Did a nest check today and found one gourd with 5 babies missing from the last check, at which time there were 6 babies in that gourd. This time around there was 1 fat healthy baby. No dead babies, and no signs of predation. The most lost out of any other gourds was 1 or 2.
Any Ideas?
Hanover Bill.
Disappearing Babies ???
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Hanover Bill
- Posts: 656
- Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 3:10 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania/Hanover Township
- Martin Colony History: 2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
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Sharon - Central TX
- Posts: 696
- Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 9:20 pm
- Location: Central TX
- Martin Colony History: All Troyer Horizontal Gourds with Conley Entrances
PMCA Member since 2004
That exact same thing happened to us last year. One nest check had five babies and a few days later only one. We never could determine the reason unless a subadult was the cause. We didn’t have a house sparrow or starling problem and had adequate snake proofing. The remaining chick grew healthy and fat.
Sharon
Sharon
That happened to me too but I think it was a snake. I had 3 chicks, all healthy and growing, then just one. A couple of years ago a snake breached netting and was able to get to my Bluebird nest that had 2 babies. The snake ate one and on it’s way down it got trapped in the netting. So I know snakes can go in and not take all the chicks. Other than that I’ve had SY males take babies out if the nest. I know parent birds will take dead chicks out too. 5 is a lot. Brent
Brent