Frustrating year

steve r · Thu Mar 05, 2020 6:00 am

I’m getting more and more frustrated every day. I’ve hosted PMs for many years, but this year nothing. I’ve had one or two show up but none staying. I haven’t changed anything same set up for the past 10 years. I’m back to playing the dawn song and it seems like I’m starting all over again. Grrrrr

Fuzzmeister · Thu Mar 05, 2020 10:08 am

Steve
Over the past 10 years that you have been a landlord, what dates do your martins usually return?

Dave Duit · Thu Mar 05, 2020 10:14 am

Just curious as to the size of your colony in the past years. Sometimes, survival rate affects the colony's success or failure. Another possibility could be that there may have been a massive mite infestation, owl predation or bad continuous hawk attacks.

flyin-lowe · Thu Mar 05, 2020 10:44 am

It might help if you tell us about your colony last year. How many pair did you have,how many ASY/SY, how many fledged, did you have any other issues, like predator attacks or anything else? Assuming your colony had more the 6 pair or so it is pretty unlikely that they all did not survive the migration. So usually the only reason a colony of that size or bigger would not return is if there were issues last year. Some people blame tree encroachment, and maybe that happens but I have pictures of a couple colonies in my part of Indiana that have trees touching the housing. The colonies have been there for a long time and the martins don't mind the trees. Now if hawks start using them as a way to hide during an attack it could cause them to leave.

steve r · Thu Mar 05, 2020 11:08 am

Last year had 24 pair not sure how many fledged. year before 32 pair again not sure how many fledged. First male spotted at my site this year 1-12-20
Most years they are early. In fact there have been years im the first to post. I havnt changed anything but there not coming back or staying when they do show up. Im not home all day as work still keeps me away from home.

steve r · Thu Mar 05, 2020 11:16 am

did have a Hawk attack a few last year but not enough to stop them. As for Owls not a problem I have been playing loud music for years to keep them away. Something myself and Steve K came up with.

Brad Biddle · Thu Mar 05, 2020 12:14 pm

Snake problems last year is my suspicion. Grey rat snakes will wipe a colony out

steve r · Thu Mar 05, 2020 3:52 pm

Could be snakes. But I have 6”pipe going 4’ up from the ground with netting on top. At least my bat population is growing. Have hundreds and growing.

deancamp · Thu Mar 05, 2020 6:16 pm

Your pipe should start 24" from the ground and be 24" long, that would make the top of it 4'. Is that what you're saying?

steve r · Thu Mar 05, 2020 7:16 pm

No I have a 6” pvc pipe that starts at the ground and goes up 4’. There is a cap on top of the pipe with the gourd rack pipe going through it. Almost in possible for a snake to climb. I’m leaning towards the dRn hawk.

Davlyn · Thu Mar 05, 2020 9:06 pm

Do you think something may be getting them shortly after their return, just asking because this happened to me. Maybe a hawk, just a thought.

steve r · Thu Mar 05, 2020 9:12 pm

That’s my thoughts a Hawk. We have seen a sharp shin hawk hanging around. There are lots of red tailed hawks in our neighborhood plus a pair of bald eagles but I don’t worry about them

Davlyn · Thu Mar 05, 2020 10:48 pm

I bet that's your problem, hopefully he will move on soon!

flyin-lowe · Fri Mar 06, 2020 8:38 am

A decent sized rat snake could get up a 6 inch PVC guard that is only 4 foot tall. Is the PVC pipe split down the middle or is it a solid piece that was slid around the pole? Rat snakes can get up almost anything. Just curious was all of your colony still there at the end of the year and did it appear as if they left for the south? If it was a snake that was getting past your guard and sneaking in and eating martins from a nest at night, I don't think the other martins would necessarily realize this was going on and I am not sure they would abandon a colony. If there was big snake that went in over a few nights and ate your entire colony, I would think you would recognize something like that going on.

steve r · Fri Mar 06, 2020 8:48 am

Part of my problem last year was. Gone on vacation to much England for 2 weeks in May then at the Beach Condo for the month of July. It could have been a Snake but I dont think so. Im leaning more to the hawk.

mwren · Fri Mar 06, 2020 9:22 am

This topic of "Frustrating year" is a great advertisement for the importance of routine nest checks. Most all of the questions raised here could be answered by nest checking.

Bird

steve r · Fri Mar 06, 2020 11:00 am

Mike,

This is veryy true, Last year i was so busy with being gone and working I never did nest checks. Maybe its finally time to retire. Im 66 and still loving work thou.

Mike Mack · Fri Mar 06, 2020 12:20 pm

Hi steve r. Flyin lowe is right about snakes going up and over a 4 foot 6inch pipe. Easy for the larger ones. Good luck and you will not miss work after you retire. I did nine monthes ago and love it.

steve r · Fri Mar 06, 2020 12:26 pm

Im a salesman so most of my day is like a social event. Lunch and chatting with people. Plus Im making crazy money Business is booming in FLorida. 1000 people a day moving here.

KathyF · Fri Mar 06, 2020 12:36 pm

Steve, how do you *know* you don't have an owl problem? Flashing lites may work ...until they don't. for a short period. I didn't know I had an owl problem, until I put up some game cameras.
The fact that your colony size is dwindling indicates there's a problem....somewhere. First step would be to put up a game camera for each system you have and check the cards each morning.