Martin stuck in Supergourd? What was I thinking?

roblrich · Fri Apr 07, 2006 7:18 pm

Today, I saw an ASY male stuck in a gourd entrance. I could not understand why he would be stuck. 10 minutes passed, a long 10 minutes watching as he was struggling and struggling. Finally when he went limp and was just hanging out the gourd, I decided it was time to bring the rack down and see what was his problem. He was hanging off the side of the metal porch of a crescent entrance supergourd and was limp like he was dead.

When I got the rack down, he showed signs of life and continued to struggle like he was trying to go in the gourd. I opened the access port, and another ASY male flew out in a panic. The male that I thought was stuck then entered the gourd and refused to move even with me there. I decided he was just exhausted and needed a rest.

I then realized this male really wasn't stuck to begin with, but was fighting another male for the gourd and was beak tied when the other martin clamped down on him and had a grip like a snapping turtle, or vice versa, or both.

I gave the guy a few minutes to rest, then I went to pick him up to see if he was ok. This guy was not about to give that gourd up to me, another martin or anything. But I finally coaxed him out when I tried to pick him up, as he flew out the entrance.

Geez, these guys are worse then raising kids. When my kids were young and fought, I told them to go play in the street. But with these guys, I have to put down my beer, actually get up, walk to the racks, bring down a pole, etc. Then I don't even get to whack one of them. But I'm glad the guy was ok.

kimball911 · Fri Apr 07, 2006 8:40 pm

Rob: You are too funny.....I agree if you have to get out of the chair, someone is getting a beating.....I have a 6 yr old boy, so I know what you mean.

Guest · Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:38 pm

My granny didn't have to put down her beer. Heck, most of the time she didn't even have to get up. She'd just snatch ya out of mid-stride as you ran past her recliner.

Rob, you are too cute. I'm glad your little one turned out to be okay. Boys will be boys.

Shel

John Atteberry · Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:24 pm

Hello Rob,
That is the best post that I ever read from you on here!!!!! HA! You do have it in you!!!!! HA! I'm sure glad you helped the male martin because something could of happened to him! Did they go and fight again over this same gourd? Thanks John!

eyeamtheman · Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:42 pm

I hear ya loud and clear. When I see a fight, and it looks drastic, I'll go out to the pole, and maybe tap on it to break it up. I know the fights are a good sign of site fidelity, and that it's a positive sign that your site is attractive, but I certainly don't want an injured martin to be a result of this.
Good luck the rest of the year.

Guest · Fri Apr 07, 2006 11:01 pm

Rob, it's a tuff job, but someones gotta do it!! I tried to tell my PMs specifically, "Don't beat up on those poor Kentucky Martins" before I sent them up that way to you...... just like my dog, they don't listen!!

What would be worse is if your beer spilled when you got up!

Chuck

Bob Flam · Sat Apr 08, 2006 5:43 am

He wasn't going to give up that gourd to you. You left the Beer at your chair!

roblrich · Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:03 pm

John Atteberry wrote:Hello Rob,
That is the best post that I ever read from you on here!!!!! HA! You do have it in you!!!!! HA! I'm sure glad you helped the male martin because something could of happened to him! Did they go and fight again over this same gourd? Thanks John!

Hey John. No, I didn't observe any further fights over the gourd, and I don't know which one has won the gourd. All those ASY males look the same to me.

c_chambersll wrote: What would be worse is if your beer spilled when you got up!

Chuck

That would have been a real tragedy Chuck. Please don't even make me think of such horrible things.