2 dead adults
This morning we found 2 adult males laying on the ground under the houses/gourds. There has been visitors to our colony recently but unfortunately we are in central Florida and it has be unseasonably cold, in the low 40s/30s at night. Nothing appeared to be wrong with either bird. We lowered pole to inspect the house/gourds. You can tell there has been birds inside but no nesting material. Nothing seemed wrong with the housing. I take it down every year and clean put all the old nesting stuff but do not use chemicals on them when i clean. This is my 5th year with a colony and although there are always casualties through out the season, I have never experienced this. Is it possible with the strange artic storm that was here for multiple days that they starved?
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3789
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
How high have the temps been during the day? You said 30-40's at night, which that alone isn't typically cold enough to kill them. Depending on how long they have been back and how tough their migration was, starvation could be an option. However if temps have been getting into high 40's low 50's during the day there should be some insects. Typically they could survive 3 days without insects but again if they had a tough migration and just happened to land in your area in temps not getting above the low 40's they could perish quicker.
2026 HOSP 27
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
I have not experienced anything like this myself. I have had cold weather with temps in the 20's at night keep the birds from feeding so they stay tucked in the nests. I have read others have found multiple birds dead in one nest trying to stay warm. Seems odd they were found outside of the nest on the ground??
Jeff
I am just south of you. The last 3 days have been pretty rough. I noticed they were making short low flights and returning soon after with drooping wings. I know they fed well today. Counted 6 this evening returning, but counted over 14 last week. Not sure if some were stopping by to rest before heading further north or if we lost some. I’m going to check all the gourds tomorrow to see if there were any casualties.
Temps had been in 50s' during the day but nasty conditions,wind chill, overcast. I thought about starlings but neither bird looked like it had any trauma, of course I didn't investigate the bodies any further than what I could see. I don't know much about starlings but I will research and keep and eye out now. Thanks everyone for your responses.