Got a problem and was wondering what is the culprit.
First of all I have 15 martin pairs in a 20 compartment set-up All the pairs have a nest, some have eggs and a few even have young.
I walked around my pole this morning and noticed 5 eggs laying on the ground under the pole. The eggs appeared to have holes pecked in them which suggests a rouge sparrow. However I haven't noticed a sparrow around my housing...Now I can't watch my houseing every minute of the day but haven't seen a sparrow in weeks. I do however have SY males doing what SY males do...harrassing the nesting pairs, moving eggs out of nests, etc...
My question is, Will SY birds peck hole in the eggs and toss them out of established nests? Or is my culprit a sparrow?
Thanks for any advise,
Carl McCoy
Pecked Eggs
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Guest
carlymac,
That is an interesting question. I had the same issue last year and automatically assumed HOSP were the culprit although I hadn't seen any in a few weeks. I will be monitoring this thread for responses from the more experienced landlords.
That is an interesting question. I had the same issue last year and automatically assumed HOSP were the culprit although I hadn't seen any in a few weeks. I will be monitoring this thread for responses from the more experienced landlords.
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KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
Carl,
I asked this question a few days ago too and Steve Kroenke, one of the more experienced landlords told me it was most likely a HOSP, as SYs typically just roll the eggs out of the nest bowl/out of nest cavity.
HOSP are very sneaky.... sit outside & listen in the morning or evening and you'll likely hear him somewhere around. The other culprit could be a wren.
See the last couple of posts in this thread....
http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=233
I asked this question a few days ago too and Steve Kroenke, one of the more experienced landlords told me it was most likely a HOSP, as SYs typically just roll the eggs out of the nest bowl/out of nest cavity.
HOSP are very sneaky.... sit outside & listen in the morning or evening and you'll likely hear him somewhere around. The other culprit could be a wren.
See the last couple of posts in this thread....
http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=233
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com