Why I don’t have Martins back?

[Tommy Coley]

Whippy, I don’t know how to post a picture of my site .I will try to figure it out. Do you know how good a solar power electric fence box would work on a guard. I been thinking about trying it , just don’t know what size would be strong enough. I did have 1 ASY Male stop by 1 & 1/2 weeks ago. Stayed about ten minutes & away he went. Not seen anymore. I still have until April 2nd to wait that’s when they came last year. Then start to worry & play the Dawn Song & start over. I really hope it don’t come to that. My neighbor about a mile from me has some of his back but by no means all he normally has. Can’t figure why some people get there’s early & some later than last year. I hope they show up soon. Tommy.

[Whippy]

Tommy,

Here is a link to a thread and discussion about predator guards. It also contains a link to a video that gives you a glimpse as to how the electric guard is set up on the pole. As for the power source you may be able to use a battery and solar charger to feed the system. I'll bet your local feed store or tractor supply would have such items.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=36120&p=291544&hili ... rd#p291544

To post a photo here, downsize your photo to about 100kb by using the size adjustment in the tools drop menu when you have the photo open on your computer. Then, when ready to post in your message, click on the "attachments" tab below to the left and select add. It'll then open your files and you will select that file of the photo and hit "open". Then hit the preview button to see if it came in. One thing though is you have to have text in the message box or the photo will not show up.

Coolwhips

[John Barrow]

Tommy,

Hang in there and be patient. A lot of martins are arriving now and will be in the days ahead. I am going to try to post a link to one I made in 2009, and which has been duplicated often. If you cannot find the link use the search link for "Halftime in Texas". It was first posted on April 10 of that year, which is a good representative date. Remember, that older birds arrive first, and a portion were lost in the recent freeze. Remember that as the age class grows younger, the numbers increase significantly with the younger 'returning' martins. The bulk of migrations lies ahead. BTW, I use a Parnak solar 15 mile charger to charge several of my poles at a country colony.

http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic ... ef#p131243

Be patient and good luck!

[Conrad Baker]

Mite control is really important. I know you said you used Sevin Dust, but that is not a once and done deal. You have to retreat several times during the Martin season. If the Sevin gets damp (or wet) it loses it's effectiveness. I treat my houses at least every three weeks, until the eggs first hatch. I try to leave the babies alone for two weeks after hatching, then start treating again. I purchased a puffer that you squeeze, and it puts a fine puff of Sevin out of the spout. Can't remember the name of it, but I just stick the spout (about the size of a soda straw), under the nest and in the corners, and give it a puff of Sevin.

edited to add: Google "puffer bellows hand duster". Cost about $25 Works great for spraying Sevin.

[Dave Reynolds]

You had too many pairs for all of them to not come back due to a snake. Id expect a few to reappear soon

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Same here... They will be back, I’m sure.. Hold on....

Dave

[Tommy Coley]

John Barrow, Thanks for the wonderful read & encouragement on getting my Martins back. I’m guessing that the Martins of a older colony come back earlier than those in a newer one like mine. On the solar electric fence box, does it take one as big as yours to stop a snake? I have 2 poles about 12 to 15 feet apart. If my colony gets big enough I will add more about 50 ft. From these. So should I get the bigger box for the future additions? Do you run a hot wire & a ground wire from your charger to the guard, to make sure the snake or what is trying to climb is grounded and gets shocked. Thanks Tommy.

[Tommy Coley]

Dave Reynolds, Thanks for the encouragement on getting my Martins back. That Black snake stays on my mind a lot. April 2 nd last year was when they came last year, so it want be long I’ll know. Thanks Tommy.

[John Barrow]

Tommy Coley, First of all I will report that we had an arrival yesterday evening of 50-100 new migrants in advance of the dry frontal system that has brought cooler weather today. As near as I could tell all of these arrivals were ASY, probably the first massive arrival of the 2 yoa class, mixed with some 3 yoa. A good number stayed with our colony overnight; others went off probably to a tree to roost for the night. This morning nearly all are headed north.
As far as the electric guard my solar charger is located about 10 yards north west from the nearest system. It's ground wire runs off to the direct west connecting to three copper 8 foot rods that ground the system. The live wire runs to the system. It is a single insulated electric fence wire that connects to a bare electric fence wire that winds around the gourd rack. Both the ground and the rack's pole will ground something trying to climb the pole. The feed wire attaches to the bare wire about 30-35 inches above the ground and loops down and around the pole to about 10 inches above the ground. (At the insulated feed wire and live wire connecting point, a second insulated feed wire is connected in that runs down and is buried running to the next system). Sections of 3/4 inch pvc stationed around the pole (vertically and held in place with radiator clamps at the top-above the attachment link of the feed and live wire; and bottom-at the ground) to prevent the live wire from touching the pole and shorting the system.
I suspect that a less powerful unit would deter predators from accessing the pole but really don't know what is available in solar and where the break point would be. All of the wire I purchased at Tractor Supply. I also started with the charger they offer, but after having problems with its maintenance needs, I switched to the Parnak and have been pleased with it. Last season I added a Speedrite Fence Alert to the system (from Amazon)--a small unit that is attached to the live wire and starts flashing if, and when, power is lost.

Because this is a remote country colony I also have a layer of netting above the electric fence guard with my winch above that. I have a safety bolt placed through each main pole about 2-3 feet above the winch (a foot or so above my head height) which supports a quick release predator guard as a final ground defense. Hoping you will see substantial growth in your colony in the days ahead. John

[Tommy Coley]

John Barrow , just wanted to let you know I have 6 ASY’s back from last year. Not as many as I was expecting from what I had last year of 20 pairs. I’m super glad to see them . Don’t have any idea what could have happened to that many. Hoping they will bring the SY’s in when they get in the area. Also wanted to let you I put a electric fence guard around mine today. That should take care of any predators. Thanks Tommy.

[jasalva]

Better late with my reply than never..no snakes this year. In addition to all the other protections that I mentioned, we sprayed the area around the pole with Serpent Guard. We had two racks of 12 gourds with 100 % occupancy. Many of the birds have already left. It was a very good year. Most of our bird arrived the second week of April, a few earlier. Thank you for your interest.