Missing eggs?

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SMJohnson
Posts: 150
Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2014 11:06 am
Location: IA/Ottumwa

What would one suspect if all 5 eggs in a Troyer horizontal gourd were missing?
Nest check on May 16th found 5 eggs and 9 days later all were missing with no evidence remaining. No predator guard at time. Have considered the possibility
of a snake, however mostly wide open grass below. No sparrows attempting to nest
at site at that time. Numerous SY males present. Would an SY male carry off 5 eggs. What would other possibilities be?
2012-13 pair..........2019-102 pair
2013-52 pair..........2020-109 pair
2014-65 pair..........2021-144 pair
2015-85 pair..........2022-156 pair
2016-80 pair..........2023-174 pair
2017-93 pair..........2024- 193 pair
2018- 87 pair..........2025- ? pair

2021 Offering 180 Nesting Cavities
64 Troyer Horizontal Gourds
64 Troyer Vertical Gourds
2 T14'S - 28 Compartments
3 SMJ8'S - 24 Compartments
Anthony Neira
Posts: 1319
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:12 pm
Location: San Antonio /Texas
Martin Colony History: Started in 1992 From neighbors old 1950-60's colonies. Have 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 4 MPP Poles, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals ,& 2 S&K 11" WITH Troyer Porches ready for 2019 Season !

So Sorry to read about that ! I would think that if there are NO Signs of egg shells (chips etc..) then I would say Snake ( mostly evening, night, or early morn.) Are the PMs afraid to get back in ? Then, I would think Snake. Either a Guard (PMCA Store) or Netting. Best of luck !
PMCA Member, 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals + Tunnels, & 2 S&K Bo 11"s WITH Troyer Porches ! 4 MPPs, For 2019 Season !! :grin: Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.
Jose Rodriguez
Posts: 692
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:34 am
Location: FL/Belleview

I'm with Anthony on this one. Snake came by. Sorry about that. :-(
PMCA Member
"Keep Calm and It Will Happen"
rickchilli
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon May 18, 2015 10:13 am
Location: MO/Chillicothe
Martin Colony History: I mailed in hard copy showing several years history since restarted martin colony in 2008.

might have been. or just this morning I did a nest check and recorded 3 eggs in a compartment. then just now happened to be watching my martins when i herd some scuffling in the house and two martins and two sparrows came fighting out of a compartment. I checked the compartment again and all eggs were gone. I only found evidence of one destroyed egg. don't know where the other 2 went. I'll be getting out my sparrow doors tomorrow if they're still hanging around.
rick
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