Eggs destroyed what now

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jcassiday
Posts: 25
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:38 am
Location: Iowa/Grundy Center
Martin Colony History: first house 2006, 2007 built and installed T-14 with wood pole, 2012 installed Troyer tunnels on 12 openings, 2014 installed new aluminum pole and four troyer horizontal gourds. 2015 first successful pair, 2016 four pair fledged 16. 2017 will install four more Troyer horizontal gourds a total 23 cavities.

Had my first pair with 5 eggs on the 17th. Checked nest today two eggs left one broke in nest tray. Pair have abandon site. Should I clear the nest and eggs? I have no HS or ST. I have a T14 with nest trays and excluder entrances. I have trapped several HS and think I have them under control.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Jerry :-(
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DebA
Posts: 1941
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
Location: Pratt County/Kansas
Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.

Curses. Sorry that happened. Are you positive they've abandoned? I hope they didn't fall victim to a predator. I think I would remove broken egg but maybe leave the intact one. IF they are still around maybe they will renest. I've had them renest in the same nest and I've had them build a new nest in a different one. There's still time for renest or if another pair comes along.

Good luck.
Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
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Ed Pace
Posts: 680
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 3:31 pm
Location: NY/Jamestown

Thats a real bummer Gerry. Do you have climbing snakes in your area?
Were there any feathers in the nest?
I am with Deb leave the good eggs there for a while.
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jcassiday
Posts: 25
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:38 am
Location: Iowa/Grundy Center
Martin Colony History: first house 2006, 2007 built and installed T-14 with wood pole, 2012 installed Troyer tunnels on 12 openings, 2014 installed new aluminum pole and four troyer horizontal gourds. 2015 first successful pair, 2016 four pair fledged 16. 2017 will install four more Troyer horizontal gourds a total 23 cavities.

No snakes and no feathers. The only culprit in the area could be a wren who has nest about 100 ft from my T14. I am not able to see the house were the nest is. My house is on the North side of the site and of course the martins decided to nest on the South side.
Thanks for the response to both of you.
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