This is my first year placing a PM house. I’ve had about eight PMs hanging around for a few weeks with no issues. A couple days ago I brought down the house after noticing one of the SREH was blocked. I thought it was nesting material, but sadly discovered that it was a dead PM that had been stuck at the hole entrance.
When I opened the nest there was a PM that flew out of the same hole. A couple hours later, another PM got stuck (in another hole). I was able to release it and it seemed to fly away fine. I did notice another PM was in that hole after the stuck one flew out.
Is this to be expected? I did notice that both stuck PMs were juveniles. Im wondering if they got startled or attacked by the PM that was already in the hole and got stuck trying to flee in haste. Do they just need practice/experience? Or do I need another PM house?Really worried now that this will happen again when I’m at work or away.
I’m using a three story commercially available aluminum PM house with SREH and nesting trays. The nesting trays are flush with the bottom of the SREH. Any advice or input is greatly appreciated.
Purple Martins Getting Stuck
Good job on catching that entrapment quickly enough that the one trapped inside was saved. All too often when folks discover a blocked entrance like that, they'll also horribly find one or two others deceased inside.
All commercially available housing with any type of SREH should be equipped with some type of wing entrapment protection.
Some do, however unfortunately some don't.
Like SSMartin menioned, If your SREH's are crescents, I would highly recommend adding these:
https://www.purplemartin.org/shop/produ ... protector/
I don't know how feasible it is to add them while they're nesting, mainly due to how long the housing may need to be lowered to accomplish the task.
All commercially available housing with any type of SREH should be equipped with some type of wing entrapment protection.
Some do, however unfortunately some don't.
Like SSMartin menioned, If your SREH's are crescents, I would highly recommend adding these:
https://www.purplemartin.org/shop/produ ... protector/
I don't know how feasible it is to add them while they're nesting, mainly due to how long the housing may need to be lowered to accomplish the task.
Thank you all for your input. I just ordered the recommended protectors.
I had been reading all I could on PMs over the winter and never came across an article or post on this. So I didn’t even think to do a search on the topic. I did just now and finding that this is indeed to be expected when PMs fight in the nest.
Thank you again for your input. I’ll rest easier once I get the protectors installed. In the meantime I’ll keep a close watch on the PM house.
I had been reading all I could on PMs over the winter and never came across an article or post on this. So I didn’t even think to do a search on the topic. I did just now and finding that this is indeed to be expected when PMs fight in the nest.
Thank you again for your input. I’ll rest easier once I get the protectors installed. In the meantime I’ll keep a close watch on the PM house.
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Martintown33
- Posts: 1238
- 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
Hi… if your nesting tray floors, are flush with the bottom of the crescent opening, on the inside, this may be why your martins are having trouble getting out.. you should have at last 1/8 of an inch from floor to the bottom of the crescent hole, on the inside, to make sure the martins can get out… flush on the outside , is okay..
Good luck
Rob
Good luck
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
Laplace, La