LISTEN ! Birds Warn us of SNAKES !!!!

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Anthony Neira
Posts: 1319
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:12 pm
Location: San Antonio /Texas
Martin Colony History: Started in 1992 From neighbors old 1950-60's colonies. Have 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 4 MPP Poles, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals ,& 2 S&K 11" WITH Troyer Porches ready for 2019 Season !

Last week I heard some Grackles going crazy at the top of my front yard oak tree, I looked up but could not see a Hawk, Cat, squirrel, or anything else. After I cut the grass (the sun was setting) I looked out at the street, & from the angle I was looking, I though "@#%#", a PM JUST got hit by a car & was flapping it's wings !! :evil: , BUT I looked again & it was a 4 & 1/2 foot Rat Snake crossing the street ! :shock: I ran over to the Lil' Fella ( :wink: ) & (Yes! :shock: ) picked it up by it's tail ( :shock: :grin: :lol: ) & put it in a plastic cat litter box to go for a ride to the edge of the Kelly/ Lackland AFB heavily wooded grounds !
So LISTEN To The Birds ! Every warning is NOT Always a Hawk, Cat, a .....
Last edited by Anthony Neira on Fri May 27, 2016 3:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
PMCA Member, 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals + Tunnels, & 2 S&K Bo 11"s WITH Troyer Porches ! 4 MPPs, For 2019 Season !! :grin: Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.
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JudyA
Posts: 94
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2016 4:54 pm
Location: Clermont, FL

Thanks Anthony. We have also learned that when the jays/martins all start making a fuss, there is a reason!
2016 - 4 Pairs with 16 fledged
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Anthony Neira
Posts: 1319
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:12 pm
Location: San Antonio /Texas
Martin Colony History: Started in 1992 From neighbors old 1950-60's colonies. Have 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 4 MPP Poles, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals ,& 2 S&K 11" WITH Troyer Porches ready for 2019 Season !

So True Judy ! Most of us are so busy keeping an eye out for a Winged predators & that Snakes will show up trapped in netting, or under the Snake Guard, we don't look for them BEFORE they try to go after our P.Ms ! :wink: I know I say this every season, but, with my poles, being too close to the house, I'm constantly making sure there is no way a Snake can get on my roof, I don't have rain gutters extending along the sides/corners of our house, any pipes coming from the ground into our attic, have no space for a snake to squeeze by, & I keep our trees away from my roof.
STILL, I'll NEVER forget the stories ( & I've see this with my own EYES :shock: ) about how Birds of Prey can drop a Snake by accident on top of ANYTHING !! :shock: Best of Luck everyone !! Hey ! Good to see Mark & Matt F. still on the forum !! ( Why wouldn't they be ? :grin: :wink: )
PMCA Member, 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals + Tunnels, & 2 S&K Bo 11"s WITH Troyer Porches ! 4 MPPs, For 2019 Season !! :grin: Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.
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4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1498
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: TN/Collierville
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.

Anthony,
I must apologize for not dropping by your colony at Thanksgiving. A visit on your porch while we talk purple martins would have been great experience. Unfortunately I did not have time to make the trip to San Antonio. I hope one day we can still have that visit.

I can relate to the fear of snakes in a martin house. I have seen the YouTube videos of the snakes in martin house and it makes me leary. One year I blindly stuck my hand into a nest and felt something squirm. I pulled my hand away and cautiously looked into the compartment after my eyes had adjusted to the dark cavity. Inside was a female martin glaring at me. It was an experience I will never forget. Her dedication to her eggs and that look she gave me. Back off buddy!!
Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
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Anthony Neira
Posts: 1319
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:12 pm
Location: San Antonio /Texas
Martin Colony History: Started in 1992 From neighbors old 1950-60's colonies. Have 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 4 MPP Poles, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals ,& 2 S&K 11" WITH Troyer Porches ready for 2019 Season !

No Problem Mark, you'er welcomed to my colony ANY Time !! :grin:
Your Female Martin story reminded me of what happened yesterday ! I lowered my MPP , and after checking the 4 gourds below the 2 Trios, I came to the last room on the upper left corner of the left house, I opened the door, and as I smiled at the 1-2 day old hatchlings , I noticed a Mama PM behind them resting side ways just looking at me ( :shock: :oops: ) !! " Sorry Mama", I told her, & thanked her for being so patient with me !! :grin: Back up she went with the whole brew, & she never panicked !! :grin:
PMCA Member, 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals + Tunnels, & 2 S&K Bo 11"s WITH Troyer Porches ! 4 MPPs, For 2019 Season !! :grin: Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.
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