jumper protection?

[brokensword]

so, listening to a PM podcast, the issue of jumpers came up. I'm trying to deter hawk attacks on porches/from above, so now I wonder re is there an idea for any fledglings that jump too early? My first thought is to put some sort of platform below but near the gourd AND behind the cage. Jumpers would fall less than a foot, be protected still and I'd think able to get back up. I plan on something to shade the gourd rack, so hopefully heat won't be an issue but I'm trying to cover all my bases. Anyone do anything for jumpers? Is my idea sound?

[edit] further thinking about this, I suppose this would make it so none of the PMs could escape downwards as usual, so probably not the best idea; anyone have a good suggestion?
[edit 2]; would larger porches keep the birds from jumping, considering they'll be protected with a cage in front and a roof over top, and outside, any heat issue might not be an issue? Just spit-balling, looking for other ideas.

[SusanSchoultheis-OH]

Last year we set up a gourd next to the big gourd rack. We did not know which gourd he leaped from. We placed the Jumper in the lower gourd and watched the other adult martins fly and visit the young Jumper.

We would go out and feed him every hour or two and few meal worms or crickets. At night we would bring him in the house for protection. Early in the morning we would feed him again and put him out to visit. He stayed in the temporary gourd for about two weeks until he was able to fly with the adults. They would coach him and finally coached him to fly out when he got strong. We never lost the first jumper, but the second jumper would not eat the worms or crickets we would try to feed to him, so he died. We tried but cannot save them all!

[deancamp]

Mark, it might be best to see if that becomes a problem before spending alot of energy solving it. The jumper won' be hurt landing on the ground. If you've been doing nest checks you will have good idea where he came from. Catch him and put him back in the nest. Being in Michigan you will not have the same trouble with heat as someone in Texas or Florida for example. Control any mites and you might not have any jumpers at all.

[flyin-lowe]

I would focus more on some ventilation. Assuming food is not an issue, the normal causes of jumpers are heat and mites. Keep those under control and your jumpers shouldn't be much of an issue, especially as far north as you are. The last few years I have had several hundred babies at my colony and only a few jumpers each year. Some of them just have a bad first flight. Often times I can toss them a few feet in the air and they will take off in flight, they just couldn't get off the ground.

[brent]

Brokensword how do you deter hawks? I am having a problem with a small hawk that has already taken 2 birds. Eventually the hawks move on or at least there are less as the season develops. We had a couple of cold nights and it struck early in the morning when the martins were just coming out and sitting on the porches. Please share what you use to deter them. In regards to the jumpers, I try to put them back in the nest that they came from. Because I do nest checks to check on mites I have had very few jumpers. Some one mentioned heat and mites as the main cause. I agree with that. I have ventilation and try to keep the nest clean of mites. Last year I was able to locate a local rehabber. If all else fails I will enlist her help when it comes to jumpers and injured birds. Brent

[Spiderman]

Small hawk is probably a Merlin, a member of the Falcon family.very fast and deadly. Usually male Martins are too big for them to kill or carry off.

I agree with flyin Low about the mites and ventilation, I very seldom have any jumpers.

[brokensword]

Brokensword how do you deter hawks? I am having a problem with a small hawk that has already taken 2 birds. Eventually the hawks move on or at least there are less as the season develops. We had a couple of cold nights and it struck early in the morning when the martins were just coming out and sitting on the porches. Please share what you use to deter them. In regards to the jumpers, I try to put them back in the nest that they came from. Because I do nest checks to check on mites I have had very few jumpers. Some one mentioned heat and mites as the main cause. I agree with that. I have ventilation and try to keep the nest clean of mites. Last year I was able to locate a local rehabber. If all else fails I will enlist her help when it comes to jumpers and injured birds. Brent

I'm the wrong one to ask as I haven't even put up my first gourds yet. But, my plan is to cage across and use some sort of shade on top. From what everyone is saying, heat and mites are the things for which to prepare. I know I read somewhere about helping against mites; i think it was to put diatomaceous earth in the gourd. Will have to double check that. For heat, I think I'm going to install some 3/4" pvc elbows at the top; others have had success with that, and with the sun shade, hopefully the heat can be beat.

[brokensword]

Last year we set up a gourd next to the big gourd rack. We did not know which gourd he leaped from. We placed the Jumper in the lower gourd and watched the other adult martins fly and visit the young Jumper.

We would go out and feed him every hour or two and few meal worms or crickets. At night we would bring him in the house for protection. Early in the morning we would feed him again and put him out to visit. He stayed in the temporary gourd for about two weeks until he was able to fly with the adults. They would coach him and finally coached him to fly out when he got strong. We never lost the first jumper, but the second jumper would not eat the worms or crickets we would try to feed to him, so he died. We tried but cannot save them all!

I hope I don't have to go to such extremes but good to know in case I do. Thanks!

[brokensword]

Mark, it might be best to see if that becomes a problem before spending alot of energy solving it. The jumper won' be hurt landing on the ground. If you've been doing nest checks you will have good idea where he came from. Catch him and put him back in the nest. Being in Michigan you will not have the same trouble with heat as someone in Texas or Florida for example. Control any mites and you might not have any jumpers at all.

