I'm a Believer In Snake Netting

[iluvbirds]

My last nest of (4) 24 day old nestling's were saved by the Bird/Snake netting I put around my poles. Last night and early this morning we had some strong rains. When I got up and looked outside at the gourd rack where the last nest of babies are, I couldn't see any of them sticking their heads out the entrance holes. I watched for a long time. I was worried that the rains had drowned them, because the last nest change I did their nest was sopping wet. Anyhow I decided I was going to check on them. I know you're not supposed to check on them after about 20-22 days old, but I was really concerned something was wrong. I called my hubby home from work to have him help me lower the rack. Well, he got out to the rack before I did, and discovered a snake in the netting! I know I'm probably going to tick some people off with this next part, but here goes. My hubby is as scared of snakes as I am, so he kills it. Anyhow we go ahead and lower the rack, and all the babies were safe, but their nest was soaking wet, so I changed it out. When my hubby pulled the snake out from around the pole, he couldn't get all the netting off of it, so he buried it netting and all. There were several PM's flying around the time he killed the snake, but they haven't been back since he buried it. I don't know if they were my PM's or not. I guess we'll see later this afternoon when they usually come in if it was them or not. The parents of the babies have been back and are feeding them.... .... I hope them seeing the snake doesn't discourage them from nesting here again next season.... ......

I just looked out, and two of the babies have their heads sticking out the entrance hole.... .....

I would like to thank Steve K and others for giving the suggestion to use the netting. I'm sure it saved my babies lives.... ....


Here's a picture of them before I put them back in their cleaned out nest. I have a picture of the snake if anyone would like to see it. Just email me. I think it's a rat snake, but am not sure.

[robndebby]

I have to admit, I'm like you - the best kind of snake there is, is a dead snake! Year before last at the end of the season when all had fledged but were still hanging around, we had a black snack get into one of the houses. Unfortunately he got one of the Martins before we had a chance to get him. My husband is not afraid of snakes and usually chases them away to a further part of the property, but this snake he did kill. The next year the Martins were back in full force, so don't worry, they will be back. We didn't use any predator guards that year (yes, we are stupid) but we do now. We have a 3 foot by 3 foot piece of hardware cloth around the poles and that has kept everything but the flying predators away. I must say, in all of our 14 years of Martin-ening, we've only had the one snake, so we've been pretty lucky. I'm home most of the time and the Martins let me know when a hawk is in the area so I usually go out and clap him away. I clapped so much one day my hands hurt, so my husband made me two pieces of wood hinged together to clap with. Now that is loud and gets rid of the hawk, but doesn't bother the Martins. I know you'll worry until next year whether they'll show up or not, but fear not, they will return and you'll have another good season.