I have nine baby martins, 5 are 13 days old and 4 are 7 days old. The 4 that are 7 days old are in a coates watersedge house. Yesterday, I saw the shirke land on the house twice and look in the hole where the babies are. Both times the parents had just taken in a bug. Is it possible that the shrike will enter the SREH kill the babies and try to take them out of the hole for a meal? I have never seen the shrike to this before.
I can say that this year I witnessed him kill and carry off the Kingbird babies and the Scissortail babies. I'm worried that he will kill the PM babies while the parents are out looking for food. First its the sparrow and now this, something that I hadn't planned on. What to do????
Sandy
Shrike becoming a threat to baby PM's
Sandy, we have shrikes around our colony, and it seems preying on birds is a second choice after crickets and such taken on the ground. Last year they preyed heavily on fledgling house sparrows, I didn't see that at all this year or in the years previous.
I was not aware of any losses to our colony during their "bird" year last year, at least I saw no impaled remains as was usual for the sparrows.
The fact remains though they are able predators and probably could take nestlings begging with their heads out of the nest, fallouts, and newly fledged young.
I don't know if anyone can predict if that shrike will be a problem or not.
Mike Scully
I was not aware of any losses to our colony during their "bird" year last year, at least I saw no impaled remains as was usual for the sparrows.
The fact remains though they are able predators and probably could take nestlings begging with their heads out of the nest, fallouts, and newly fledged young.
I don't know if anyone can predict if that shrike will be a problem or not.
Mike Scully
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Hi Sandy.
I, too, have a resident pair of Shrike. Their young have just recently fledged and the young are following the parents around begging for food.
We have had no PM babies mysteriously disappear this season - so, I know my butcher birds have not harmed any of them.
Maybe the shrike is looking for the bug the parent PM just delivered. It wouldn't hurt anything for you to run out there screaming and clapping your hands every time you see this Shrike on your PM housing. They are fairly easy to spook - they don't like me anywhere near them.
I, too, have a resident pair of Shrike. Their young have just recently fledged and the young are following the parents around begging for food.
We have had no PM babies mysteriously disappear this season - so, I know my butcher birds have not harmed any of them.
Maybe the shrike is looking for the bug the parent PM just delivered. It wouldn't hurt anything for you to run out there screaming and clapping your hands every time you see this Shrike on your PM housing. They are fairly easy to spook - they don't like me anywhere near them.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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abernathys
- Posts: 220
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:40 am
- Location: maxwell/texas
Hey Mike--Normally the shrike isn't a problem because the martins chase him off, but all of our pairs have fledged. I haven't had this many late babies before. In the afternoons they are no PM's around except the pairs feeding. So there are times when the houses are empty of adult birds. I'm really gonna have to keep my eyes out for him. 
I hope nothing comes of it. I will keep you updated.
Sandy
I hope nothing comes of it. I will keep you updated.Sandy
PM lover
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Steve Kroenke
- Posts: 4342
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 6:49 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Logansport
Sandy,
The loggerhead shrike may attempt to predate any martin fledgling that is exposed on a porch or falls to the ground. A shrike could grab a nestling?s head in the doorway of a sreh. I have seen a shrike capture and kill a newly fledged bluebird. The shrike was barely able to fly off with youngster. I have seen shrikes kill native sparrows, goldfinches and warblers, too. In the summer months, shrikes primarily feed on insects, but may take an occasional small bird. I would chase the shrike away if you see him/her trying to land on the house porches.
Steve
The loggerhead shrike may attempt to predate any martin fledgling that is exposed on a porch or falls to the ground. A shrike could grab a nestling?s head in the doorway of a sreh. I have seen a shrike capture and kill a newly fledged bluebird. The shrike was barely able to fly off with youngster. I have seen shrikes kill native sparrows, goldfinches and warblers, too. In the summer months, shrikes primarily feed on insects, but may take an occasional small bird. I would chase the shrike away if you see him/her trying to land on the house porches.
Steve
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abernathys
- Posts: 220
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:40 am
- Location: maxwell/texas
Hey Laverne--Thats funny!!! I did that yesterday when I saw him doing this. I think I scared the momma PM more then I did the Shrike. I'm thinking this may be one of the fledged baby shrikes, he still has some immature markings. I thought maybe he was just being nosey, but I didn't want to underestimate him. Hope your babies are doing well!!!
Sandy
Sandy
PM lover
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abernathys
- Posts: 220
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:40 am
- Location: maxwell/texas
Hey Steve--you can bet that I will chasing him off every chance that I see him.. I just wish I was home all day to watch. At least in the mornings I still have some PM's hanging out socializing usually until about noon. So I have about 4 hours until I get home. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that nothing happens. The babies are not to close to the entrance hole yet, but soon they may start moving about more. I just wonder if when they are old enough to stick thier heads out of the hole would the shrike be intimated because they would be more than one or maybe because they may look bigger then expected. Just rambling thoughts here. Hope things are going well for you and your colony. Keep the pictures coming.
Take care!
Sandy
Take care!
Sandy
PM lover