Bummer!

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Zheeeem
Posts: 34
Joined: Thu May 24, 2018 8:38 am
Location: Corolla, NC

So, today's nest check revealed that all my eggs were missing. (One clutch of 4 eggs in a T14 house.) No shell bits. Nest intact. I'm assuming that a snake got past my bird-netting predator guard. The eggs were at the very back of the cavity, so I reckon that any critter other than a snake would have had trouble getting back there without trashing things up. There also were no footprints near the pole, and the area around the base is all sand.

Colony empty.

So next season I'm going to use a really good predator guard made for a 3" aluminium pole.
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BillieJR
Posts: 766
Joined: Tue Apr 11, 2017 11:39 am
Location: Monroe, WI

Oh no - that's really too bad. Did the parents stick around, tho?
Billie from southern Wisconsin
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rrmartins
Posts: 1441
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:04 am
Location: Round Rock, TX

That’s bad news, sorry. How big around was your bird netting around your pole?
2021
T14
10 Pair
49 Fledged
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-=DKC=-
Posts: 356
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2017 2:26 pm
Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Martin Colony History: ................
2019: 11 pairs
2018: 11 pairs - 43 fledged
2017: 4 pairs - 17 fledged

Sorry to hear that. :-(

You know, snakes leave prints too. Especially in sand. Just not footprints.
"If at first you don't succeed, keep on suckin' till you do succeed." - Curly Howard
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Zheeeem
Posts: 34
Joined: Thu May 24, 2018 8:38 am
Location: Corolla, NC

rrmartins wrote: ↑
Fri Jun 29, 2018 6:08 pm
 That’s bad news, sorry. How big around was your bird netting around your pole?
Um. Well, clearly not big enough. Probably a foot or so on each side.
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Zheeeem
Posts: 34
Joined: Thu May 24, 2018 8:38 am
Location: Corolla, NC

BillieJR wrote: ↑
Fri Jun 29, 2018 6:02 pm
 Oh no - that's really too bad. Did the parents stick around, tho?
I had between 6-8 regular birds and several partial nests beyond the single clutch. About all I see today is the SY male who had been nesting. At least I think it's him from the call. Who knows, they might all come back, but for now it's pretty much vacant.
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Dave Reynolds
Posts: 2442
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged

Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged

Zheeeem wrote: ↑
Fri Jun 29, 2018 5:42 pm
 So, today's nest check revealed that all my eggs were missing. (One clutch of 4 eggs in a T14 house.) No shell bits. Nest intact. I'm assuming that a snake got past my bird-netting predator guard. The eggs were at the very back of the cavity, so I reckon that any critter other than a snake would have had trouble getting back there without trashing things up. There also were no footprints near the pole, and the area around the base is all sand.

Colony empty.

So next season I'm going to use a really good predator guard made for a 3" aluminium pole.
So sorry to hear that news... That's terrible...

Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
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rrmartins
Posts: 1441
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:04 am
Location: Round Rock, TX

Zheeeem wrote: ↑
Sat Jun 30, 2018 7:27 am
rrmartins wrote: ↑
Fri Jun 29, 2018 6:08 pm
 That’s bad news, sorry. How big around was your bird netting around your pole?
Um. Well, clearly not big enough. Probably a foot or so on each side.
I’m sorry, was just trying to help you out. Good luck!!
2021
T14
10 Pair
49 Fledged
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