There are parasites that target birds and mammals, and there are parasites that target those parasites. It is a never ending story in nature. I have always discarded old nests in an out of the way place rather than destroying them. The rationale being that the infested nesting material also contained the larvae or pupae of beneficial insects that, upon emergence, would continue to prey upon the blow flies and other harmful nest parasites. I am sure that an argument could be made for destroying the old nests to make sure that the unwanted insect parasites would not develop from their pupal stage, but would this be the best course of action?
I would be interested if anyone can reference any study in this area. On a related note, what beneficial parasites (they are often very small nondescript wasps), should we be attempting to attract that would provide some natural controls? Is it possible to attract them?
I have no objections to the use of insecticides. I use them regularly. It may be that there is no choice other than the use of insecticides. However, sevin and other insecticides are very non specific and will also kill any beneficial insects that may be around. In the garden, nematodes are more effective in controling cut worms than broadcasting an insecticide that also kills bees, worms and all other insects because they target the caterpillar specifically and leave the other insects untouched. The nematodes can be purchased and broadcast in the garden where they remain. Is there a blow fly specific parasite that has been identified that could be used in martin and other bird housing?
I do not recall ever coming across this discussion. I am not advocating not using insecticides, I am just thinking outside the box.
To destroy old nests or not?
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Ed Svetich-WI
- Posts: 815
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
- Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
- Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.
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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.
...and along the path of organic control...
I am all for the natural, organic approach to "Life". It has already been proven that regular nest changes control most pests inside the PM nest cavity. Introduction of the regular predator nature has provided to control our nest parasites would probably help a lot.
What are they? I'll buy a box of those!
I am all for the natural, organic approach to "Life". It has already been proven that regular nest changes control most pests inside the PM nest cavity. Introduction of the regular predator nature has provided to control our nest parasites would probably help a lot.
What are they? I'll buy a box of those!
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
Along this line, I emptied some gourds that had mites, and within a few minutes, the fireants were feasting on them! However, I sure don't want fireants either!
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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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.
Oh no! Not fire ants! If that's all ya' got - I don't want any!!!
Maybe ladybugs or lacewings or preying mantis - Purple Martins would probably just eat them - then what?
Maybe ladybugs or lacewings or preying mantis - Purple Martins would probably just eat them - then what?
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Guest
My standard operating procedure for me is to wait until about the later part of August and give'm a good cleaning with my power washer. Every thing goes old nesting material and all, then right before I cover them up for the winter they get a good sprying with a insecticides.
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Fred Kaluza~MI
- Posts: 606
- Joined: Mon Nov 17, 2003 10:40 pm
- Location: Port Huron, Michigan
- Martin Colony History: Tried and tried and had some visitors but...not enough good insects around here to keep them interested.
If Martin levels ever return to past levels in my part of the state, I'd probably not change the nests. Would anything have been responsible for removing their nests from the cavities in old trees where they are said to have nested before humans came along? I know that making a new nest each season is energy consuming and exposes the birds to increased predatory risks. Granted, placing new nesting material in their compartments reduces those energy needs but I think getting them back to the most natural situation is best for the birds, the parasites and the parasite-parasites. It might even be best for us in the long run.
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stan kostka
- Posts: 154
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 7:59 pm
- Location: Washington, Seattle
Birds and Blow Flies BY Tracey L. Kast
Please cite this Page as:
Kast, T. L. 1999. Birds and Blow Flies. Birdscope, Volume 13, Number 4:
13-14.
Does removing used nests from nest boxes
protect birds from blow flies?
Occasionally, when people open their nest boxes they find maggots attached
to the nestlings. This can be a disconcerting sight for anyone who has been
closely monitoring the progress of birds nesting in their box. These maggots
are the larval stage of bird blow flies, genus Protocalliphora. The female
blow fly lays her eggs in a bird's nest. When the eggs hatch, the larvae
climb up through the nest material, attach themselves to the growing
nestlings, and suck their blood. Blow flies are found throughout North
America and in the nests of many bird species, including cavity- nesters.
Nest-box monitors everywhere want to know what they can do to prevent blow
flies from parasitizing the birds in their nest boxes. Scientists are
interested in blow flies because little is known about them and how much
they harm their bird hosts. According to conventional wisdom, nest-box
monitors should always clean out their nest boxes after a brood has fledged.
