Dead Martin

[Guest]

Last week when we went to the camp (Patoka Lake), we found a dead Martin laying on one of the gourd perches. I didn't see any sign of a starling. This weekend when we went up, there was a starling in that gourd with eggs already. I figured that's what happen to the male Martin. We aren't able to take the housing down anymore, but we were able to tip the gourd to have the eggs fall out. Do you think the starling will abandon the nest now? Do they have more than one brood? I'm going to worry all week until we get back up there on Friday.

[John Miller]

In my experience, the starlings will sulk for a few days and then start to rebuild or relay. Some folks have said they will abandon if you destroy a nest with their young, but I have only dealt with nests with eggs. I've even tried pulling their nests out and leaving broken eggs. This is said to discourage them -- but for me anyway, they just move to another compartment (in a house). It's getting a little later now in the season...and they do only have one clutch per season...so maybe they will move on.

Suggest you plan on some form of SREH next season, or evaluate your current SREH if it's not working.

I've seen sites with a starling in residence...it makes me cringe, but the other martins may get by for this year. Starlings don't purposely go around destroying all the other martin nests...but they can be deadly when they initially investigate a site -- going in and out here and there -- or if they want a particular cavity.

Try not to worry, but do the best you can.

John M

[LNCummins]

Around here them nasty things have 2 broods a year,I guess because maybe they start so early with their first.