Hi everyone,
My neighbor recently added a cat to their family. I have two martin houses and a Blue Bird nest box. They keep the cat out doors. Of course it concerns me. Martin's will be returning soon and the Blue Birds have already investigated their nest box. Any suggestions on cat management? I have pole guards on all poles and a Noel guard on the Blue Bird house. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Brent
Managing a neighbor's cat...
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C.C.Martins
- Posts: 3368
- Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:15 am
- Location: Corpus Christi Tx
- Martin Colony History: 2016- Visitors.
2017- 5 pair. 15 fledged
2018- 18 pair. 85 fledged
2019- 17 pair. 81 fledged
2020- 25 pair. 111 fledged
2021- 28 pair. 118 fledged
2022- 33 pair. 151 fledged
2023- 33 pair. 165 fledged
2024- 40 pair. 185 fledged
2025- 40 pair. 181 fledged
HOSP:
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.
Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 49 PMCA excluder gourds; 16 room Lonestar Goliad with Modified Excluder entrances.
2019: Visitors
2020: 3 pair, 11 fledged
2021: 10 pair, 30 fledged
2022: 11 pair, 35 fledged
2023: 18 pair, 101 fledged
2024: 39 pair, 181 fledged
2025: 51 pair, 216 fledged
PMCA member
Hey Brent,
Pole guards are #1 defense, cats are a worry here too. Iv not seen a cat mess with the martins but they do come around when birds are very active. Annoying to say the least especially when the young have fledged. We have coyotes in the neighborhood, so I caution the owners, hoping that would keep the cats in.
Iv shot a few with a small bb gun, one pump just to sting it. Live traps work too but I won't go into that.
Pole guards are #1 defense, cats are a worry here too. Iv not seen a cat mess with the martins but they do come around when birds are very active. Annoying to say the least especially when the young have fledged. We have coyotes in the neighborhood, so I caution the owners, hoping that would keep the cats in.
Iv shot a few with a small bb gun, one pump just to sting it. Live traps work too but I won't go into that.
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
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Black Jack
- Posts: 90
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 4:37 pm
- Location: NC
You have a sad situation. Pet owners who are not respectful of other peoples rights. Only thing you can do is keep your pole guards up and for sure watch for that cat when fledge time comes. That is when a cat will kill the young. Pets have more rights than wildlife sad to say.
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Dave Reynolds
- Posts: 2441
- 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
.... The guards should be all the protections you need. But I read about a guy who set up his sprinklers to come on when someone or something came into their yard.. He didn’t have any more cat trouble.. Good luck in 2021.
Dave
Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
Little Hocking, Ohio
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3788
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
Fortunately a majority of the fledges don't make it to the ground. Yes it happens from time to time. We live in the country and have a cat that is indoor(garage)/outdoor. He carries his catches to the back door and fortunately have only had a couple of PM's since I have lived here in 2012. They say cats kill countless numbers of birds every year, fortunately when it comes to martins they aren't on the ground much at all.
2026 HOSP 26
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
Thanks everyone. I will monitor closely and use the fog horn and water hose when I see the cat come into my yard. My neighbors know how much I care about the birds. I think that they would understand. I love cats...indoor cats especially.
Brent