S&K Ranch nest check question

[copper]

I do have a question for forum members....

How do you do a nest check with the S&K Ranch top two cavities, the ones on the sides??? I can look in and see nests in there. All day I see the PMs going in and out. The only thing I can think of is to pull the top off, but that might mess up the Ranch. Maybe get a a mirror like the dentist use with a flash light shinning on the mirror??? That way I could see the nest and if there are eggs. First time I have had a nest in the sides of the Ranch.

Thanks

Copper

[Sigundo]

For the most part copper, I think you just have to let the attic spaces go, nest check wise. Some might say to pry up the roof and peek away, but if you snap off that clip, you'll rue the day. They DO seem to really like the attic space, maybe because you CAN'T get in there and mess with them.. hehe. I'd just let them go, and be happy if they are martins and not anything else.

To later remove (un-gently) the nest, you can usually *lift* the middle of the roof, and it'll flex just enough to remove the nest, but it ain't built to be removing and replacing it. I personally don't use the attic myself, even though the martins like it, I use it as a heat barrier of sorts (and also I shaved the hole a bit larger during a martin *anxiety* attack and NOW starlings can get in, so I have it closed off completely now.

[Guest]

Copper, last year was my first year and my house is an S&K. I had a SY pair building a nest in one end of the attic space and a SY unmated male begin a nest in the other end. The pair laid eggs but did not build a good nest, as it was spread all over the place. After they left the nest at the end of the season I reached in under the middle of the roof I found several scattered eggs that never hatched. So, it may be an attactive place for some Martins, but I think it is just too hot up there (especially here in Texas) and I closed both ends off this year. The area in the attic is just to big to fill up with nesting material and make a good nest were the eggs will not roll around in my humble opinion. It does make for a good insulation barrier for the compartments below though.

Bud
North Plano, Texas

[CraigMo.]

Hey Copper, go to walmart and get those dental mirrors that dentists use. Kind of like a tooth brush but with a mirror on the end in a slanted way so you can look behind teeth. I used them on my barnhouse and you usually can get a good count on eggs, but a little harder on babies. They are cheap also. I use it on other nest that have built a big mudd wall to