Is is nice to see the Forum return...withdrawal symptoms also.... Heck, nothing to do at work if I can't read this forum.
My birds live in PM paradise...big pond 10 ft away, cattails, red wing blackbirds, big open area within 200 yards of 2 creeks, big trees, and many bugs....
But with Paradise comes danger....snakes, Barred Owls, Great Horned Owls, and Hawks.
Last year I lost 1 nest to predation, probably a snake. The PMCA predator guard was ineffective. This year I lost 3 nests (adults, babies, and eggs) to a snake (in the grass?)
Less than 2 weeks ago, I put bird netting around the 2 poles in my colony. Five Snakes are now dead. I had NO idea that there were that many snakes...wanting my birds. It is really a shame. The snakes have a right to live. But my Birds need to be protected.
Make no mistake about it, snakes are a problem. Colonies need to be protected from snakes with the same fervor that we protect against HS and Starlings.
the old geezer in Anna, TX.
Snakes in Paradise......
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Hey geezer..
You are so right. The problem with the snake is that he is silent and invisible and works at night while we are asleep - so, we don't hear the alarm calls and screams of our colony.
The snake does deserve to live - but, not at the expense of my Purple Martins!
Many people capture the snake alive and move it to an appropriate area far from their colony. A natural area - a wooded area - a big grassy area with lots of field mice...
You are so right. The problem with the snake is that he is silent and invisible and works at night while we are asleep - so, we don't hear the alarm calls and screams of our colony.
The snake does deserve to live - but, not at the expense of my Purple Martins!
Many people capture the snake alive and move it to an appropriate area far from their colony. A natural area - a wooded area - a big grassy area with lots of field mice...
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne