Colony Being Destroyed

[rrmartins]

I now have four mother birds killed on their nest, totally eaten up stomachs, no idea what’s going on. This is just crazy, all my birds being killed and house is covered in martins. Can’t solve the problem if I don’t know what’s happening.

[wmfamily]

If they are being eaten on in the nest that isn't a normal predator. Do you have a predator guard installed?

[Brad Biddle]

Post pictures of the dead birds.

[Spiderman]

That is unique. Might try raking the ground around the poles and watch for tracks in the fresh dirt?

[John Miller]

very odd as others said. Could have died from weather and maggots eating? Infestation of blow flies? Maybe pour out nest material and examine. If other martins hanging around, that's very hopeful. Of course remove dead ones. ...possible a rat? Every idea on the table.

[rrmartins]

Bird netting on pole. Birds have been thrown away. Can a rat climb a round slick pole if it got past the bird netting? I have never had anything get up the pole. The only thing I can come up with is the over population of birds and they are the ones doing it. There are way too many martins here.

[rrmartins]

Bird netting on pole. Birds have been thrown away. Can a rat climb a round slick pole if it got past the bird netting? I have never had anything get up the pole. The only thing I can come up with is the over population of birds and they are the ones doing it. There are way too many martins here.

No maggots or blowflies, check housing every other day.

[MorganW_AL]

My first thought was the possibility of the martins being the culprits. I've never heard of that, though. Do you have any idea of what time of day the attacks may have happened?

[rrmartins]

I have no idea. It has to be SY birds, I just don’t know.

[Spiderman]

Bird netting on pole. Birds have been thrown away. Can a rat climb a round slick pole if it got past the bird netting? I have never had anything get up the pole. The only thing I can come up with is the over population of birds and they are the ones doing it. There are way too many martins here.

I thought about a rat too, could fire ants do something like that ?

Rat could definately climb the pole, no problem.

[deancamp]

You mentioned totally eaten up stomach. Is this a two part event where someting is killing the bird and then stomach being eaten by something else. I think it would be very odd for an sy bird would eat another bird. Makes more sense to be killed by an sy and eaten by a maggot or something internally.

[rrmartins]

I haven’t seen any bug activity on any of the birds, I just don’t know, I didn’t study them that well. They are just totally mutilated and destroyed.

[rrmartins]

Bird netting on pole. Birds have been thrown away. Can a rat climb a round slick pole if it got past the bird netting? I have never had anything get up the pole. The only thing I can come up with is the over population of birds and they are the ones doing it. There are way too many martins here.

I thought about a rat too, could fire ants do something like that ?

Rat could definately climb the pole, no problem.

Really? A rat can clinch on too a round steel pipe?
I put Vaseline on it yesterday, can the rat make it through the bird netting as well?

[rrmartins]

Bird netting on pole. Birds have been thrown away. Can a rat climb a round slick pole if it got past the bird netting? I have never had anything get up the pole. The only thing I can come up with is the over population of birds and they are the ones doing it. There are way too many martins here.

I thought about a rat too, could fire ants do something like that ?

Rat could definately climb the pole, no problem.

Really? A rat can clinch on too a round steel pipe?
I put Vaseline on it yesterday, can the rat make it through the bird netting as well? Haven’t seen any bug activity on any of the birds.

[Kuemic]

Possibly a weasel? I found this online when searching for bird predators. Article states: "If birds are dead but not eaten and have parts still intact, a weasel may have attacked the flock. Members of the weasel family, including mink, kill just for the fun of killing. Often, the chickens’ bodies are bloodied. Also, you might notice that internal organs have been eaten."

I also read that a weasel can enter a 1/4 inch opening and can be a problem with tree swallows.



https://articles.extension.org/pages/71 ... try-flocks

[rrmartins]

This one I just found on ground. So now we’re up to five. This one looks like just head trauma.

[rrmartins]

This one I just found on ground. So now we’re up to five. This one looks like just head trauma.

First one found on ground, the eggs were eaten.

[rrmartins]

This one I just found on ground. So now we’re up to five. This one looks like just head trauma.

First one found on ground, the eggs were pecked and laying on the ground.

[ToyinPA]

Wondering if you have a Kestrel (falcon family) attacking your colony. They are a small about the size of a blue jay. We had one land on our fence rail a few years ago. It was after HS. I was surprised how small it was. They go after HS & other small birds.

A Kestrel could get in your housing, depending on your entrance holes. The only suggestion is to shrink your entrances if possible.

Toy in PA

[rrmartins]

This bird was definitely killed last night or very early morning. I don’t know. Ten years down the drain, I’m so mad I can’t think straight!!!