Mysterious Martins

[Oceangirl]

We put up a purple martin house this spring (first time at our house). Bluebirds beat the martins to the house, but purple martins kept circling the house with interest over the last month or so. The bluebird would sit on top of the house guarding their territory. Last week we noticed there was no activity at all with the bluebirds. The purple martins would continue to circle the house - even land on it briefly and no bluebirds would come by to defend their property. Over the weekend, my husband put up a ladder and looked into the cavity that was used by the bluebirds. There was nesting material, but nothing else left - no babies, no eggs, nothing. So he pulled out the nesting material in hopes that the purple martins would see that the house is now empty and ready for them. While he was up on the ladder doing this, four purple martins were circling the house singing. We thought they were happy about it since now the house could be theirs. But now, they are not circling at all anymore (they would do it mostly in the morning and early evening, in fact, in the morning they would come by up to 3-4 times and appear really interested).

What happened? We thought they were excited, but maybe they were upset? We've also tried playing the dawn song to re-attract them. Any thoughts from the experts on this forum?

[C.C.Martins]

First thought: something got up there and raided the nest. May have been a snake.
I'd put a predator guard on the pole ASAP. Add some snake net.
Those blues (if the female made it out) won't be back.
If the martins do come, they face the same fate. Your doing well, especially the first year. Be a shame to loose the first pair to a snake who will return

[Oceangirl]

First thought: something got up there and raided the nest. May have been a snake.
I'd put a predator guard on the pole ASAP. Add some snake net.
Those blues (if the female made it out) won't be back.
If the martins do come, they face the same fate. Your doing well, especially the first year. Be a shame to loose the first pair to a snake who will return

I bet you are right! It's like they disappeared too suddenly. The bluebirds were going back and forth to their home with bugs in their mouth, but we never saw any chicks. Then just gone! We live in the suburbs, but we have lots of wildlife and I see snakes posted frequently by neighbors on our community facebook page. Another thing that is odd - we didn't purchase a galvanized pole (it's already rusted) and we noticed some rust colored markings right by the nest hole. I bet it came from the snake that crawled up the pole.

I found what appears to be a really good homemade snake guard on a website called "chuckspurplemartinpage.com". I think hubby has a new project this weekend!

I am just hoping the purple martins stay interested in the house. What do you think was the meaning of them flying over the house while hubby was cleaning out the bluebird nesting material? Happy or upset?

Thanks again for always being so helpful! It's very appreciated!

[SoIndyDon]

It was a good thing the martins watched your husband. They consider humans safety. In fact, a martin site way out in a field is unattractive. (Tell your husband he's attractive... ?an attractant? That snake guard will be up before you know it :-)
About the bluebirds - they may have finished their first clutch. Bluebirds' duration of laying eggs to fledging is 5 weeks or less. Mine here in southern Indiana finished their first clutch by May 15th this year. Could the bluebirds were done... or a snake got them.
Snakes are invisible predators. You might only know their presence by the sudden disappearance of eggs or young. C.C. Martins is right about putting up a snake guard. One is always needed.

[C.C.Martins]

First thought: something got up there and raided the nest. May have been a snake.
I'd put a predator guard on the pole ASAP. Add some snake net.
Those blues (if the female made it out) won't be back.
If the martins do come, they face the same fate. Your doing well, especially the first year. Be a shame to loose the first pair to a snake who will return

I bet you are right! It's like they disappeared too suddenly. The bluebirds were going back and forth to their home with bugs in their mouth, but we never saw any chicks. Then just gone! We live in the suburbs, but we have lots of wildlife and I see snakes posted frequently by neighbors on our community facebook page. Another thing that is odd - we didn't purchase a galvanized pole (it's already rusted) and we noticed some rust colored markings right by the nest hole. I bet it came from the snake that crawled up the pole.

I found what appears to be a really good homemade snake guard on a website called "chuckspurplemartinpage.com". I think hubby has a new project this weekend!

I am just hoping the purple martins stay interested in the house. What do you think was the meaning of them flying over the house while hubby was cleaning out the bluebird nesting material? Happy or upset?

Thanks again for always being so helpful! It's very appreciated!

Chucks is the perfect place to look for ideas, read his blog often. Im sure they will be safe soon enough.
With tragedy comes fruit...you really didn't want the blue birds in a martin house...removed in a bad way but that path is now clear for martins regardless.
I'd say they approved of him, they do appricaiate our activity.
Now perhaps provide a blue bird house 50 or so feet away, give any returning blues a place to look.
All in all we learn our lessons hard, yet somehow it all works out...for example: lost 4 eggs from an ASY nest at our satelite site last year to a sparrow, peck and run. (Caught his a$$ in a gourd trap later that week).
That pair left and went to a gourd on one of two poles set up near the parking lot somewhat removed from the main colony. Had 5 chicks, despite the brutal summer last year fledged all 5. This year guess who is one of the first to return to the same gourd? And brought martins with them...went from 1 pair to 10 this year on those 2 poles. So seems to always work out.

