Didnt have much of a choice

Waydog · Mon Apr 07, 2014 9:38 pm

yesterday morning, while letting dog out, noticed a PM down about 25 feet from housing. After putting dog up, went to investigate. it was a female, her head severely pecked and pretty much destroyed. I have about 18 birds at my sight now, and am assuming this was result of another PM fighting her, as ive read on here before of this. She was so mangled, I hadnt much of a choice but to end her misery. She was in no shape for trying rehab....yes i did consider it..I dont feel it was a predatory attack, as all the other birds never went into any alarm mode, and kept on in their activity of nest building. I think i had some newcomers friday and this possibly was a result of ASY activity maybe? Or just bullying... same thing! At any rate it wasnt easy, but she had been brutally attacked. Hope to not see that happen again. Several weeks ago, during daily nest check, wasnt any nests at that time, they just started building last week, noticed small amount of blood on the doors and porch of my 2nd house, but nothing came of it....no downed birds or any in housing that were injured. I assumed it was fighting for rental.... All part of landlording i guess...I thank you all again for your priceless schooling on this rewarding hobby. You are the reason for many of us new guys success! Mine for sure!

MamaBruff · Mon Apr 07, 2014 11:16 pm

That's so sad, especially when we do all we can to make things safe for them- and then they kill each other needlessly! (Oh I suppose the same thing could be said for humans)

tonyg · Tue Apr 08, 2014 12:14 am

Have you seen any starlings around at all? Once they enter a hole and there is a Martin in it, it's doomsday usually..but then again it could've been another Martin fighting for the cavity...

chickadee · Tue Apr 08, 2014 7:40 am

At least you helped her with what you could. Just keep an eye out. I have watched males pile into a gourd and broke up plenty of fights. I have found females stuck in the entrance face inside pecked to death with another female inside. I found one with broken wing hit some rocks on the ground by the house. Fighting over compartment I am sure. We protect them best we can but who can protect them from each other? Any how you did a good thing.

Waydog · Tue Apr 08, 2014 9:32 pm

Tony g... a starling is a possibility also. I do have them and sparrows. The starlings can breach the crescent, but have tough time trying to get into the clinger entrances on the gourds...next year ill be going all gourds. They fill up first anyway so i think the pm's prefer them. The bo11s with tunnels.