Purple Martin nest relocation surprise

[Heavy Barrel]

Over the years a cedar tree had grown and encroached on the Purple Martin gourd nesting array. This was up when we moved here in 2003.

I noticed the birds avoided it last year and I had read they prefer not to nest near trees. So I decided to move it away.

Decided to clean out gourds and carried the whole thing to the shop to blow it out with compressed air.

One gourd seemed heavy and full of nesting material. Poking around this is what I saw.



Which turned into this.

 

[heavydoc]

How exciting, the nesting birds have a protector.

 

[Heavy Barrel]

Did not even finish bolting it to the new post location before the birds started checking it out.

 

[REELDOC]

Pissed off snek............

Call Ricky Ticky mongoose for your snek removal problems.

 

[Chihuahua Floyd]

I think I would be upset to. Somebody jacks my home around, pokes me, dumps me out on the ground.
Pretty snake though. Needs to live in a barn or brushpile though.

 

[Windini]

How exciting, the nesting birds have a protector.

His name is "Burp."

 

[Bloodyhands]

Burp, is a healthy looking Black Rat snake.
They are pretty good to have around.👍

 

[Axehandle]

Much better to have around than Purple Martins!!

 

[Heavy Barrel]

I took the snake down to the pasture and dumped him next to the run in building and next to the pond. He will do fine if he stays there.

 

[Heavy Barrel]

I just hope he stays away from the house.

Was cleaning some leaves out from under the deck and disturbed a nest of these.



Had to chase 4 of them down and put them back into the nest. Mama rabbit hangs around the house and especially likes the clover at the edge of the pasture.

Hope the snake stays away from the babies.

 

[Heavy Barrel]

I think thisnis one of the males that hangs around the yard. Pretty friendly.

 

[Bloodyhands]

Got a nice little eco-system going there👍🖖

 

[ronn47]

Got a nice little eco-system going there👍🖖

Or supper if hard times come.

 

[two fingers]

Much better to have around than Purple Martins!!

I thought the Martins were known to eat a metric ton of mosquitoes.