Missing eggs?

SMJohnson · Wed Jun 03, 2015 2:05 pm

Nest check on May 16 found Troyer horizontal gourd with 5 recently laid eggs.
May 25 check showed eggs missing with no evidence, egg chips. At that time
had no predator guard. Immediate suspicion could be snake attack. Many
indications would lead to believe that was not the case. Indicators, no snake
found in any of 8 gourds on rack, wide open closely mowed grass beneath
rack system, none of the 5 or 6 pairs that were nesting in rack system seemed
to be at all disturbed, and ASY pair was committed to that particular gourd
including now having it packed with green leafs. I now have all 12 poles
protected with predator guards. I realize a snake attack could occur and
not be aware. I believe eggs will be laid in that gourd soon, by what I believe
to be pair present when eggs went missing. My question is I've been told
that the parents can know when eggs are infertile and remove them and
then renest. I'm looking for input on what others might know regarding
this possibility.

Chuck4 · Wed Jun 03, 2015 2:18 pm

Based on everything I've seen posted here, it sounds like a snake may have gotten the eggs. I had a pair last year that had a batch of eggs which didn't hatch. They moved over to the next gourd and built a new nest and had a second clutch.

DornCounty · Wed Jun 03, 2015 2:25 pm

I currently have many martins ejecting eggs that have gone bad.

If the eggs were around during the prolonged cold spell that is a possibility.

HOuse sparrows are also likely

malachy cleary · Thu Jun 04, 2015 12:51 am

I'll
Be damned. Same thing happened to me. A Troyer Horizintal gourd with
6 eggs,Conley 2 entrance, mud, leaves, straw in the nest WITH a big
Climbing predator guard....vanished. No eggs on ground, no chips. All other
Nests in order on the T-14. ???. Weird. Thoughts?

SMJohnson · Thu Jun 04, 2015 7:00 pm

Any other opinions?

Gary Berger · Fri Jun 05, 2015 4:05 pm

If you have single SY males, they will definitely take eggs and days old nestlings.

tonyg · Sun Jun 07, 2015 1:41 am

Had 2 gourds, one with 5 eggs, the other with 6..five days after nest check all were gone...my guess is SY's wrecking havoc..damn things!!!

cary-nw-fla · Sun Jun 07, 2015 10:57 am

My guess would be SY's or removal of bad eggs. Have had eggs disappear the same way and have netting up. Snakes have been my biggest problem & every time I always found the snake in another gourd on the rack. Why would he leave the buffet??