It seems kind of gross to ask for "poop ID", but I really need to know what is going on in the backyard. Yesterday morning I found about 4 feet away from a martin pole some animal feces that is about 1 1/2 inch long, pitch black but has a white end on one side. First I thought it was half a martin eggshell that fell on something dark. Then I saw that it was one entire piece of feces. The weird thing is that it goes straight from black to the white color.....no in between.
This morning when I did my walk under the systems I found the same type of poop under another system, also about 4 feet away from the pole. The bird netting is not messed with, neither the predator guard. The martins are happy and socializing, so I do not think that if it is a predator that goes after birds that he was successful. However, it bothers me a lot not knowing from which animal this feces stems.
I tried to google all kind of sites but could not find anything that looked like our "present". Is someone familiar with what I am describing?
No reason for the red face. Every nest check requires dealing with a little poop. However, this is a new one on me. Jack may be right. At the risk of elevating the embarrassment factor, can you tell what the critter had eaten?
My concern is that this might be a predator who could be a potential danger for the martins, leaving his marks behind. I now am starting to think you might be right with the snake feces (see below)....
James,
I cannot see any food residues in "it", just black with a white "cap". I followed Linda's link, which let me to another and so on, and came across this question below on "yahoo answers".
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Is it rat poop or something else?
Somethings in my shed but i don't know what. It's not a mouse , cause the scattered feces is almost an inch long with a white portion at the tip, almost like a bird dropping at the end, but the rest is dark. I'm afraid cause of the size of the droppings that this thing could be huge, any ideas what it is??
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
That would be snake poop, how much of it is there, if it is ALOT then i would have to say it is not snake poop, unless it has built up over time. snake pop has a very earthy, ammonia smell to it, the white part is actually their pee, it is made up or urates, they don't pee liquid to conserve water, but actually have a urethra that leads into there fecal tract, the white part is not at the tip, it is at the end.... lol. If it is snake poop, then it is the reason that you do not have rats, mice, and so forth, snakes are awesome animals and its best to leave the ones in the wild in the wild in your shed and so forth so that it might be able to help you in ways you never knew!
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Fortunately, I have bird netting and predator guards, but the thought that a snake is checking things out is still disturbing......uuuugggghhhh. What do you all think?
I had to read your initial post twice to make sure my brain was correctly comprehending what my eyes were reading. We definitely need some new topics on the forum. You might as well go ahead and put your custom white fitted jacket on now; you know, the one with all the fancy snaps and buckles. I am sure that little white truck will be pulling up any minute.
Tim
Licensed Bander
2015 - 14 Pair - fledged 68
2014 - Moved to Kansas - 7 Pair, 35 eggs, 28 fledged in first year
2010 Thru 2013 - Moved-Tried to start new colony
2009 - 46 pair, 217 eggs, 178 fledged
I did try this site earlier, and it also mentions that snakes/reptiles do have more solid dark feces with white at the end. Bird feces is more soft. Since we found a 6' rat snake in our bird netting a couple of years ago my concern is that it might be a snake roaming around. Again, I have guards and netting on my poles, but you never know.....Thank you for your replies
I have to pass on the white jacket for today since to me this is a discussion about a possible predator that could be a threat to my martins Sometimes you just have to start "backwards" to get the answer and I guess that is what I am doing....the truck needs to go somewhere else today
Astrid, It looks like frog poop to me, i could be wrong but some of the frogs poop around my back yard look just like that.
Kenny ,over here in Grand prairie Texas
Pictures Taken with Canon Rebel XT Digital using a Sigma 50-500 Long Lens.
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
Thank you everyone for your suggestions and your humor
Linda, can I have that jacket in pink please? It would go very well with my fuzzy pink slippers
I did feel kind of weird asking for the ID and even posting a picture, but when it comes to my martins and their safety I need to be on top of EVERYTHING, even unidentified poop
I was trying to figure out if I have a reason to worry about a predator that could pose a threat to my martins. Other than the fact that you and I got a good laugh out of this I actually came across some really great information about backyard predators by following some of the links you all provided or suggestions you mentioned....I guess I had a class in "Poopology" today .
On a serious note, I went ahead and added even more bird netting to my "hula noodle" than I had already, just in case the snake or the frog try to climb the pole
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