John Miller wrote:At the wide ranging public sites I manage, a few times starlings have breached, but I made adjustments or went to a better SREH and martins thrived. If folks think I'm not successful in relying on SREH alone and not trapping starlings in a nest box trap, they can dispute my nest check results I guess. John M
John, perhaps when I make such posts, I should point out (as I have frequently done in the past) that I understand the differences between *public* and *private* sites where someone can make the choice to trap or not. Yours' is indeed a unique situation. The point is that even with SREH, your martins are not 100% protected from the wrath of starlings - hence the example given, so people that *can* and are *willing* to trap & shoot, would be better served in considering doing so. Please don't take offense - this was not meant as anything personal against you and your sites.
Besides, my comments above were also made to point out the impact of starlings on our other native species - not just martins, so your nest check data wouldn't help.
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
John Miller wrote:At the wide ranging public sites I manage, a few times starlings have breached, but I made adjustments or went to a better SREH and martins thrived. If folks think I'm not successful in relying on SREH alone and not trapping starlings in a nest box trap, they can dispute my nest check results I guess. John M
John I don't think anyone is doubting you. Don't take it that way.
CMF wrote:Kathy I witnessed a Starling battle with a Pileated and the Pileated lost! Talk about a disparity of size. The peaceful Pileated equipped with it's jackhammer was no match for the demonic Starling.
CMF - I'm not surprised that the docile Pileated gave it up, but I am surprised that the starling would even dare try with such a larger foe. How sad.
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
Starlings are so numerous...I doubt if I trapped it would help neighbors. It might help if neighbors were very close, and if I had a private site -- and I don't -- I would trap. I did close some lids to a restaurant garbage bin one winter to try and starve out the starlings - ha.
Our discussions about starlings and sparrows tend to veer away from the poster's original question. She asked whether starlings sitting on the martin house, but not building nests, would scare away her martins. I'm in the minority, but I say no, to the specific question. And I believe based on my experience that if folks choose not to trap (a separate box trap), or can't, they can use SREH and be a succesful landlord.
John,
My apologies for my post. I thought you could trap and just chose not to and rely on SREH only. Your last post cleared that up for me. Again my apologies.
John Miller wrote:I have a different perspective on this, gained from managing colonies in public parks. Starlings sitting on the house are not a direct threat to martins and won't scare them off at an established site, unless the starlings can enter your housing. Using some type of SREH will keep your martins safe. I say this because at public sites I manage the starlings are all over the area....to see one, all I have to do is look left or right, and the martins, protected by SREH, do just fine.
I don't know if you are using the traditional Trio housing with 6 x 6 units. Starlings mostly won't nest in it, but occasionally do. if you go to SREH, you'll want to modify the housing to deeper compartments.
John M
I do have a traditional trio house with 6x6 units. Update: This morning I woke up and looked outside only to see 6-10 martins flying around. I thought what a beautiful sight, then the bad stuff. The martins were under constant attack fron 2 starlings. I am at a loss. Trying to shoot then, but in Kansas when it blows 30+ it can be a little challenging! Where do I get traps?
You can get a universal trap from PMCA shop, self contained cage that fits in and catches HOSP or starlings - which also means martins, so monitor closely.
John, I dont know if anyone has said this but another predator that will pick up dead birds is the common crow. He may not be able to rob a pm nest but come fledging time they will kill any babby martin on the ground. If they get used to it they will even take them out of the air, during there first couple flights.
I was going to mention that earlier but did not, so I'm glad you added that information. I know a NY landlord who had been tossing HOSP into yard and crows were taking them. When bad weather came and adult martins were grounded and weak, crows took them, too. They had almost been trained to come to this guy's home for food.
John Miller wrote:I have a different perspective on this, gained from managing colonies in public parks. Starlings sitting on the house are not a direct threat to martins and won't scare them off at an established site, unless the starlings can enter your housing. Using some type of SREH will keep your martins safe. I say this because at public sites I manage the starlings are all over the area....to see one, all I have to do is look left or right, and the martins, protected by SREH, do just fine.
I don't know if you are using the traditional Trio housing with 6 x 6 units. Starlings mostly won't nest in it, but occasionally do. if you go to SREH, you'll want to modify the housing to deeper compartments.
John M
I do have a traditional trio house with 6x6 units. Update: This morning I woke up and looked outside only to see 6-10 martins flying around. I thought what a beautiful sight, then the bad stuff. The martins were under constant attack fron 2 starlings. I am at a loss. Trying to shoot then, but in Kansas when it blows 30+ it can be a little challenging! Where do I get traps?
I built one like this: http://purplemartin.org/shop/product_in ... 72f6002607 which you can buy from PMCA if you are not the hand type. IT has worked great for me and if you place it properly it is highly unlikely that martins will get in it.
If you wanted to build one plans are in the archives.
Last edited by DornCounty on Tue Mar 27, 2012 1:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Thanks to all for the schooling today. I have learned a lot about cleaning up the trash. This is the exact reason for joining the forum and I hope someday down the road I can pass along the knowledge you are instilling in me to someone who gets hooked on PM's as I have, thanks again.
