Dead babies

[Robbi]

Second year landlord with 2 pair this year. 4 eggs in one, which hatched and fledged. Second nest in a Heath gourd, I think 3 eggs and hatchlings. At the end of week one, we went out of town for 3 days, came back to dead babies and no martins. No way to know what happened, but we have had torrential rains for 3 weeks in south Florida. No way for mamas to hunt and feed babies in these downpours. Could they have weakened and died? I had several visitors this morning for the first time since Wednesday. Also, how the heck do you clean out a Heath gourd??? Ants are helping me now.

[Robbi]

I just walked out to take a look, and I’ve got 3 martins dive bombing and fussing at me. No nests or eggs that I know of. I’ll take a closer look later and see if there’s a nest I don’t know about. Ants and flies are gone.

[flyin-lowe]

I haven't heard any other FL landlords on here saying rains were to heavy that it is killing the martins. As long as there is an hour or so break each day in the rain then they can get out and feed. I am assuming the dead babies were still in the gourds and not out on the ground? Most predators would have either eaten the babies or you would see injuries to them if they were pecked to death by some other birds. Sorry about the loss, maybe some more details as to exactly the condition of the babies might help solve the mystery.

[Robbi]

No babies on the ground. No history of predators. Haven’t cleaned the gourd out yet so no clues. Ants are gone, so I’ll try today.

[Robbi]

Got the gourd cleaned out and everything was soaking wet. I think the drain hole must have been clogged with nest material, the other 3 gourds have pine straw in them, but are dry. I’m thinking the wet nest did them in.