[defed]

in reality, i'm sure PMs don't mind our activity, but they sure make a fuss about it when you're messing w/ their gourds! i usually try to wait for a time when they are gone to go out and do whatever.....but somehow, even if i haven't seen them in 15 mins and there is no sign of them anywhere in the sky, as soon as i start removing the guard, here they come, a squawkin' and a swarmin'! no idea how they know i'm over there, they just do.

[Oceangirl]

It was a good thing the martins watched your husband. They consider humans safety. In fact, a martin site way out in a field is unattractive. (Tell your husband he's attractive... ?an attractant? That snake guard will be up before you know it :-)
About the bluebirds - they may have finished their first clutch. Bluebirds' duration of laying eggs to fledging is 5 weeks or less. Mine here in southern Indiana finished their first clutch by May 15th this year. Could the bluebirds were done... or a snake got them.
Snakes are invisible predators. You might only know their presence by the sudden disappearance of eggs or young. C.C. Martins is right about putting up a snake guard. One is always needed.

Whew - I'm so glad he didn't scare them away. LOL - he actually was out in the garage last night and this morning working on a guard (I always tell him he's attractive )
I am hoping the bluebirds finished their clutch. They weren't very "human friendly" like the martins. But they were in it about 4 weeks?
I searched "rat snake" on our community FB page - holy cow - they are rampant out here.

[Oceangirl]

First thought: something got up there and raided the nest. May have been a snake.
I'd put a predator guard on the pole ASAP. Add some snake net.
Those blues (if the female made it out) won't be back.
If the martins do come, they face the same fate. Your doing well, especially the first year. Be a shame to loose the first pair to a snake who will return

I bet you are right! It's like they disappeared too suddenly. The bluebirds were going back and forth to their home with bugs in their mouth, but we never saw any chicks. Then just gone! We live in the suburbs, but we have lots of wildlife and I see snakes posted frequently by neighbors on our community facebook page. Another thing that is odd - we didn't purchase a galvanized pole (it's already rusted) and we noticed some rust colored markings right by the nest hole. I bet it came from the snake that crawled up the pole.

I found what appears to be a really good homemade snake guard on a website called "chuckspurplemartinpage.com". I think hubby has a new project this weekend!

I am just hoping the purple martins stay interested in the house. What do you think was the meaning of them flying over the house while hubby was cleaning out the bluebird nesting material? Happy or upset?

Thanks again for always being so helpful! It's very appreciated!

Chucks is the perfect place to look for ideas, read his blog often. Im sure they will be safe soon enough.
With tragedy comes fruit...you really didn't want the blue birds in a martin house...removed in a bad way but that path is now clear for martins regardless.
I'd say they approved of him, they do appricaiate our activity.
Now perhaps provide a blue bird house 50 or so feet away, give any returning blues a place to look.
All in all we learn our lessons hard, yet somehow it all works out...for example: lost 4 eggs from an ASY nest at our satelite site last year to a sparrow, peck and run. (Caught his a$$ in a gourd trap later that week).
That pair left and went to a gourd on one of two poles set up near the parking lot somewhat removed from the main colony. Had 5 chicks, despite the brutal summer last year fledged all 5. This year guess who is one of the first to return to the same gourd? And brought martins with them...went from 1 pair to 10 this year on those 2 poles. So seems to always work out.

I like that - "with tragedy comes fruit". What a true adage in life. Good idea on the additional bluebird house - if hubby will commit to building it. He has been working on a guard since last night. We want to get it up before any purple martins decide to make it their home.
I only dream of becoming an expert purple martin landlord as you are and many others on this forum. There is so much to learn.

[Oceangirl]

in reality, i'm sure PMs don't mind our activity, but they sure make a fuss about it when you're messing w/ their gourds! i usually try to wait for a time when they are gone to go out and do whatever.....but somehow, even if i haven't seen them in 15 mins and there is no sign of them anywhere in the sky, as soon as i start removing the guard, here they come, a squawkin' and a swarmin'! no idea how they know i'm over there, they just do.

We don't have gourds yet - just a small house. Love "squawkin" and swarmin". They are truly such social and beautiful birds for humans to enjoy!!!