One reason for doing this is to remove any remaining nest parasites, thereby
supposedly preventing parasitism in future nests. This sounds sensible, but
is it correct? Does removing a used nest protect nestlings of subsequent
nests from blow flies?
According to data collected by Nest Box Network (now called The Birdhouse
Network), participants in 1997 and 1998, the answer is no. Fourteen percent
of the nest boxes in which the previous nest had been removed contained blow
flies. In boxes that contained used nests, 11 percent of the nests had blow
flies. These percentages are not significantly different; thus, cleaning out
your box before a nest attempt does not affect whether blow flies will
parasitize the next birds nesting in the box. The figure includes blow-fly
data reported for 24 species of birds. Of these, blow flies were reported in
10 species' nests: Ash-throated Flycatcher, Tree Swallow, Purple Martin,
Black-capped Chickadee, House Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Western Bluebird,
Mountain Bluebird, House Finch, and House Sparrow.
This figure shows the percentage of nests that contained evidence of blow
flies (for example, larvae or pupal cases). Data for two kinds of nest boxes
are shown: boxes that contained old nests and boxes in which old nests had
been removed. This figure combines information for 24 cavity-nesting
species.
These results are preliminary. Many more questions remain to be answered
about birds and blow flies. For example, the figure includes multiple
species, but what about individual species? It may be that cleaning out nest
boxes decreases blow-fly parasitism for Eastern Bluebirds but not for Tree
Swallows, or vice versa. Does blow-fly parasitism affect the number of young
that fledge from the nest? Also, does the incidence of blow-fly parasitism
vary within different regions of the country? To help answer these questions
about cavity-nesting birds, call (800) 843-BIRD. Look for more Birdhouse
Network results in future issues of Birdscope.
Please cite this Page as:
Kast, T. L. 1999. Birds and Blow Flies. Birdscope, Volume 13, Number 4:
13-14.
Does removing used nests from nest boxes
protect birds from blow flies?
Occasionally, when people open their nest boxes they find maggots attached
to the nestlings. This can be a disconcerting sight for anyone who has been
closely monitoring the progress of birds nesting in their box. These maggots
are the larval stage of bird blow flies, genus Protocalliphora. The female
blow fly lays her eggs in a bird's nest. When the eggs hatch, the larvae
climb up through the nest material, attach themselves to the growing
nestlings, and suck their blood. Blow flies are found throughout North
America and in the nests of many bird species, including cavity- nesters.
Nest-box monitors everywhere want to know what they can do to prevent blow
flies from parasitizing the birds in their nest boxes. Scientists are
interested in blow flies because little is known about them and how much
they harm their bird hosts. According to conventional wisdom, nest-box
monitors should always clean out their nest boxes after a brood has fledged.
One reason for doing this is to remove any remaining nest parasites, thereby
supposedly preventing parasitism in future nests. This sounds sensible, but
is it correct? Does removing a used nest protect nestlings of subsequent
nests from blow flies?
According to data collected by Nest Box Network (now called The Birdhouse
Network), participants in 1997 and 1998, the answer is no. Fourteen percent
of the nest boxes in which the previous nest had been removed contained blow
flies. In boxes that contained used nests, 11 percent of the nests had blow
flies. These percentages are not significantly different; thus, cleaning out
your box before a nest attempt does not affect whether blow flies will
parasitize the next birds nesting in the box. The figure includes blow-fly
data reported for 24 species of birds. Of these, blow flies were reported in
10 species' nests: Ash-throated Flycatcher, Tree Swallow, Purple Martin,
Black-capped Chickadee, House Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Western Bluebird,
Mountain Bluebird, House Finch, and House Sparrow.
This figure shows the percentage of nests that contained evidence of blow
flies (for example, larvae or pupal cases). Data for two kinds of nest boxes
are shown: boxes that contained old nests and boxes in which old nests had
been removed. This figure combines information for 24 cavity-nesting
species.
These results are preliminary. Many more questions remain to be answered
about birds and blow flies. For example, the figure includes multiple
species, but what about individual species? It may be that cleaning out nest
boxes decreases blow-fly parasitism for Eastern Bluebirds but not for Tree
Swallows, or vice versa. Does blow-fly parasitism affect the number of young
that fledge from the nest? Also, does the incidence of blow-fly parasitism
vary within different regions of the country? To help answer these questions
about cavity-nesting birds, call (800) 843-BIRD. Look for more Birdhouse
Network results in future issues of Birdscope.