Bad News: Dead babies, probably ants

17 years ago

Babies starting hatching wed, did a quick check yesterday and they were alive, but today noticed no activity, no female around so I said to my self I better check on them. I checked and they were all dead 5 of them with ants all over them.

It's sad, but this stuff happens and we all learn from it. Will eventually replace wooden post with a metal or plastic one very soon.

I figure that probably there was only a few ants at first, not noticeable and after they were born the ants were attracted to them even more. Actually I really didn't see the ants until I pulled the nest out, that may be why the female was always resting half way out the hole. Anyway I did put some grease on wooden post but obviously didn't have enough or they are coming up through the cracks through the middle of post. Anyway will start over and replace wooden posts with metal or plastic ones. Is there any preference of metal vs. PVC(plastic). Is one better then the other, lets not have this happen again.

Keith

P.s.--not positive about cause of death, it doesn't appear that they were pecked to death or something like that. Maybe the ants came after their death. Either way the mother isn't around, I don't know whether she left after the last one died or whether she left before any of them died. I've even thought of a genetic problem or feeding the babies insects that have just been sprayed in one of the many gardens nearby, will probably never know.

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Comments (5)

bbcathy
17 years ago
Keith Sorry about the birds. You want to use a slick metal pole. I use electrical conduit from Home Depot. Costs only about2$ and I can make 2 out of it.
Cathy
griffin_MD
17 years ago
I'm sorry, too, Keith. Sometimes we just don't know what happened. I'm glad you're remounting your box, though, and agree with Cathy on the electrical conduit. I use the 3/4", cut at 7 1/2' and sink the pole into the ground at least 1 1/2'. Remember to cover the hole on top of the pole with either an end-cap or duct tape. I learned the hard way that ants can go through the inside of the pole, out the top and onto nestbox!
Kathy
trailerparkbirds
Original Author
17 years ago
Kathy and Cathy:
Thanks for the advice, I have been thanking about the capping the top of pole. What you described on length and width is pretty much what I'm thinking of, won't really know to I can see it when I go down to the Home Depot or Lowes.

I made a bluebird box for my neighbor and he mounted it on a 10ft 1/2 inch pole. That old blue bird house sways back and forth in the wind quiet a bit.
Keith
mulchmamma
17 years ago
Keith, you better cut that 10' pole in half. Wouldn't trust 1/2" conduit at that height with a box on top.

Sorry about the ants-besides HOSPS, HOWRS and the heat, it's just one more thing to test our sanity on the road to fledging.

Linda
trailerparkbirds
Original Author
17 years ago
To all:
Got wooden pole replaced with 3/4 conduit, I've capped the conduit and have put Vaseline on pole, I also modified the bird house a little for the summer residence, this will make it cooler. I've tried this roof a couple years in the past and it hasn't bother them and as far as I know they have never got wet either. Now its just a matter of time to see if they show up again to occupy, I've seen the male, and a few others, but I'm not sure whether the female is with him. Most of the time I see them toward the west with the sun in my eyes.
Keith
{{!gwi}}