I was just wondering which state has the least amount of predators towards Purple Martins. I realize that some arent in every state, but I mean which state do you think has the least amount of attacks on colonies with 10+ pairs of martins? Thanks
Tyler
State with least threat of predators?
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
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- 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
The coldest, like Canada, they probably don't have many ground predators or owls. There may have hawks in Canada in the summer. Thats my guess. Down South, there are many owls, racoons, snakes, even stray cats that survive completely away from human, hawks, starlings & sparrows, even opposums but the opposums are not very good climbers
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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CraigMo.
- Posts: 1480
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Maybe the dryer states. Maybe less water and less predators. I thought Canada had a lot of owls and birds of prey. I think every place in the north, mid, south and east part of the U.S. has the regular birds of prey and most have snakes, raccoons. etc. Maybe the south have more snakes or maybe the snakes have more time above ground. I imagine the farther north you go the less snakes. Couldn't tell ya
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Bernie Nikolai
- Posts: 402
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 7:44 pm
- Location: Edmonton, Alberta
While not technically answering your question as Alberta is a "province", not a "state", I'd thought I'd answer anyways 
We are one of the few areas that has no need of predator guards/protection for the posts of purple martin houses. We have no raccoons here in central Alberta (there is a small population of raccoons in the southern part of Alberta, but no martins there) and no snakes, except for the odd tiny garter snake, no threat to martins. We do have a large population of Great Horned Owls, a small population of Barred Owls, and lots of merlins, sharp shinned and Cooper's hawks. I'd guess the avian predators of martins are pretty much the same in terms of pressure over their entire range, and no area (unless your colony was in a big city) would be relatively free of avian predators.
However our not uncommon May snowstorms easily make up for not having any ground predators in central Alberta. From what I can see, improper martin housing (6"x6" cubes, which is rapidly changing to the 7"x12" size up here) and weather limit the martins up here much more than predators do. But feeding crickets, mealworms and scrambled eggs(once you train the martins to accept them) is having a very positive effect on martin survival up here during bad spring weather.
We are one of the few areas that has no need of predator guards/protection for the posts of purple martin houses. We have no raccoons here in central Alberta (there is a small population of raccoons in the southern part of Alberta, but no martins there) and no snakes, except for the odd tiny garter snake, no threat to martins. We do have a large population of Great Horned Owls, a small population of Barred Owls, and lots of merlins, sharp shinned and Cooper's hawks. I'd guess the avian predators of martins are pretty much the same in terms of pressure over their entire range, and no area (unless your colony was in a big city) would be relatively free of avian predators.
However our not uncommon May snowstorms easily make up for not having any ground predators in central Alberta. From what I can see, improper martin housing (6"x6" cubes, which is rapidly changing to the 7"x12" size up here) and weather limit the martins up here much more than predators do. But feeding crickets, mealworms and scrambled eggs(once you train the martins to accept them) is having a very positive effect on martin survival up here during bad spring weather.
He who harbors the nesting bird shall have health and happiness all the year
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Guest
Tyler,
I'm originally from Harlan, Iowa but now live in Lincoln. Just curious, have you seen the purple martin setup the people have in Avoca? Just drive to the south side of town and down by the fairgrounds. You can't miss it. They have a lot of martins!
I had three pair last year and I'm putting up more housing this year. Good luck.
I'm originally from Harlan, Iowa but now live in Lincoln. Just curious, have you seen the purple martin setup the people have in Avoca? Just drive to the south side of town and down by the fairgrounds. You can't miss it. They have a lot of martins!
I had three pair last year and I'm putting up more housing this year. Good luck.
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T K I
No I have not seen it but I will have to drive by there and see it sometime. I dont have any pairs *yet* haha.. this will be my 4th year of trying. So Hopefully I Will Get Some!!
Tyler
Tyler