Found Male ASY martin dead in gourd.
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Rodger Drye
- Posts: 671
- Joined: Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:07 am
- Location: NC/Mt. Pleasant
- Martin Colony History: Have been hosting and providing a sanactuary for Purple Martins for 30 years.
More than likely Jason, It was a Starling. They have a long strong beak and will use it to attack a Martin especially if they can corner one in a Gourd or Cavity. I’ve had the same thing happen to my Martin’s with their eyes pecked out and heads pecked bald. Sparrows a smaller and weaker bird usually (if they want that cavity) attack PM’s eggs and or PM’s babies.
Both hostile Bird’s will take over the cavity and build their own nest right over the top of broken PM eggs and dead PM babies.!
That’s why it is so important to administer Nest Checks. This allows you to keep up with the activity of your Colony, Good and Bad. Also Good Traps are invaluable and go a long way in keeping S&S populations in check.
Rodger
Both hostile Bird’s will take over the cavity and build their own nest right over the top of broken PM eggs and dead PM babies.!
That’s why it is so important to administer Nest Checks. This allows you to keep up with the activity of your Colony, Good and Bad. Also Good Traps are invaluable and go a long way in keeping S&S populations in check.
Rodger
PMCA Member
Have been Hosting and Protecting Martin's for 30 years.
Have been Hosting and Protecting Martin's for 30 years.
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Archer
- Posts: 786
- Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:09 pm
- Location: Manitoba/Altona
- Martin Colony History: six pair in 2014, have grown to 52 pairs in 2017.
Hi Jason, sorry about losing one of your martins. Are you aware of Sreh? (Starling resistant entrance holes). They could help eliminate future losses by starlings. They are available to purchase on this website and are also easy to make if you are handy. I use them on my housing. It may take the martins a little longer to learn how to use them but offer long term rewards of safety.
2011- first year trying, a few visitors.
2012-One ASY pair, raised two young, lots of subby visitors. So thankfull.
2013-daily subby visits.
2014-Six SY pairs
2015-18 pair, 83 fledglings
2016-36 pair, 147 fledglings
2017-52 pairs, 192 fledglings.
2018-60 pair, 246 fledglings.
2019-59 pair, 238 fledglings.
2020-62 pair.
2021-65 pair.
2022-63 pair.
2023-60 pair
2024-62 pair
2012-One ASY pair, raised two young, lots of subby visitors. So thankfull.
2013-daily subby visits.
2014-Six SY pairs
2015-18 pair, 83 fledglings
2016-36 pair, 147 fledglings
2017-52 pairs, 192 fledglings.
2018-60 pair, 246 fledglings.
2019-59 pair, 238 fledglings.
2020-62 pair.
2021-65 pair.
2022-63 pair.
2023-60 pair
2024-62 pair
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John Miller
- Posts: 4863
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
If you are seeing a starling entering, then that's probably the cause. But on warm days in Missouri in
April there will be a lot of fighting to claim units. it can get intense. If this martin died of exhaustion, the "victor" might have continued to peck to get the martin to get up and leave.
John Miller
April there will be a lot of fighting to claim units. it can get intense. If this martin died of exhaustion, the "victor" might have continued to peck to get the martin to get up and leave.
John Miller