HI there,
We have two PM houses in back of our house. We have been lucky over the years to always have some residents. This year we started out with 4 nesting pairs. They appeared to be happy as can be, but one morning about a week ago I went outside and did not hear their talking. Over the course of the next week, I determined that they were actually gone. What could have happened? I keep the sparrows at bay, we have no starlings, I have a predator guard on each pole. The houses are located according to the recommendations on this forum. I even have a pond close to the houses. There is no evidence of death in or near the houses.
Tom
Martins disappeared.
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phldave
- Posts: 528
- Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:44 pm
- Location: Iowa/Pleasant Hill
- Martin Colony History: Started trying in 2012 and still trying
Did you have eggs, hatchlings or find anything unusual with their nests?
2012 late start
2013 nothing yet, lots a lookers
2014 Bust again
2015 Bust again
2016 Bust again
2017 Bust again
2018 April 14 a group joined me, but moved on after a week
2019 Had SY male seriously check me out but didn't stay
2013 nothing yet, lots a lookers
2014 Bust again
2015 Bust again
2016 Bust again
2017 Bust again
2018 April 14 a group joined me, but moved on after a week
2019 Had SY male seriously check me out but didn't stay
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phldave
- Posts: 528
- Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:44 pm
- Location: Iowa/Pleasant Hill
- Martin Colony History: Started trying in 2012 and still trying
Any parasites in nests?
2012 late start
2013 nothing yet, lots a lookers
2014 Bust again
2015 Bust again
2016 Bust again
2017 Bust again
2018 April 14 a group joined me, but moved on after a week
2019 Had SY male seriously check me out but didn't stay
2013 nothing yet, lots a lookers
2014 Bust again
2015 Bust again
2016 Bust again
2017 Bust again
2018 April 14 a group joined me, but moved on after a week
2019 Had SY male seriously check me out but didn't stay
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
How about a photo of your house/guard? I wonder if a snake got past the pole guard.
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
How far above the ground are the 5gal buckets? Are they stationary or do they flex and wobble? Do you have a winch or how far above the ground is the winch? The snakes can reach quite a long ways, and they can use anything like a winch to aid them in getting past a predator guard. Snakes are a problem, and more and more people are finding out that their predator guards are not good enough to stop the snakes.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
ytr1903, that bucket may be adequate, it helps that it wobbles. Sometimes a small 2ft long snake can crawl between the bucket and the pole, as I had that happen, the opening was 3/8in but the snake got thru that opening. I feel that you may have a fairly good predator guard but still not 100% sure.
It helps tremendously to solve such questions by having a winch where you can lower the housing and check to see what happened, and do it quickly.
It helps tremendously to solve such questions by having a winch where you can lower the housing and check to see what happened, and do it quickly.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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M.Stephens
- Posts: 1130
- Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 3:14 pm
- Location: Texas/Texarkana
I am one of the one's that Emil is referring too. I have snake netting and a 5ft. long 6" dia. removable pvc and the snakes are still getting past the guard.This is the 3rd one this year that made it past the guard. Next year all of my poles will have a fence charger attached. There is no fool proof guard out there, believe me I know from experience. A solar fence charger would probably be fool proof if it doesn't malfunction.Emil Pampell-Tx wrote: Snakes are a problem, and more and more people are finding out that their predator guards are not good enough to stop the snakes.
Malcolm
2015 (110 nesting pair)
2014 (92 nesting pair)
2013 (75 nesting pair)
2012 (35 nesting pair)
2011 (20 pair)
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PMCA Member
2015 (110 nesting pair)
2014 (92 nesting pair)
2013 (75 nesting pair)
2012 (35 nesting pair)
2011 (20 pair)
____________
PMCA Member
Could they have left because of hawks or owls in the vicinity, as they had not yet laid eggs? Sorry for you Tom, I know it must be really sad to have them disappear like that. Hope they are ok. Also wondered if it isn't pretty late for laying eggs?
Regarding the discussion of snakes, we just had our first one caught in our netting a few days ago. Do you know how they get past the netting? Since this is just our 2nd year and the babies are all just a couple of weeks old I was pretty horrified a snake was already "in the picture". And how do you use the fence charger? Our solar charger for our tape for the horses is pretty close to the houses. I am wondering what you charge, the pole? That can't be right? Wouldn't it simply become a ground, or is that the point?
Janet (who doesn't understand electricity as it applies to snakes and poles)
Regarding the discussion of snakes, we just had our first one caught in our netting a few days ago. Do you know how they get past the netting? Since this is just our 2nd year and the babies are all just a couple of weeks old I was pretty horrified a snake was already "in the picture". And how do you use the fence charger? Our solar charger for our tape for the horses is pretty close to the houses. I am wondering what you charge, the pole? That can't be right? Wouldn't it simply become a ground, or is that the point?
Janet (who doesn't understand electricity as it applies to snakes and poles)
2011: First house late June, lots of visitors
2012: One pair of SY, 5 fledged
2013: 4 pair, 18 fledged
2014: 4 pair, 20 fledged
2015: 14 pair
2016: 18 pair
2012: One pair of SY, 5 fledged
2013: 4 pair, 18 fledged
2014: 4 pair, 20 fledged
2015: 14 pair
2016: 18 pair
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Larry A Kronemeyer
- Posts: 500
- Joined: Mon May 22, 2006 5:27 pm
- Location: Illinois/Millstadt
PM sent
Larry and Judy Kronemeyer
est. 1999
1-12 compartment Trendsetter and 8 gourds(crescents)
12 gourd rack (crescents)
Member PMCA
est. 1999
1-12 compartment Trendsetter and 8 gourds(crescents)
12 gourd rack (crescents)
Member PMCA
One thing to add about the snake netting - the two common sizes seem to be 1/2", and 3/4" sized holes in the netting itself.
The best defense would be to use both.
There may be small snakes that can get through the larger 3/4" openings, but more likely larger snakes that can get past the smaller 1/2" openings, without getting hung up.
The best defense would be to use both.
There may be small snakes that can get through the larger 3/4" openings, but more likely larger snakes that can get past the smaller 1/2" openings, without getting hung up.
My martins have disappeared, too. I have a predator guard, so don't know what happened. After reading these posts, I suspect a snake got past the guard. I will do all I can to rectify the situation so it doesn't happen next year. My question....when the martins' babies are killed, where do the adults go? Are they hanging out in nearby trees or have they started an early journey back to South America? I am sick about their misfortune,but just curious as to where they are now.