I never saw my owls reach into the openings and grab birds. The seven or eight inches between the porches and wire was ok for that. My owls would hang on the wire flapping their wings and making a commotion causing martins to freak out and try to escape. That's when the owls would grab. My new cage...

Here is a link to a PMCA article where this research has already been done. Good read on the natal dispersal topic, as well as the 'hog' farmers.

https://www.purplemartin.org/uploads/me ... -2-374.pdf

Thank you, John for sharing the information about my article with dave. I'm so sorry you're having this problem Dave. It is the MOST difficult problem a landlord can have. Dave, it was indeed a slaughter on my Trendsetter - just like it sounds like it is on your metal housing. I had the same issue /...

Yikes! So sorry to hear that.

Agree with Carlton - your snake netting should be above a cylinder guard. The small snake may not have been able to breach a 2' stovepipe guard.

No one has mentioned flying squirrels. Everything that has been mentioned is a possible cause for the dead martins, but flying squirrels is the likely culprit. They don't need to climb up or down the pole - they can glide in from a nearby tree or utility pole, do the damage, and glide back down to ...

GANGS of SUB-ADULTS
It looks like the sub-adults are arriving in groups here at Gobbler's Knob. Just in time for some supplemental feeding training too!
I've blogged today about our arrivals here:
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com/2019/05 ... ve-in.html

Ok, it’s been three days with no more killing of martins. I have three active nest left, hope for the best.

Hoping your colony is now safe and you can start sleeping at night again.

Another one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siflk69fLqo

Good video on the details of putting together stove pipe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaS7r9ZIrU8

Is a 6”x 5ft stove pipe big enough?

Yes, but put your netting above it.

I agree with Courtney, you need a cylinder guard on your pole - it needs to be 2' long and put it below the netting. A climbing weasel / predator can use the netting to 'boost' themselves over your guard.

My neighbor had a weasel kill 32 of his chickens - they are relentless.

THE KIDZ ARE BACK IN TOWN!
I thought I recognized his bad behavior last night, but waited until I could see his chest / neck in the bright sun this morning. Sure enough, this SY male arrived yesterday.
Licking, MO

The dove decoys are used a lot by hunters, so you might find them at a hunting store. I think I found a 4-pack on EBay for $14.00 or so. Place your dove decoys under one of your bird feeding stations - they will draw more doves into that area and Cooper's hawks love doves! the 8 oz. is the size I ha...

Brent, buy the biggest one they offer. It scared the beejeesuz out of me and I was expecting it! :lol: Regarding bird feeders - just feed sunflower seed - HOSP don't really go for it. I feed cracked corn myself, so I can attract HOSP and pick them off with my pellet gun at the feeders. At this time ...

Spotted 7 martins, mostly males, at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Mo., this morning. Two, a pair, at Forest Park a few miles north. We usually have about 90 pairs in a scattered colony across the two locations. Now...hold your breath...probably will snow and turn cold. Recall a rough ...

Trapping & shooting ideas here:

http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com/2015/02 ... s-for.html

Make a little box trap with a small hole, with spring loaded trap on backside of the door, I forget what size hole. Get a Blaine’s repeater trap and anyone you catch, move it into the Blaine’s trap as a bait bird. The Blaine’s will catch some on it’s on, but a bird inside the trap helps attract mor...

Brent, this is a list I made up a while back. I haven't customized it to your situation, just pasting it here. I know you already have decoys, so you can ignore #1. there are several things you can try to deter hawks: 1. Do you have decoys? If so, try mounting them around the perimeter of your colon...

Agreed with Matt F. - starling attack. Trap, shoot and make your entrances SREH.

Congratulations Kathy, and also to Jeff. After visiting with you and Jeff at the Springfield presentation on Saturday my wife and I got home and saw an ASY male on the gourd rack. I think it such a coincidence that we get our first arrivals close to the same time. Hope the weather continues to impr...