Should I do a nest change-Help Please.

[msalcido]

I just did a nest check and all is good except for one of the gourds has mites. The babies appear to be around 18-23 days old. If I do a nest change, will they try and fly away?

[John Miller]

I'd tap about one-fourth teaspoon of 5% powder garden sevin into two sides of the nest, and quietly raise back up. The mites will be gone in 24 hours. You could plug with a string tied to an old sock loosely stuffed in the entrance when you lower, and gently pull out after you raise back up, after five or so minutes.

You likely can do a nest change if you prefer, but if they are as old as 23 days they may be flighty and you'll have to take precautions, such as a covered bucket, and they may be more prone to jumping when you put them back. I will admit I don't have experience on nest changes with older birds, and will read what others advise. I would consider doing nothing as an option too. Martins can be weakened by an excessive number of mites, but obviously can also tolerate a lot of them.

John M

[msalcido]

Thanks John. I did dust some sevin on the entrance of the gourd and also all on the outside of the gourd but didn't put any on the inside. I'm wondering if I should do so.

[John Miller]

Mike

Maybe lower tomorrow or in a few hours - don't want them to start jumping -- and see if fewer mites. Some folks put sevin in the entrance with the rationale that adults will drag it in. I prefer to avoid direct martin contact and try to tap tiny amounts on the end of a spoon into the sides o f the nest, ideally when the babies are about 10 days old. This breaks the mite reproduction cycle enough, I assume the mites are eliminated as they crawl through the nest material. Northern landlords with blowflies must still do nest changes however. And, will say in deference to the web host, the PMCA recommends nest changes as the safest way to reduce parasites in the nest.

John

[msalcido]

I'll wait until later this afternoon. If I don't see a difference, then I'll do as you suggested and lightly put some in around the sides of the nest.

Thanks again!

[Anthony Neira]

Mike, John is right on target! The mites cling to all birds, but they do roam around the nest. If it looks like none are in/on the nest ,it does'nt mean there are none on the birds themselves. The basic rule is, if you see Any,I would put sevin dust. I put s.dust in all my p.m nest, in the coners, and this year I have'nt seen a single mite. Good luck !

[Anthony Neira]

Opps!

[april57]

Us in Northern Canada we always have a huge blow fly infestation. I premake all the nests. In the fall we remove the nests and burn out the cavity. At that point I dust the whole cavity with Sevin then make the nest with straw and dead leaves. At nesting times I take the babies out, put in a can and look under and around for larvae and check the babies wings and bellies. Then will make another nest and burn the old ones. If they are too big we plug the hole with a plastic plug and lower the house and gently look under the nest. The babies all huddle in the corner. I really keep track of time so pretty good with ones that are too big. Then I figure they are ready to fledge and fat so let them be. They have survived. I have never lost a nest or baby...Lots of work though and last year we had 65 babies fledge. No fatalities.

[msalcido]

Thanks all. I checked the nest today and it still had mites inside the gourd, so I did a complete nest change. Carefully took out the babies, (younger than I had first thought) and quickly changed the pine straw and added Sevin to both the top of the pine and under the pine, hopefully this will take care of it until they fledge (thinking in about a week).

[DebA]

I use Sevin like John and I've never changed out a nest. Wait a sec...gotta scratch an itch. The subject of mites gives me the crawlies!
Deb

[msalcido]

Deb…I also use Sevin dust. I dust all gourds with it when putting them out at the beginning of the season. None of the other gourds have mites except for this one. Maybe I didn't add enough Sevin at the beginning!