Nest Checks

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Thomas Maddox
Posts: 274
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2021 5:23 pm
Location: Sulphur, Louisiana

I've been lowering my PM house frequently trying to trap HOSPs. Just curious about checking too much. I know they don't generally seem to mind, but my colony is very new and I doubt there is a bond with the few pms I have. I know not to bother when the babies are close to fledging.
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Thomas Maddox
Posts: 274
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2021 5:23 pm
Location: Sulphur, Louisiana

I just caught the last nesting pair of HOSPS this morning, so I'm going to leave the house alone for at least a week. If not anything, it will make me feel better.
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C.C.Martins
Posts: 2879
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.
HOSP: 52 Starlings: 29
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.
Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 36 PMCA excluder gourds, 6 room trio mini castle with troyer tunnels and enlarged compartments.
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,
PMCA member

Good job! know you have been battling them; what worked?

As far as lowering, they are forgiving; just as best you can dont lower in the am or late evening. They will forgive, good job on those sparrows!
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
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Martintown33
Posts: 1029
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
Location: Laplace,La
Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack

Thomas, frequent lowering isn’t necessarily a bad thing.. I think it helps the martins recognize you as a caretaker and not a threat… but as Tom said, try to avoid mornings and evenings.. great job on the HOSP!
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
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Thomas Maddox
Posts: 274
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2021 5:23 pm
Location: Sulphur, Louisiana

CC, I waited until they had mostly finished their nest, then put a piece of sticky rat paper in that cavity. I placed a makeshift 1 and 3/8 inch hole cut out of plastic over the cavity hole to prevent the PMs from entering. I caught him by his foot. I placed him in my trap and he lured her into the trap!
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C.C.Martins
Posts: 2879
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.
HOSP: 52 Starlings: 29
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.
Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 36 PMCA excluder gourds, 6 room trio mini castle with troyer tunnels and enlarged compartments.
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,
PMCA member

Hey Thomas, sorry for the late reply.

Good! A catch is a catch, two for one. Outstanding.
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
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Kegger
Posts: 371
Joined: Sun Sep 15, 2019 8:58 am
Location: Awesome Florida
Martin Colony History: 2020: 2 pair of SY with 4 eggs ,fledge 7
2021: 5 pair 25 eggs fledge 18, 4 egg 2nd brood attempt
2022: 13 pair 61 eggs fledge 56 added 11 cavs. now 22 total
2023 15 pair 75 eggs fledge 51 only 3 of 11 eggs hatched cavity 10

Nice job Thomas!
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