Back ground info: We have used round holes successfully since 2010...no HOSP or Starlings. As I have recently posted the Starlings arrived this year so mid season we changed to crescent entrances.
On our North Gemini sys in gourd "D" on 05/16 all seemed well. 5 eggs with an expected hatch date of 05/17. With our check today (05/21) we found a dead "Mom" and mostly dead babies. She had been using the SREH since 05/11. She was not "caught" or "trapped" in the entrance, just inside the gourd dead. Question: Since we are new to SHEH is this a case of possible "entrapment" that we can't recognize? If so, in the future what do we look for?
So sad!!!!...Appreciate any advice!~Tammy
Dead Mom...Possible wing entrapment?
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John Miller
- Posts: 4863
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
If she had been using the entrance, then it probably was not the cause. The only thing to look for was whether some nest material in some way was restricting the crescent. sometimes nest trays in houses get raised slightly, for example, when people take them out and nest debris remains under then when they are put back in.
More likely something happened; maybe she was attacked by a hawk, fought with a sub adult male, or something. I once found a female with newly hatched young inside the cavity and she was sort of panting and sitting off to the side. I left her alone, but when I checked back she had died. Suspect the females in general suffer higher mortality rates from greater effort at protecting and feeding the babies.
John
More likely something happened; maybe she was attacked by a hawk, fought with a sub adult male, or something. I once found a female with newly hatched young inside the cavity and she was sort of panting and sitting off to the side. I left her alone, but when I checked back she had died. Suspect the females in general suffer higher mortality rates from greater effort at protecting and feeding the babies.
John
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DebA
- Posts: 1941
- Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
- Location: Pratt County/Kansas
- Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.
Oh dang it, Tammy. So sorry. I agree with John. Last year I had WE with two females fighting over the compartment and I found the deceased one wedged into the opening.
Deb
Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
To John Miller & DebA...
Thank you for your replies.
No issue with nest trays. These birds were in BO-11+ gourds. So I tend to agree with the theory of SY birds. No material restricting the crescent. As soon as we lowered the housing I could see "her". Immediately said to my "Mr."...."we have a dead bird".
Our only consulation: We had 10 additional eggs in gourds that we were expecting NOTHING from.
Again, I express thanks to you both of you for the interest in our delimma.
Wishing you the best..Tammy
Thank you for your replies.
No issue with nest trays. These birds were in BO-11+ gourds. So I tend to agree with the theory of SY birds. No material restricting the crescent. As soon as we lowered the housing I could see "her". Immediately said to my "Mr."...."we have a dead bird".
Our only consulation: We had 10 additional eggs in gourds that we were expecting NOTHING from.
Again, I express thanks to you both of you for the interest in our delimma.
Wishing you the best..Tammy
Chet & Tammy Winger
PMCA Members
PMCA Members