This is our 2nd year trying to attract Martins. We knew we would not get any last year (it was the first year the house went up) but we got a few end of season scouts in August. This year, our house was nearly filled to capacity with pairs. Mostly sub adults, but 2 Second Year pairs.
We decided we were going to be somewhat active, but mostly passive landlords. We put out eggshells, provided nesting materials for easy pickup, and we have lowered the house to re-attach some of the pegs (perch) that fell off. Checked the house while we re-attached the peg and saw eggs in almost every compartment. Very excited.
Slowly, noticed several of the compartments that we knew had eggs in them stopped getting visited. We thought the sub adults were playing house and did not get viable eggs (although I was afraid of finding dead adults or dead chicks.)
We read about how fledglings will fall out of the nest, and 1 resource said a good alternative to putting it back into the nest it came from would be to make a "Fall Out Shelter". As long as the adults could hear the baby, they would begin to feed it.
Well, we lost 3 jumpers using that suggestion. The adults heard them, but were more curious about "Where'd that gourd come from? It wasn't here yesterday!" They didn't get fed.
This morning we had another jumper. I have been reluctant to lowering the house again, afraid I might cause more of the chicks to jump out. We decided that lowering the house and finding a suitable age nest for the jumper was a better option than the "Fall Out Shelter."
We lowered the house and while it was down, decided to do a nest check to see why the other compartments had been abandoned.
My wife started to reach in to clean the old material out when I noticed the shed skin. And then we saw him still in there: an 18" rat snake living very cozy in one of the compartments. We were SHOCKED, we NEVER see snakes around our house. And I never would have believed that a snake would be able to wind his way up the metal pole - newbie mistake. BAFFLE COMING SOON, but too late for about 15 eggs.
Snake removed and disposed of. All other old compartments were fine. Sprinkled a little Sevin dust in the compartments as I noticed small bugs crawling around.
From 5 nesting couples we still have 10 chicks, all VERY close to fledging. The jumper I put back in today kept flying out of my hand but only went about 5 ft. So, hopefully it won't be too long.
Jumpers lead to unknown problem!
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
Rat snakes are excellent climbers. Most people do not ever see any snakes, and thats because the snakes move mostly at night and try not to be seen. It seems like many people make the same mistake that you made, they don't think that they have snakes. I just wish that other beginners would learn from your mistake.
The fallout shelter never worked at our place. I tried it many times, the parents would not go to it. I sometimes put them on the roof of our house, and often many martins will go sit by it, try to encourage it to fly, and many do fly away from the roof. Others are too weak to fly, so it does no good to put them on the roof, they need to go back into their housing.
Its good that you checked the housing. If anything looks wrong at our place, I lower the housing and check to see what may be wrong. You caught the snake early, so you should be successful again next year. Good luck
The fallout shelter never worked at our place. I tried it many times, the parents would not go to it. I sometimes put them on the roof of our house, and often many martins will go sit by it, try to encourage it to fly, and many do fly away from the roof. Others are too weak to fly, so it does no good to put them on the roof, they need to go back into their housing.
Its good that you checked the housing. If anything looks wrong at our place, I lower the housing and check to see what may be wrong. You caught the snake early, so you should be successful again next year. Good luck
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
My fallout shelter works fine for me. It is below the feed-supply station, on the same pole, and is there all season. The birds know it's there. It's just a wooden frame wrapped with woven wire. It has a 2 inch hole and a door. I should say it works fine for birds that are almost ready to fledge. Real young birds, I put back in their nest. I don't put a nest in it. The adults find them quick. I've had 4-5 birds in it for three or four days. I would recommend a baffle or some kind of guard on the pole.
dave
dave
PMCA member
The fallout shelter that I use is only for jumpers and early fledgers. Birds that are close to fledging age ( within 10 days). Especially when it isn't safe to lower the housing because of the risk of other older babies jumping. I think I mentioned it last year to someone who was having a simular problem. Only I suggested that it be low enough so that the landlord can feed these little eager adventurers, with the older martins close enough to help out at fledging time. I still think that it is a good setup. In fact yesterday I had 5 in there and this morning after having a hearty breakfast the oldest took off with a group of adult martins. The other 4 are still healthy and content in the shelter with older birds looking in every now and then. I'm sorry for your losses and really glad you were able to find the snake before it destroyed your colony.
I'm sorry for your loss. I know how bad it feels to lose some. You caught it early enough that you will be successful next year. I don't think a baffle is enough to stop the snakes. You should add netting also:
http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewt ... highlight=
http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewt ... highlight=