Wing entrapment just before dark
Hope I did the right thing. Last evening after watching all martin activity and feeding above our site I walked near gourd rack to head in for the night. I heard a martin fluttering and noticed it appeared stuck. Not totally sure it was entrapment or not but I didn't want to find it dead in the morning. It is a s&k tunnel with round hole and crescent ( crescent was the open hole). I lowered the rack quickly which I have never done after birds have gone to roost and they all flushed. The stuck one remained, I popped off tunnel and there was a male behind him. I had to pull him back out of tunnel then wiggle the other one free. They both flew unharmed. As soon as the rack went up all martins landed and went back in gourds ( as best as I could tell it looked like all of them). Was too near dark to tell if he was really trapped or if he was being held from behind so I just made a quick decision to intervene. This being my first year using crescents I'm a little concerned about entrapment needless to say. Hope I did right thing and didn't scare any of our martins away. David
2013 61 pairs
2012 22 pairs
2011 2 pair 7 eggs, 6 hatched, 4 fledged
2010 daily visitors
2004-2009 a few visits each April.
2012 22 pairs
2011 2 pair 7 eggs, 6 hatched, 4 fledged
2010 daily visitors
2004-2009 a few visits each April.
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John Miller
- Posts: 4867
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
When you see entrapment, you'd see a wing outside the entrance. At worst, two wings out top and bottom and at first glance would look like a big round smudge of feathers -- not moving. this manufactuer has added a good guard on the inside of their newer tunnels..maybe you can call them to consult. If you buy one and look at it, you can probably copy and make some of your own for older tunnels.
I think you did no harm as there was still twilight...there will be lots of shuffling around inside the housing on warm spring evenings. If had been dark and cold, I'd have left until morning.
John M
I think you did no harm as there was still twilight...there will be lots of shuffling around inside the housing on warm spring evenings. If had been dark and cold, I'd have left until morning.
John M
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Dennis - AL
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Tue Jun 22, 2010 8:16 am
- Location: Atmore, AL
Sure sounds like a wing entrapment David. I have had 2 over the last three years and was able to free both birds. Good job on watching them as they came in to roost.
I would say wing entrapment is more likely to occur early in the season and when they begin fledging. The younger birds (fledglings) tend to struggle some what to gain entrance where as early in the season there is a struggle to gain cavity possession by the returning birds.
I would say wing entrapment is more likely to occur early in the season and when they begin fledging. The younger birds (fledglings) tend to struggle some what to gain entrance where as early in the season there is a struggle to gain cavity possession by the returning birds.
Persistence is not necessarily the key to success, but can be likened to the proverbial sand that brings forth a precious pearl.
PMCA Member
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PMCA Member
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Just wish I could have saved one of our male from the coopers hawk today. Still have about 40 but they have got to be on gaurd. Too much squabbling
2013 61 pairs
2012 22 pairs
2011 2 pair 7 eggs, 6 hatched, 4 fledged
2010 daily visitors
2004-2009 a few visits each April.
2012 22 pairs
2011 2 pair 7 eggs, 6 hatched, 4 fledged
2010 daily visitors
2004-2009 a few visits each April.