Fatality so soon in Katy, TX
I was so happy to see I had two females and two males at the house all morning. Why do they all fight so much? The two females began to fight and one came too close to the ground. My cat got to it just before I did and when I picked her up she was bleeding from the mouth. Of course, she did not make it. How sad. Nature can be cruel. But can someone tell me why they fight so much at first? Good luck to all.
-
John Atteberry
Hello Katylady,
I'm soo sorry to hear that! I would lock the cat up when the martins are around in the morning like that, then when there gone in the afternoon, then let her out! They will be fighting for awhile till they get there borders cross per say! When they pick their nest, then the fighting will let up then until a new martin(s) come in! I would probably keep the cat inside for awhile till the eggs start to appear! That way there won't be any problems with the cat getting more when they fall to the ground fighting! Thanks John!
I'm soo sorry to hear that! I would lock the cat up when the martins are around in the morning like that, then when there gone in the afternoon, then let her out! They will be fighting for awhile till they get there borders cross per say! When they pick their nest, then the fighting will let up then until a new martin(s) come in! I would probably keep the cat inside for awhile till the eggs start to appear! That way there won't be any problems with the cat getting more when they fall to the ground fighting! Thanks John!
-
starling shooter
- Posts: 461
- Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2003 7:43 pm
- Location: Central MO
I've got acquaintences who let cats run loose and then complain they don't "have any quail or rabbits" anymore. Feral cats are devasting to ground nesting/shrub nesting birds and other native fauna.
-
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.
For seven years now I've been waiting for a Martin to live at my place in Michigan. It hurts to know there's one less from preventable causes.
To view my Cams... use "martin" for the login and password then use the Java viewer. Get full screen and sound by loading an app.
Click here for the "Wannabe Webcam 1"
Click here for the "Wannabe Webcam 2"
Click here for the "Wannabe Webcam 1"
Click here for the "Wannabe Webcam 2"
I am sorry I made people mad about my martin and the cat. I just wanted to let yall know. I never dreamed this would happen! I have never seen this happen! I guess if the bird just hit the ground yall would not be mad at me! Will post only happy news from now on!
-
CraigMo.
- Posts: 1480
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 12:30 pm
- Location: Missouri/Lone Jack
- Martin Colony History: Active since 2003
katylady don't worry about it. You said you never dreamed it would happen. So you made a mistake. You post whatever you want I imagine you have learned a lesson. I have made many mistakes while becoming a landlord. The truth is most people don't post the mistakes they have done. I dont think anyone was mad at you, I think they are probably mad that cats can run loose. I also believe cats should not beable to run loose imo Good Luck
Last edited by CraigMo. on Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Yep, don't worry about it. As Craig said, we all learn. I have electric fences around my poles to keep criters like cats away. I have quite a few stray and neighbor cats coming into my yard looking for a free meal.
I'm a "nestcamaholic" Is 18 hours a day a bad thing? (I have 2 this year, luckily I have 2 eyes!)
-
John Atteberry
Hello Katylady,
Some people might come across mad or upset but don't think they are against you, were all sensitive in our own ways so please don't let that stop you from posting bad or sad things! We all make mistakes and believe me I do too! But don't let us cause you to be angry or upset, if you stop and think about it, how many more martins are getting killed on the roads or by starlings!!! Please Katylady, post again no matter what the circumstances are! We all need each other to help and give advice to! I'm sure you will get plenty of new martins to make up for it! Wishing you a successful season!!! John!
Some people might come across mad or upset but don't think they are against you, were all sensitive in our own ways so please don't let that stop you from posting bad or sad things! We all make mistakes and believe me I do too! But don't let us cause you to be angry or upset, if you stop and think about it, how many more martins are getting killed on the roads or by starlings!!! Please Katylady, post again no matter what the circumstances are! We all need each other to help and give advice to! I'm sure you will get plenty of new martins to make up for it! Wishing you a successful season!!! John!
Katylady, "Will post only happy news from now on" If only good news was posted then many of us would never think of other ways to think about things that can/will happen. A while back we thought it was funny when a next door cat tried to jump up for a Hummer and missed by about 3 feet. That cat later caught 2 Hummers. I'm sure things will work out better now you know how it can happen. Don't give up. *BW*
Retsub
-
starling shooter
- Posts: 461
- Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2003 7:43 pm
- Location: Central MO
Katylady....
I'm certainly not "mad" at you. You post is VALUABLE to folks who may be in the same boat. Many, many, PMs fight all the way to the ground over cavities. They will be cat food if cats are running lose.
I do know how truly devastating feral cats and cats that run loose are on whip poor wills, chuck's will's widow's, hummingbirds, robins, bluebirds, PM, etc. They are devastating on ground nesting birds and shrub nesting birds. They also catch many fledglings that land on the ground from birds that do not nest on the ground. Do a google search and read some of hte studies that have been done.
When I point it out to folks they say it's "just nature". Well, it is not. Cats are suplemented by humans and their numbers in most areas are way beyond carrying capacity if not for humans subsidizing them with food.
I grew up on a farm. We had "barn" cats. It was amazing what they would bring in when they had kittens. Squirrels, bull frogs, snakes.... I saw one bring in a Whip Poor Will once and that was sort of the straw for me.
