,
>
> It is interesting that Libor has only recaptured females as my only
> recap was a female.
>
> I must add that my only recapture was a complete fluke. I first caught it
> in a Potter trap. I re-caught it in a 60mm mesh net (jay and flicker
> size). Sparrow size birds usually pass right thorugh the larger net, most
> of the time without even stopping.
>
> Russell
>
>
> On Thu, 7 Jan 1999, Libor Michalak wrote:
>
> > I must agree with Russel on this one. I too have been having the same
> > scenario at my house. Once these guys get banded they hardly ever come
> > back! I have banded dozens only to have only about 1% retrap
> ratio and for
> > me most have been females. It makes a bugger for HOSP studies!
> >
> > One Canadian bander up for hire to get rid of them, a branch office of
> > Russel's "Pester your Passer Inc. 2.... :-)
> >
> > Cheers
> > Libor
> >
>
>