Anyone here caring for both??
Couple of years ago i used to care for Purple Martins(PM) and had 3 racks of gourds for their yearly migration. Every time I did clean their gourds/house they always had bird mites. Specially when they're raising their youngs and fledglings. Hence I stop having them when i switch to Racing Pigeons.
Question: Ive been thinking of having them again... Curious if anyone here is caring for both and have notice if the infestation effects pigeons. Someone told me before that PM mites dont like or dont go on Pigeons. True??
Thanks in advance.
Mites / Caring For Both Purple Martins And Pigeons?
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Carrera Mike
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 10:23 am
- Location: Eastern TN, Claiborne County
- Martin Colony History: Pls see signature
Mike
2020: 11pairs, 51 eggs, 45 fledged
2014: 8 pairs, 43 eggs, 39 fledged
2013: 3 pairs, 8 fledged
2012: 3 pairs, 7 fledged
2020: 11pairs, 51 eggs, 45 fledged
2014: 8 pairs, 43 eggs, 39 fledged
2013: 3 pairs, 8 fledged
2012: 3 pairs, 7 fledged
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John Miller
- Posts: 4867
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Bird mites are probably bird mites, but maybe some expert will prove me wrong.
Martins and most birds have small numbers of mites all the time. The mites sometimes "explode" in purple martins nests where the young are not of course preening themselves, and the mites are laying eggs (I think but assuming) in the nest. The mites in martin nests likely would not impact pigeons housed in a different area; in fact, on a rack of nesting gourds you can have one gourd overrun with mites and the other gourds not affected. In either case, the mites can be controlled by doing nest changes (see PMCA guidelines) or by using a tiny bit of 5% sevin dust (the PMCA does not recommend this but many landlords do it, carefully and not in direct contact with the birds)
Martins and most birds have small numbers of mites all the time. The mites sometimes "explode" in purple martins nests where the young are not of course preening themselves, and the mites are laying eggs (I think but assuming) in the nest. The mites in martin nests likely would not impact pigeons housed in a different area; in fact, on a rack of nesting gourds you can have one gourd overrun with mites and the other gourds not affected. In either case, the mites can be controlled by doing nest changes (see PMCA guidelines) or by using a tiny bit of 5% sevin dust (the PMCA does not recommend this but many landlords do it, carefully and not in direct contact with the birds)
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Ed Svetich-WI
- Posts: 815
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
- Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
- Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.
John is correct regarding mites. I have an aquantance who is an Entomologist.One area of his research is ectoparasites of birds. I have referenced him regarding blow flies in the past. He is unaware of research into bird mites but speculates that they are ibiquitous across many different birds as they may not be species specific. He did comment that fleas and swallow bugs will infest many different bird species for those who are impacted by those insects.
An absence of parasites is impractical. Birds have adapted to carrying a certain population of insects. In fact, these parasites may weed out the weak. As John said, explosions of these populations can be controlled by timely nest replacements or other means in order to keep the populations in check..
Ed
An absence of parasites is impractical. Birds have adapted to carrying a certain population of insects. In fact, these parasites may weed out the weak. As John said, explosions of these populations can be controlled by timely nest replacements or other means in order to keep the populations in check..
Ed
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Carrera Mike
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 10:23 am
- Location: Eastern TN, Claiborne County
- Martin Colony History: Pls see signature
Thanks Gents! Appreciate the insights. That's what Im afraid of.. as much as I want to put up another PM House.. Im afraid that the mites will make it to my pigeon lofts and ruin a racing season :(
PM are very good to have with the pigeons as they have outstanding Hawk alarm instincts!
PM are very good to have with the pigeons as they have outstanding Hawk alarm instincts!
Mike
2020: 11pairs, 51 eggs, 45 fledged
2014: 8 pairs, 43 eggs, 39 fledged
2013: 3 pairs, 8 fledged
2012: 3 pairs, 7 fledged
2020: 11pairs, 51 eggs, 45 fledged
2014: 8 pairs, 43 eggs, 39 fledged
2013: 3 pairs, 8 fledged
2012: 3 pairs, 7 fledged
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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.
Do it! Don't let mites deter you. I use the Sevin and am grateful for it's help with the mites. I have been out of town and fail to pretreat my nests when you young hatched. Came home to find mites CrAwLiNg all over everything. Tap 1/8 to 1/4 tsp of Sevin between the nest and wall of compartment (not on the babies) and poof the next day...no mites. Gone.
Deb
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
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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Carrera Mike
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 10:23 am
- Location: Eastern TN, Claiborne County
- Martin Colony History: Pls see signature
Thank you Ms DebA!
I do lay Sevin dust in the corners and crevices of the loft every after thorough cleaning.
I also have the mite drops for pigeons.
I can confidently say that my pigeons are free of lice and mites, 'till I basket them with other birds this racing season I just have to be vigilant from that point on.
I do lay Sevin dust in the corners and crevices of the loft every after thorough cleaning.
I also have the mite drops for pigeons.
I can confidently say that my pigeons are free of lice and mites, 'till I basket them with other birds this racing season I just have to be vigilant from that point on.
Mike
2020: 11pairs, 51 eggs, 45 fledged
2014: 8 pairs, 43 eggs, 39 fledged
2013: 3 pairs, 8 fledged
2012: 3 pairs, 7 fledged
2020: 11pairs, 51 eggs, 45 fledged
2014: 8 pairs, 43 eggs, 39 fledged
2013: 3 pairs, 8 fledged
2012: 3 pairs, 7 fledged