I'm certainly not "mad" at you. You post is VALUABLE to folks who may be in the same boat. Many, many, PMs fight all the way to the ground over cavities. They will be cat food if cats are running lose.
I do know how truly devastating feral cats and cats that run loose are on whip poor wills, chuck's will's widow's, hummingbirds, robins, bluebirds, PM, etc. They are devastating on ground nesting birds and shrub nesting birds. They also catch many fledglings that land on the ground from birds that do not nest on the ground. Do a google search and read some of hte studies that have been done.
When I point it out to folks they say it's "just nature". Well, it is not. Cats are suplemented by humans and their numbers in most areas are way beyond carrying capacity if not for humans subsidizing them with food.
I grew up on a farm. We had "barn" cats. It was amazing what they would bring in when they had kittens. Squirrels, bull frogs, snakes.... I saw one bring in a Whip Poor Will once and that was sort of the straw for me.
Thanks for all the kind words. Believe me, no one feels worse than me. There I was wondering what to do as I held that poor bird not knowing what to do. I ran in the house with it and wrapped it in a paper towel. Panic is weird! As for the cat, this is my grand cat. Ya know, the cat who could not make it in college and the kid brings him home to you. I am going to try to keep him indoors in the morning. and late days. He is declawed and can only be outdoors, in the backyard when supervised. The crazy cat has never caught a thing. Hopefully, this will never happen again. It ruined my day!
-
Guest
Don't take this wrong, but PMs will fight just about anytime when their seeking nest. Unless the cats on a leash, he/she could still get to the PMs.katylady wrote: I am going to try to keep him indoors in the morning. and late days. He is declawed and can only be outdoors, in the backyard when supervised.
Chuck
-
Guest
We have a neighbor who lets their cat roam....kitty has been hosed with water many times. I have bought bell collars for the last two years and "donated" them to the neighbor...I guess they did not take the hint. I'm going to sprinkle a large amount of repel around the perimeter of my yard. Has anyone ever tried this and if so, has it worked?
Sue
City by the Sea, TX
Sue
City by the Sea, TX
Katelady, that's too bad. 
Most cat owners don't have a clue what little kitty doing when she or he unleased on the neighborhood, atleast yours was in you own yard). Cats are natural born killers, cats and humans are about the the only ones that kill for fun.
Cats aren't the only danger to PMs, fast dogs can also catch them in mid air when they are close to the ground or on the ground picking up sticks.
Don't feel bad for posting it may prevent others from experiencing the awful pain and horror of watching something you try so hard to get get caught. Most of us bird lovers know what cats do when on the prowl. Kill song birds. If they would just catch starlings and E. sparrow. I would have a few.
but, to them it's a game except for the wild ones.
Most cat owners don't have a clue what little kitty doing when she or he unleased on the neighborhood, atleast yours was in you own yard). Cats are natural born killers, cats and humans are about the the only ones that kill for fun.Cats aren't the only danger to PMs, fast dogs can also catch them in mid air when they are close to the ground or on the ground picking up sticks.
Don't feel bad for posting it may prevent others from experiencing the awful pain and horror of watching something you try so hard to get get caught. Most of us bird lovers know what cats do when on the prowl. Kill song birds. If they would just catch starlings and E. sparrow. I would have a few.
but, to them it's a game except for the wild ones.Sue,suegary wrote:We have a neighbor who lets their cat roam....kitty has been hosed with water many times. I have bought bell collars for the last two years and "donated" them to the neighbor...I guess they did not take the hint. I'm going to sprinkle a large amount of repel around the perimeter of my yard. Has anyone ever tried this and if so, has it worked?
Sue
City by the Sea, TX
I have one of those battery powered "Scarecrow" sprinklers. It has a built in motion detector and is adjustable just like a lawn sprinkler in terms of spray width and strength. The motion detector also has a sensitivity adjustment. You should see how high a cat can fly when it turns on
I'm a "nestcamaholic" Is 18 hours a day a bad thing? (I have 2 this year, luckily I have 2 eyes!)
Probably true that all predators enjoy killing, much as I expect a martin enjoys catching insects.Virtually all predators will kill even when they are not hungry if the opportunity presents itself.
I believe humans are the only creature endowed with a sense of empathy, animals however kill innocently without pity or conscience.
Mike Scully
I believe humans are the only creature endowed with a sense of empathy, animals however kill innocently without pity or conscience.
Mike Scully
-
The Olsons
- Posts: 3200
- Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:57 pm
- Location: North Padre Island, TX
Sparky,
Your info on the battery powered "Scarecrow" sprinklers really caught my interest. I googled it right away and it looks like a very good solution to get rid of some possible predators. The site I looked up even has a little video showing how it works. Do you think this is something you could put a few feet away from a martin system and it would prevent racoons, snakes, squirrels, etc. from even trying to climb on the pole. We do have pole guards as well, but maybe having those extra "Scarescrow" sprinklers might even make things safer
Astrid
Your info on the battery powered "Scarecrow" sprinklers really caught my interest. I googled it right away and it looks like a very good solution to get rid of some possible predators. The site I looked up even has a little video showing how it works. Do you think this is something you could put a few feet away from a martin system and it would prevent racoons, snakes, squirrels, etc. from even trying to climb on the pole. We do have pole guards as well, but maybe having those extra "Scarescrow" sprinklers might even make things safer
Astrid