Colony Being Destroyed
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- Posts: 65
- Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2018 5:05 pm
- Location: Ontario NY
- Martin Colony History: I Started my first colony with my father in the late 1960's. Started building custom vinyl Martin houses last year 2018 and was successful with 10 birds fledged and it looks like several dozen birds are hanging around. Time to expand.
2018: 1 T-14 and 6 gourds. Fledged 10
2019: 2 T-14's and 6 gourds. Fledged 70
2020: 2 T-14's and 6 gourds. Fledged 111
They are smart and agile with long skinny bodies, I was thinking the netting might not be such a good idea, they can use it for footing and if the bucket is split and has a seem they might get past it.
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- Posts: 65
- Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2018 5:05 pm
- Location: Ontario NY
- Martin Colony History: I Started my first colony with my father in the late 1960's. Started building custom vinyl Martin houses last year 2018 and was successful with 10 birds fledged and it looks like several dozen birds are hanging around. Time to expand.
2018: 1 T-14 and 6 gourds. Fledged 10
2019: 2 T-14's and 6 gourds. Fledged 70
2020: 2 T-14's and 6 gourds. Fledged 111
That I'm not sure of but it will most likely keep coming back. If it were me I would raise your winch a few feet and find some stainless stove pipe. and they are so smart you probably won't even be ale to catch it in a have a heart trap. A small muskrat trap covered with crinkled wax paper to cover up the scent and covered with grass with a bird on top. But I have to say Don't do it where you live because of cats or someones pet could get in it. I also don't know what the trapping laws are in your state.
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- Posts: 90
- Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2015 5:26 pm
- Location: TX/Mckinney
- Martin Colony History: 2016 - 1 Pair (5 Fledged)
2015 - 1 Pair (3 Fledged)
I had a similar incident with some bluebird babies. I ended up losing them all before I could put a stop to it. Mine turned out to be a rat and it would eat the birds each night and leave a similar carcass. Rats are very cunning. When I had my incident other suggested squirrels but I found my critter coming back each night. I use the stovepipe baffle for all my gourd racks and bird houses. It works well. Good luck. Also, be glad you found the problem before it wiped out your colony. This landlording stuff can be trying at times. We do the best we can.
It's not a raccoon, I've dealt with them. They eat head & body, leave the wings on the ground behind.
Raccoon with eat at least 6 Martins in one night, then not return for 3 or 4 days.
Then will do it again until captured.
Raccoon with eat at least 6 Martins in one night, then not return for 3 or 4 days.
Then will do it again until captured.
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
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- Posts: 33
- Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2017 2:58 pm
- Location: Dakota Cty, MN
- Martin Colony History: 2014 - first year, zero activity
2015 - Nothing
2016 - SY male visited and stayed a few weeks, unable to attract a mate
2017 - SY pair arrived June 6 - 3 eggs laid, 2 hatched, 1 fledged.
2018 - ASY male, SY female - 5 eggs, 5 hatched, lost all 5 prematurely
2019 - SY male hungout for a month, no mate, several visitors
2020 - Hopeful....
RR - never received a PM. You can e-mail me @ jake@northlandkb.com if you would like.
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- Posts: 3518
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
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.
My neighbor had a weasel kill 32 of his chickens - they are relentless.
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2016 - 82 pair
2015 - 76 pair
2014 - 75 pair
2013 - 75 pair
2012-72 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2016 - 82 pair
2015 - 76 pair
2014 - 75 pair
2013 - 75 pair
2012-72 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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- Posts: 3518
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
Yes, but put your netting above it.
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2016 - 82 pair
2015 - 76 pair
2014 - 75 pair
2013 - 75 pair
2012-72 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2016 - 82 pair
2015 - 76 pair
2014 - 75 pair
2013 - 75 pair
2012-72 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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- Posts: 3518
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
Good video on the details of putting together stove pipe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaS7r9ZIrU8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaS7r9ZIrU8
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2016 - 82 pair
2015 - 76 pair
2014 - 75 pair
2013 - 75 pair
2012-72 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2016 - 82 pair
2015 - 76 pair
2014 - 75 pair
2013 - 75 pair
2012-72 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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- Posts: 3518
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2016 - 82 pair
2015 - 76 pair
2014 - 75 pair
2013 - 75 pair
2012-72 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2016 - 82 pair
2015 - 76 pair
2014 - 75 pair
2013 - 75 pair
2012-72 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com