snake at the gourds !

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SJohnson
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2015 10:54 am
Location: NC/Kinston

This morning as all mornings I get up, go to the doors and look at the martins. Everything was fine. Then I heard the martins being very loud and flying in a small circle above the gourds. I looked out. there was a snake wrapped around the top of one gourd. My husband got the snake down and killed it. Will be checking the gourd later today to see if eggs are still there. Hoping we got the snake quick enough. We have had martin gourds for the past 15 years and this was a first. So now we will put up some kind of protector.
Yes ! Yes! Yes! Finally!!!! Two pair have finally make it. Just as pretty as ever.
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Luv Ya Purple
Posts: 77
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2012 12:44 pm
Location: SE Texas
Martin Colony History: 2012 - 2014 - 0 pair
2015 - 1 pair
2016 - 5 pairs

Did I read this right, you haven't had a snake attack in 15 years? Wow, you have been very lucky up until this point. I know most want to kill snakes, but you cant blame it for being higher on the food chain. Maybe try relocating?
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Ed Svetich-WI
Posts: 815
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.

It is a repeating question here on the Form., "Why do I need predator/snake guards? It is the same reason we have auto insurance. You never know when you will need it.It is a difficult lesson to learn. I have never had a snake or a racoon raid my colony, but I have had guards on the entire time. I will be checking them this afternnon to make sure all is well.

Thank you for the reminder.Hopefully there was no carnage.

Ed
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taxidermy lady
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
Location: IL/Ellis Grove
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!

I don't even have martins yet and have predator guards on mine :roll: :roll: :shock: :shock: :| :| :???: :???:
Sharon from southern Illinois
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