Snakes and Racks

[Jones4381]

More snake deterrents the better I learned the hard way. Been using baffles from Troyer but a Black rat snake defeated it and claimed a few gourds with the younglings inside of at least 2 full nest this past week. Found the Rat snake resting on the arm of a 24 rack pole and I removed it and repurposed the intruder. Added 4 bird netting deterrents above the baffles yesterday. Hate to have dealt with it yesterday and just a friendly reminder to observe and add as many deterrents as possible to your housing set up. I had the wire fencing and netting for the last month and a half and just "got busy doing other things"....Get er done if you haven't already. Hope everyone is having a great season. Quite an increase in hawk attacks this season but with 66 cavities full it's to be expected I assume. They tend to draw attention to themselves don't they during the nesting and fledging times... Best wishes.

[Conrad Baker]

Snakes are definitely a major problem. Fortunately I haven't had any bother my martins, but I think one got to the Mockingbird nest in the bush right outside my window. A week ago there were three babies in the nest, 2 days later they were gone. No signs of them on the ground and they were way too young to climb out by themselves. The bush is really thick and the nest is not visible except from my window or if you part the outer foliage. Only thing I can guess is that a snake made a meal of all three of them.

[Jones4381]

Snakes are definitely a major problem. Fortunately I haven't had any bother my martins, but I think one got to the Mockingbird nest in the bush right outside my window. A week ago there were three babies in the nest, 2 days later they were gone. No signs of them on the ground and they were way too young to climb out by themselves. The bush is really thick and the nest is not visible except from my window or if you part the outer foliage. Only thing I can guess is that a snake made a meal of all three of them.

well,
The netting put up Sunday just caught it's first Black rat snake on same 24 gourd rack that was breached, much smaller than the one Sunday. Took awhile to cut out of the netting but put him in a pillow case and 5 gallon bucket and drove out to river bank some 8 miles away and released.

[Jones4381]

3rd black rat snake as the baffle defeated it this time...went down and caught it while it was going to the second 24 gourd pole to try its luck there....captured placed in pillow case and 5g bucket...10 mile drive to river area and released...She/He was a pretty big one this time...

Put up that netting folks or electric fencing...I have zero faith in baffles anymore and hadn't realized how many snakes desire Martin young, eggs, and adults....

[flyin-lowe]

Curious if you have ever had sings of snake attacks in the past, or noticed anything like that from nest checks. Seems odd that you would go a long time with nothing and then all of the sudden multiple different snakes. I could see if it was one and you didn't take it far enough away and it knows where a free meal is. Glad the netting has worked without too many losses.

[Jones4381]

Curious if you have ever had sings of snake attacks in the past, or noticed anything like that from nest checks. Seems odd that you would go a long time with nothing and then all of the sudden multiple different snakes. I could see if it was one and you didn't take it far enough away and it knows where a free meal is. Glad the netting has worked without too many losses.

100% as I lost 6-7 gourds full last season as I was consistently doing nest checks and seeing empties when I was expecting to see 4 chicks at 14 days..etc... I certainly expected snake attack but didn't witness it or see any evidence last season and stayed in denial. Decided to put up additional defenses with netting on top of baffles this season but 'got busy' with life events when I planned to do it in March, April, May....and then finally did it after I caught the snake still on rack with multiple birds digesting (saw red tbh and a little mad at myself but work/life has taking alot of my attention this year ). Did nest check 6/21 and again on 6/28 and felt bad I'd been lazy in not adding additional fortifications when I realized the 2 gourds the first rat snake had emptied. Anyway, hope others dont repeat my mistakes of lethargy and denial initially. Thanks and hope this helps others.

[Birdiegirl]

Well Jones, me too. Apparently, we live in snakey places.

This morning we had the second rat snake capture in a week. Walked out for morning coffee on the porch only to hear the unmistakable alarm cries and see a 'ball of birds' swirling around but not landing on the housing. Sure enough, caught in the netting was a 3'-ish long rat snake. We removed it unharmed and (like the larger one last week), set it free 5+ miles away in good habitat. Peace returned almost immediately. While I'd like to think the birds realized that their humans stepped in to save the day.... they were probably thinking, 'Dang... a snake AND people under our nests? This Friday is not starting off well'

I love my martins- but I am feeling the odd emotion of wanting them to fledge soon. If you don't have netting or similar deterrents up- please consider it!

[Jones4381]

Well Jones, me too. Apparently, we live in snakey places.

This morning we had the second rat snake capture in a week. Walked out for morning coffee on the porch only to hear the unmistakable alarm cries and see a 'ball of birds' swirling around but not landing on the housing. Sure enough, caught in the netting was a 3'-ish long rat snake. We removed it unharmed and (like the larger one last week), set it free 5+ miles away in good habitat. Peace returned almost immediately. While I'd like to think the birds realized that their humans stepped in to save the day.... they were probably thinking, 'Dang... a snake AND people under our nests? This Friday is not starting off well'

I love my martins- but I am feeling the odd emotion of wanting them to fledge soon. If you don't have netting or similar deterrents up- please consider it!

Good Catch Birdie! we certainly have some duality vibes ever since we both undertook this pastime. I'm figuring here we are in the last 2 weeks. I expect silence by Aug 1. Glad you had another successful season and not to much undue stress. Best wishes!

[Birdiegirl]

Well folks- not to keep this thread lingering, but... we had ANOTHER snake. Unfortunately, this one got in . On this week's nest check I was absolutely shocked to find the largest rat snake I've ever seen inside our T-14 with (unfortunately) a very full belly. How it got past our baffle and netting is a mystery- but it did. Thankfully, we do nest checks and we relocated him before additional nestlings were consumed. He got one nest for sure, possibly an additional two, I can't know for certain as they both were close to fledging. I'm holding out hope that those nestlings made it out before he arrived.

I am really struggling with this one. Snakes gotta eat too- I get it. But wow it hurt my feelings that he defeated our system. I'm posting this mainly to vent to folks that get it (sorry!). But also to confirm that some places are just snakey- this is the third snake in two weeks. All were different lengths and relocated at least 10 miles away, so not a repeat offender. If you don't have a predator system- I encourage you to get one. And maybe if you have one- check it, apparently ours was not 100% impenetrable.

Our birds should all be fledged by August 3. After that- measuring for the electric fence system upgrade begins.