Colony Being Destroyed
I now have four mother birds killed on their nest, totally eaten up stomachs, no idea what’s going on. This is just crazy, all my birds being killed and house is covered in martins. Can’t solve the problem if I don’t know what’s happening.
2020
T14
7 pair
25 fledged
T14
7 pair
25 fledged
-
- Posts: 523
- Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2016 6:22 pm
- Location: Marshall County AL
Post pictures of the dead birds.
Martin landlord since 2003. Currently offering 132 plastic gourds with tunnels and all SREH.
That is unique. Might try raking the ground around the poles and watch for tracks in the fresh dirt?
2008 - 33 PAIR - FLEDGED 96 YOUNG
2009 - 51 PAIR - FLEDGED 166 YOUNG
2010 - 45 PAIR - FLEDGED 146 YOUNG
2011 - 33 PAIR - 128 HATCHED, 97 FLEDGED
2012 - 37 PAIR - 119 HATCHED, 101 FLEDGED
2009 - 51 PAIR - FLEDGED 166 YOUNG
2010 - 45 PAIR - FLEDGED 146 YOUNG
2011 - 33 PAIR - 128 HATCHED, 97 FLEDGED
2012 - 37 PAIR - 119 HATCHED, 101 FLEDGED
-
- Posts: 4771
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
very odd as others said. Could have died from weather and maggots eating? Infestation of blow flies? Maybe pour out nest material and examine. If other martins hanging around, that's very hopeful. Of course remove dead ones. ...possible a rat? Every idea on the table.
Bird netting on pole. Birds have been thrown away. Can a rat climb a round slick pole if it got past the bird netting? I have never had anything get up the pole. The only thing I can come up with is the over population of birds and they are the ones doing it. There are way too many martins here.
2020
T14
7 pair
25 fledged
T14
7 pair
25 fledged
No maggots or blowflies, check housing every other day.rrmartins wrote: ↑Sun May 05, 2019 10:36 amBird netting on pole. Birds have been thrown away. Can a rat climb a round slick pole if it got past the bird netting? I have never had anything get up the pole. The only thing I can come up with is the over population of birds and they are the ones doing it. There are way too many martins here.
2020
T14
7 pair
25 fledged
T14
7 pair
25 fledged
-
- Posts: 44
- Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2018 11:21 am
- Location: Alabama
My first thought was the possibility of the martins being the culprits. I've never heard of that, though. Do you have any idea of what time of day the attacks may have happened?
I thought about a rat too, could fire ants do something like that ?rrmartins wrote: ↑Sun May 05, 2019 10:36 amBird netting on pole. Birds have been thrown away. Can a rat climb a round slick pole if it got past the bird netting? I have never had anything get up the pole. The only thing I can come up with is the over population of birds and they are the ones doing it. There are way too many martins here.
Rat could definately climb the pole, no problem.
2008 - 33 PAIR - FLEDGED 96 YOUNG
2009 - 51 PAIR - FLEDGED 166 YOUNG
2010 - 45 PAIR - FLEDGED 146 YOUNG
2011 - 33 PAIR - 128 HATCHED, 97 FLEDGED
2012 - 37 PAIR - 119 HATCHED, 101 FLEDGED
2009 - 51 PAIR - FLEDGED 166 YOUNG
2010 - 45 PAIR - FLEDGED 146 YOUNG
2011 - 33 PAIR - 128 HATCHED, 97 FLEDGED
2012 - 37 PAIR - 119 HATCHED, 101 FLEDGED
You mentioned totally eaten up stomach. Is this a two part event where someting is killing the bird and then stomach being eaten by something else. I think it would be very odd for an sy bird would eat another bird. Makes more sense to be killed by an sy and eaten by a maggot or something internally.
Really? A rat can clinch on too a round steel pipe?Spiderman wrote: ↑Sun May 05, 2019 11:29 pmI thought about a rat too, could fire ants do something like that ?rrmartins wrote: ↑Sun May 05, 2019 10:36 amBird netting on pole. Birds have been thrown away. Can a rat climb a round slick pole if it got past the bird netting? I have never had anything get up the pole. The only thing I can come up with is the over population of birds and they are the ones doing it. There are way too many martins here.
Rat could definately climb the pole, no problem.
I put Vaseline on it yesterday, can the rat make it through the bird netting as well?
2020
T14
7 pair
25 fledged
T14
7 pair
25 fledged
rrmartins wrote: ↑Mon May 06, 2019 7:30 amReally? A rat can clinch on too a round steel pipe?Spiderman wrote: ↑Sun May 05, 2019 11:29 pmI thought about a rat too, could fire ants do something like that ?rrmartins wrote: ↑Sun May 05, 2019 10:36 amBird netting on pole. Birds have been thrown away. Can a rat climb a round slick pole if it got past the bird netting? I have never had anything get up the pole. The only thing I can come up with is the over population of birds and they are the ones doing it. There are way too many martins here.
Rat could definately climb the pole, no problem.
I put Vaseline on it yesterday, can the rat make it through the bird netting as well? Haven’t seen any bug activity on any of the birds.
2020
T14
7 pair
25 fledged
T14
7 pair
25 fledged
-
- Posts: 167
- Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2016 7:17 pm
- Location: Topeka, KS
- Martin Colony History: 2015 1 SY pair, 2 eggs destroyed by house sparrow
2016 1 ASY pair, 5 eggs, 2 hatchlings, 2 fledged
2017 1 ASY pair, 5 eggs, 5 hatchlings, 5 fledged; 1 SY pair, 4 eggs not incubated
2018 daily visitors but no takers
2019 1 SY pair, 4 eggs, 2 destroyed by House Wren, 2 hatchlings, 2 fledged
2020 1ASY pair, 5 eggs, 5 hatchlings, 5 fledged
Possibly a weasel? I found this online when searching for bird predators. Article states: "If birds are dead but not eaten and have parts still intact, a weasel may have attacked the flock. Members of the weasel family, including mink, kill just for the fun of killing. Often, the chickens’ bodies are bloodied. Also, you might notice that internal organs have been eaten."
I also read that a weasel can enter a 1/4 inch opening and can be a problem with tree swallows.
https://articles.extension.org/pages/71 ... try-flocks
I also read that a weasel can enter a 1/4 inch opening and can be a problem with tree swallows.
https://articles.extension.org/pages/71 ... try-flocks
Michelle in Topeka
-
- Posts: 2126
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
Wondering if you have a Kestrel (falcon family) attacking your colony. They are a small about the size of a blue jay. We had one land on our fence rail a few years ago. It was after HS. I was surprised how small it was. They go after HS & other small birds.
A Kestrel could get in your housing, depending on your entrance holes. The only suggestion is to shrink your entrances if possible.
Toy in PA
A Kestrel could get in your housing, depending on your entrance holes. The only suggestion is to shrink your entrances if possible.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member