Update from the Sask Shrimp Eaters

[Broo&Tammy]

Hi all,
An update from our southern Sask colony
After a brutal start to the season, where we were very fortunate not to lose any birds, we just did our mid summer count
We have 2 houses, a North Star and a Centennial (which we will replace with a new North Star this fall)
We have 24 boxes and 21 occupied
We have 47 chicks and 33 eggs.
Today we found first signs of blowfly and replaced nests and dusted cavities (again) with food grade DE.
No mites so far

We have removed 5 non viable eggs, found 2 pecked viable eggs at the base of one house and 1 mortality

But everything was fine today:)

Other things around the yard, a Sharpie has had her eye on the 2 houses but we have a pretty savvy bunch this year, they seem to be on top of her.
I read that music may cover the night bird sounds, so we hung up 4 various sized Cathedral Bells wind chimes and so far so good, no night predation by owls so far.
Beyond the freezing rain feeding at the start of the season I have put out eggs whenever the temp dips to below 8c or is over 32 c. Canada Post actually delivered our 4 compartment tray stand and it gets a good amount of use, eggshells, scrambled egg, nesting materials and fresh green leaves are added as required.

We seemed to have had a tribunal of sorts the other day, a group of 11 males severely disciplined a sub adult, after they all took a round out of him, they took turns keeping him pinned near the garden wall. One male was particularly perturbed with the young delinquent and cycled in and out of the group of wall wardens and was VERY vocal in his displeasure. Went on for over an hour. This was the first time I have seen this behaviour. I was worried they might really hurt him, it was very aggressive.

House sparrows are INSANE this year, we trapped 26 yesterday, and they just keep coming.

Hope all is well with you,

Tammy

[C.C.Martins]

Quite the success! You learned fast, and the martins all the better for it- shrimp for everyone! Thanks for the update, keep an eye on that sharpie, when the chicks fledge it will have lots of targets.
I like the wind chime idea...only a matter of time an owl happens along. In fact, at our satellite site Iv decided to build a wire cage around the trio castle house. Its fairly remote and they are sitting ducks.

Keep after the sparrows! good job! around here rule #1 is always go out with the pellet gun. iv found the PMCA nest box traps effective. Iv placed them up under the eve of the house, about 7 feet up. Ill put white feathers in like a nest, lay out some long dried grass and feathers under it, and place just a bit sticking out of the hole. They can't resist. We recently got a blains repeating trap, 3 so far...would do better I think but I shoot as soon as they land. 37 as of yesterday. no quarter.

Poor old subbie, don't know what it did but it sounds bad. The young birds take a beating. We are down to 3 cavities that have not fledged yet, those that have would bring their chicks in and the fighting would start! if a chick tried to go in the wrong cavity, it would be dragged down. fast forward a week and now the adults do try to maintain order but often enough 7 or 8 chicks would go into a cavity if the adults backs are turned, if rebuffed at one they would fly over and wait till the coast is clear and push into any cavity.
Only a few adults stay with their brood, rest take off and come back in the morning.
I hope all your chicks fledge, sounds like you guys are doing great!
Tom

[i_carumba]

Glad you are having a successful season.
We had a terrible start here in SK as well and lost more than half the birds but are now on our way to the best year yet.
Sparrows were plentiful at the beginning but are so few now I removed the trap 2 months ago.

[C.C.Martins]

I_caramba,
Try to trap all off season, it will lessen the pressure when martins arrive. They seem to dispurse in the summer but in winter will be hungry and trappable.