flown the coop?
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Guest
We hadstorms like crazy last night, but this am my 8 birds were on the porch, and had more rain while I was away. I arrived home at 6:15 and don't see any birds at the house. I tapped lightly on the pole and no body moved. Could my birds all leave like that at once, or maybe be in the house this early but not coming out? Its very windy now. Any ideas? Lynn
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Mary Dawnsong
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:17 pm
- Location: Michigan, Livingston County
Lynn,
Don't worry about them.
In windy weather before they have eggs/young to care for, the entire colony may leave midday and hang out at a sheltered area where the hunting is better than at home. My colony often leaves for the afternoon, returning just before dark.
Insects cannot fly in rain, so if it is raining a lot the birds are having trouble finding food. So, they may leave and hunt where they have the best success - even if it is miles from home.
In a storm, they may feel safer roosting in trees than in metal or plastic housing. Remember, these are birds who use housing only for the purpose of raising a family and only for about 3 months of the year. The rest of the time they live outside in the elements and actually feel safer that way.
I'm very confident you willl see them tomorrow morning.
Good luck, Mary
Don't worry about them.
In windy weather before they have eggs/young to care for, the entire colony may leave midday and hang out at a sheltered area where the hunting is better than at home. My colony often leaves for the afternoon, returning just before dark.
Insects cannot fly in rain, so if it is raining a lot the birds are having trouble finding food. So, they may leave and hunt where they have the best success - even if it is miles from home.
In a storm, they may feel safer roosting in trees than in metal or plastic housing. Remember, these are birds who use housing only for the purpose of raising a family and only for about 3 months of the year. The rest of the time they live outside in the elements and actually feel safer that way.
I'm very confident you willl see them tomorrow morning.
Good luck, Mary
Click here to see my colony
"In Michigan every martin matters"
"In Michigan every martin matters"
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Guest
at least 6 came home, 5 flew when I approached, and I could hear noise in the house.
Thanks for the reassurance Mary.
Lynn
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Mary Dawnsong
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:17 pm
- Location: Michigan, Livingston County
Hi Lynn,
That is a beautiful site for martins and Arkansas is a great state for martins. It should be very successful with good management.
I would not expect them to leave you unless they are seriously threatened by predators or competitors.
Competitors are House Sparrows and European Starlings. These non-native, vicious pest birds usually do not drive martins away immediately but can destroy a colony over time.
Ground predators are a very serious threat that can cause you to lose a colony overnight.
YOU MUST PUT A POLE GUARD ON THAT POLE!!
A raccoon, squirrel. or rat snake can climb it and destroy your colony in just a few minutes.
Here are photos of predators climbing poles:
http://www.purplemartin.org/forumarchiv ... uirrel.htm
http://www.purplemartin.org/forumarchiv ... eguard.htm
Read this recent, heartbreaking thread about a large established colony that was destroyed by a raccoon that climbed the poles:
http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2863
The other thing you need to be concerned about longer term is owl predation. As the size and activity of your colony increase, owls will find it. A house with 6" X 6" compartments is extremely vulnerable to owls who simply reach in and snatch adults and nestlings. After the martins have committed by building nests and laying eggs, you really should consider adding an owl guard. This may not be urgent. Sometimes it takes owls a couple of years to find a colony, but PMCA estimates that nearly every martin colony in the country is visited by Great Horned Owls or Barred Owls annually.
Here are some ideas for homemade owl guards for houses:
http://www.purplemartin.org/forumarchiv ... guards.htm
One more thing, Lynn...
You do know that the house cannot be allowed to rotate, right? If the house turns even just 20 degrees or so, martins get confused and can't locate their compartment. This confusion results in fights over cavities and nests and young may be abandoned.
Have a great first season,
Mary
That is a beautiful site for martins and Arkansas is a great state for martins. It should be very successful with good management.
I would not expect them to leave you unless they are seriously threatened by predators or competitors.
Competitors are House Sparrows and European Starlings. These non-native, vicious pest birds usually do not drive martins away immediately but can destroy a colony over time.
