Colony Being Destroyed
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- Posts: 494
- Joined: Thu May 26, 2016 9:23 am
- Location: tennesse
- Martin Colony History: Started colony in 2014. First pair to stay and raise young in 2018.
Just a thought but a small cat or even smaller type trap baited with raw meat would catch any type of meat eating predators. Put it at the base of the pole and set it. And wait if it’s coming every day or so it will take the free meal before doing all the work to climb pole and kill the birds. Good luck.
I don’t have one. Why is the male not being killed and why would it just kill the martins on the nest and not eat them?jhcox wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2019 3:16 pmJust a thought but a small cat or even smaller type trap baited with raw meat would catch any type of meat eating predators. Put it at the base of the pole and set it. And wait if it’s coming every day or so it will take the free meal before doing all the work to climb pole and kill the birds. Good luck.
2020
T14
7 pair
25 fledged
T14
7 pair
25 fledged
Whatever it is or was would have to climb a lot of Vaseline and cayenne pepper.rrmartins wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2019 3:35 pmI don’t have one. Why is the male not being killed and why would it just kill the martins on the nest and not eat them?jhcox wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2019 3:16 pmJust a thought but a small cat or even smaller type trap baited with raw meat would catch any type of meat eating predators. Put it at the base of the pole and set it. And wait if it’s coming every day or so it will take the free meal before doing all the work to climb pole and kill the birds. Good luck.
2020
T14
7 pair
25 fledged
T14
7 pair
25 fledged
Hopefully the vent pipe stops it. It didn’t happen last night. I had bucket over netting and lots of cayenne and Vaseline.rrmartins wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2019 3:37 pmWhatever it is or was would have to climb a lot of Vaseline and cayenne pepper.rrmartins wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2019 3:35 pmI don’t have one. Why is the male not being killed and why would it just kill the martins on the nest and not eat them?jhcox wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2019 3:16 pmJust a thought but a small cat or even smaller type trap baited with raw meat would catch any type of meat eating predators. Put it at the base of the pole and set it. And wait if it’s coming every day or so it will take the free meal before doing all the work to climb pole and kill the birds. Good luck.
2020
T14
7 pair
25 fledged
T14
7 pair
25 fledged
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- Posts: 85
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 4:37 pm
- Location: NC
I sure would borrow some ones trail camera just to see exactly what you are up against. If you could not afford one.
That may not work based on what your predator is which is unknown. They could climb your bucket and then reach to the top of your pipe. The concept is to have your pipe 2' off the ground so they can't reach the top of the pipe and pull their self up. This means they have to start climbing the pole. They then have to transfer from climbing the pole over to your 6" pipe. This is very difficult because the pipe is mounted to wobble and they can't grip the 6" pipe. Here is an exame of what it should look like.
Here it is.
- Attachments
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- Posts: 81
- Joined: Mon Nov 09, 2015 2:06 pm
- Location: Central Iowa
- Martin Colony History: 5 Modified Trios 10 Gourds and 1 B&B
2019 24 Pair 83 Fledged
2018 23 Pair 92 Fledged
2017 26 Pair 105 Fledged
2016 21 Pair 99 Fledged
2015 15 Pair 59 Fledged
2014 18 Pair 40 Fledged
2013 16 Pair 30 Fledged
2012 10 Pair 30 Fledged
Started in late 1980's
rrmartins
I feel your pain and the solutions can be complicated most times due to time. I believe you are on the right track and have done what you can for now. I have read many good suggestions so far. All I can add is what I have done to solve my problems. I installed these https://www.purplemartin.org/shop/produ ... uard-qrga/ and they solved my problem of not wanting to use a ladder to do nest checks. If you can not afford this guard perhaps reading about the design may give you ideas how to design your own. Sometimes I have found that cruising the isles of a hardware store I have found the exact item I didn't even know I was looking for.

I have spent quite a few all nighters trying to figure out what was attacking my decoys. Solved the problems with a spot light and air horn. Since then I invested in a game camera and now upgraded that to a motion camera. Finally I can now get a good night rest!

Hang in there and good luck
Paule
Project MartinWatch participants and supplemental feeding is provided. I also add heat to housing when needed.
Yeah I already have a plan on making one, already started my list.paule wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2019 5:52 pmrrmartins
I feel your pain and the solutions can be complicated most times due to time. I believe you are on the right track and have done what you can for now. I have read many good suggestions so far. All I can add is what I have done to solve my problems. I installed these https://www.purplemartin.org/shop/produ ... uard-qrga/ and they solved my problem of not wanting to use a ladder to do nest checks. If you can not afford this guard perhaps reading about the design may give you ideas how to design your own. Sometimes I have found that cruising the isles of a hardware store I have found the exact item I didn't even know I was looking for.![]()
I have spent quite a few all nighters trying to figure out what was attacking my decoys. Solved the problems with a spot light and air horn. Since then I invested in a game camera and now upgraded that to a motion camera. Finally I can now get a good night rest!
Hang in there and good luck
Paule
I moved up the loose ends of the netting to keep something from grabbing it. Guess we’ll see what happens. Hopefully I can go two nights in a row with no issues.
2020
T14
7 pair
25 fledged
T14
7 pair
25 fledged
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- Posts: 494
- Joined: Thu May 26, 2016 9:23 am
- Location: tennesse
- Martin Colony History: Started colony in 2014. First pair to stay and raise young in 2018.
The traps are pretty small and pretty cheap. At least you would know what it is and could dispatch it quickly. And if it ever happened again you wo know what it is and what to do. It would be better than loosing another single Martin.
I hope you have gotten past it too. It is frustrating to loose one Martin, especially when you don't know what the predator is. Hopefully your season will get much better from here.
Good Luck
Good Luck
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