Glad you think Mi isn't Heat City; that will help. I'm hoping by the time we GET high heat, the PMs will be out and fledged. Typically, July is the hot month, though lately, June has had its moments. I'm hoping if there are jumpers, I see them and they don't get lost in the garden and a feral cat/raccoon gets them. Never thought I'd be bird-sitting when the idea of having a PM birdhouse first crossed my mind! Also glad the parents don't mind if humans touch the young; always in the past, when I've seen a baby bird fallen from the nest, I've taken care to scoop it up without actually touching it with my hands, just because I was afraid my scent would put the parents off. Thanks for the advice.

[brokensword]

I would focus more on some ventilation. Assuming food is not an issue, the normal causes of jumpers are heat and mites. Keep those under control and your jumpers shouldn't be much of an issue, especially as far north as you are. The last few years I have had several hundred babies at my colony and only a few jumpers each year. Some of them just have a bad first flight. Often times I can toss them a few feet in the air and they will take off in flight, they just couldn't get off the ground.

Okay, will bear all this in mind. Am I correct in that diatomaceous earth will stop mites? Or is there something PM safe to use inside the gourd i don't know about?

[brokensword]

Small hawk is probably a Merlin, a member of the Falcon family.very fast and deadly. Usually male Martins are too big for them to kill or carry off.

I agree with flyin Low about the mites and ventilation, I very seldom have any jumpers.

Care to share you tips re mites? I think I have the solution for heat by using the pvc elbows and a sun shade overtop.

[Spiderman]

Sure. I use about 1/4 teaspoon of 5% Sevin dust in the bedding before installing the gourds and than again when the fledglings have enough feathers so you can not see pink skin.

Anywhere in the nest cavity is fine, it works that well.


Good Luck hope you have a good Martin season!

James

[brokensword]

Sure. I use about 1/4 teaspoon of 5% Sevin dust in the bedding before installing the gourds and than again when the fledglings have enough feathers so you can not see pink skin.

Anywhere in the nest cavity is fine, it works that well.


Good Luck hope you have a good Martin season!

James

so, I was intending on putting some plastic eggcrate (1/2" depth) under the pine straw to elevate the nest. If I put some in the eggcrate, think it would suffice? How typical is it to HAVE mite problems in the first place? The solution sounds easy enough.

[Spiderman]

Very common problem, the adults have mites when they arrive from Brazil.

Use can use the 5% Sevin anywhere in the nest box, it just doesn’t need to come into direct contact with the Martins or fledglings.

[flyin-lowe]

I always put a small amount of 7 under the front edge of each nest before my first eggs are due to hatch. I have done it this way for years and never had an issue with mites. Assuming your nests are dry, if applied a day or two before eggs start hatching the 7 will remain effective until close to the time they fledge. Even if it starts to wear off I don’t think the mites would have time to build up enough to cause problems, at least I’ve never seen it.

[Thomas Maddox]

Anyone use the spray version of 7? It claims that it last up.to 3 months if it doesn't get washed off.

[Thomabear]

Thomas, I can't remember who, but someone on the forum said they used it. I can't say which version though, because both the liquid and dust has gone through ingredient changes. For this year I dipped my housing in Bifen (Bifenthrin) mixed with surfactant as a wetting agent to promote sticking. This product is deemed safe for birds when dry and has a 3-4 month residual so we'll see. I'm sure when the weather heats up, so will discussions on mites.

[Spiderman]

With white gourds when you unscrew the cap the mites will usually be on the threads so they aren’t hard to notice. The powder works really good and it doesn’t take much at all to kill all of the mites. Just apply it anywhere in the bottom of the nest.

Ventilation keeps the bedding material dry and reduces the issue of mites as the season progresses.

[h2y]

Thomas, I can't remember who, but someone on the forum said they used it. I can't say which version though, because both the liquid and dust has gone through ingredient changes. For this year I dipped my housing in Bifen (Bifenthrin) mixed with surfactant as a wetting agent to promote sticking. This product is deemed safe for birds when dry and has a 3-4 month residual so we'll see. I'm sure when the weather heats up, so will discussions on mites.

I'm putting up 5 more houses this weekend and just wondering how you "dipped" your whole houses in a solution & what type of vat you used? I just bought a gallon of Bifenthrin this week to treat these houses and to treat around our house & business. I haven't read the Label yet but if safe will spray around a chicken coop too. Sounds like a great insecticide, including for ants. Thanks for the info.

[Thomabear]

Thomas, I can't remember who, but someone on the forum said they used it. I can't say which version though, because both the liquid and dust has gone through ingredient changes. For this year I dipped my housing in Bifen (Bifenthrin) mixed with surfactant as a wetting agent to promote sticking. This product is deemed safe for birds when dry and has a 3-4 month residual so we'll see. I'm sure when the weather heats up, so will discussions on mites.

I'm putting up 5 more houses this weekend and just wondering how you "dipped" your whole houses in a solution & what type of vat you used? I just bought a gallon of Bifenthrin this week to treat these houses and to treat around our house & business. I haven't read the Label yet but if safe will spray around a chicken coop too. Sounds like a great insecticide, including for ants. Thanks for the info.

h2y, I apologize that I just saw your post. Yes, Bifen is great stuff. Like you, I now use it for many different applications. For dipping my housing I use a 5 gallon bucket. I use the chirpynest housing though, which is single units.