Ground predators are a very serious threat that can cause you to lose a colony overnight.
YOU MUST PUT A POLE GUARD ON THAT POLE!!
A raccoon, squirrel. or rat snake can climb it and destroy your colony in just a few minutes.
Here are photos of predators climbing poles:
http://www.purplemartin.org/forumarchiv ... uirrel.htm
http://www.purplemartin.org/forumarchiv ... eguard.htm
Read this recent, heartbreaking thread about a large established colony that was destroyed by a raccoon that climbed the poles:
http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2863
The other thing you need to be concerned about longer term is owl predation. As the size and activity of your colony increase, owls will find it. A house with 6" X 6" compartments is extremely vulnerable to owls who simply reach in and snatch adults and nestlings. After the martins have committed by building nests and laying eggs, you really should consider adding an owl guard. This may not be urgent. Sometimes it takes owls a couple of years to find a colony, but PMCA estimates that nearly every martin colony in the country is visited by Great Horned Owls or Barred Owls annually.
Here are some ideas for homemade owl guards for houses:
http://www.purplemartin.org/forumarchiv ... guards.htm
One more thing, Lynn...
You do know that the house cannot be allowed to rotate, right? If the house turns even just 20 degrees or so, martins get confused and can't locate their compartment. This confusion results in fights over cavities and nests and young may be abandoned.
Have a great first season,
Mary
Click here to see my colony
"In Michigan every martin matters"
"In Michigan every martin matters"
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Guest
Mary, I didn't know about not allowing the house to rotate. I will be careful not to allow that to happen.
I am planning to get a pole guard this weekend.
I didn't know you could do anything about owls, but read the info and saw the guards.
The photos and info is especially helpful to convince my husband. He is the one who bought me the house and put it in this location. And he doesn't believe much that I say, esp since I told him he had put the house in a bad location. This photo will show you how close the trees are to my PM house. What do you think about how close the trees are? I was thinking of adding a pole with gourds next year, futher from the tree. I can only get 10 more feet away unless I go into the pond. Lynn
I am planning to get a pole guard this weekend.
I didn't know you could do anything about owls, but read the info and saw the guards.
The photos and info is especially helpful to convince my husband. He is the one who bought me the house and put it in this location. And he doesn't believe much that I say, esp since I told him he had put the house in a bad location. This photo will show you how close the trees are to my PM house. What do you think about how close the trees are? I was thinking of adding a pole with gourds next year, futher from the tree. I can only get 10 more feet away unless I go into the pond. Lynn
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Mary Dawnsong
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:17 pm
- Location: Michigan, Livingston County
Hi Lynn,
It looks like you've located the martin housing in the most open spot possible. You easily attracted birds, so don't worry about it. There are many successful martin colonies in less open areas than yours. At my site the trees are taller and closer, but like yours I have wide-open flight paths in three directions.
If that is a telescoping pole, be sure to mark each section so the house is aligned properly each time you lower/raise it. For more info, read the section Rotated Houses:
http://www.purplemartin.org/update/10(1)mishaps.html
Lynn, a gourd rack for next season would be fabulous. Your site is obviously very attractive to martins. I am sure you could fill up that gourd rack quickly.
Enjoy your beautiful birds,
Mary
It looks like you've located the martin housing in the most open spot possible. You easily attracted birds, so don't worry about it. There are many successful martin colonies in less open areas than yours. At my site the trees are taller and closer, but like yours I have wide-open flight paths in three directions.
If that is a telescoping pole, be sure to mark each section so the house is aligned properly each time you lower/raise it. For more info, read the section Rotated Houses:
http://www.purplemartin.org/update/10(1)mishaps.html
Lynn, a gourd rack for next season would be fabulous. Your site is obviously very attractive to martins. I am sure you could fill up that gourd rack quickly.
Enjoy your beautiful birds,
Mary
Click here to see my colony
"In Michigan every martin matters"
"In Michigan every martin matters"