Purple Martin Forum

Deb, More than likely they are escapees. 1. Domestic bird owners like to put cages outside for their birds to get sunshine or fresh air. Cat or hawk comes along attracted to noise and hit the cage allowing for escape. 2. Birds are allowed free flight in the home and the minute a door is opened…out t...

Deb, Unlike Martins, when songbirds fledge they are on the ground for 10 days to 2 wks until their wing feathers are fully developed for flight. Until that time the parents will continue to feed them on the ground while they scoot around and hide in low bushes and ground cover. If you still have it,...

Deb,

Thank you for answering. Before making any road trips with Martins let me see what develops with the Landlords here. As I'm trying to get ready to leave for work, I'll address your other questions after I return home this evening. Thank you again.

I’m currently trying to find still active colonies that will have babies fledgling the next 7 days. There are 6 rehabbed babies that need to be fledged right away. Time is running out for them to migrate. Colonies that I have been using have already fledged all babies and are not returning. My only ...

I was disgusted when I saw this last year, e-mailed them and no response. It is so pitiful that these babies have to live in these horrible conditions. Just looked at the web cam again and the mites are crawling everywhere and these babies don't get a moments peace or rest.

Deb, Kathy, Kent, Connie & Toy I really don’t know how to thank you all for your kind words of support. It’s great to know that there are people who support rehabilitators and the job they try to accomplish. Most of the time, this is truly a thankless job with your greatest rewards coming when y...

Jim, My best advice is DO NOT use calcium supplements. You won’t know if you’re giving too much or not enough. Excess calcium levels decrease the utilization of vitamins, phosphorus, proteins, fats, iron, etc. High calcium levels (hypercalcaemia) can be toxic causing calcification of kidneys, lamene...

As an avian rehabilitator, I have discovered each and every individual bird has its own needs, wants and personalities that can be loving, heartwarming, trying, demanding and sometimes just downright stubborn. Rehabbing isn’t easy. It takes a lot of time, energy, dedication; commitment and passion t...

Kelli,

Received you're Private Message. Sent you a text.

Matt, I’m referring to closing houses & gourds that face in those directions depending on your orientation of the openings. We all know that that hot sun beating directly on housing can cause them to heat dramatically even with proper venting. A Landlord of 30+ years and my friend had a long tal...

Kathy, You are right on. ANY baby bird is better off with its parents and no offense is taken. Rehabilitators are there to help the birds that truly need our help. In answer to your question…….Yes, it is illegal to intentionally remove nestlings from their parents regardless of the species. That’s w...

Matt, If possible, it would be best for the babies and rehabilitators to leave them with their parents. That being said, you’re welcome to bring any babies that need to be rehabbed to Rogers Wildlife in Dallas. Please understand that economic constraints and the cost of rehabbing, any bird taken in ...

Rogers Wildlife has 5 displaced babies from last Wednesday’s storms that hit the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. All babies are fat healthy and around 7 days and younger and they would certainly be better off with foster parents than being raised in rehab at this age. If anyone is interested in helping pleas...

One of the best ways to warm an adult or baby, especially, taken them inside, towel dry and using a hair dryer on a low setting and holding it about 1 1/2 ft. from them this will warm and dry 'em at the same time. This prevents them from getting hyperthermia and puts them in the air quick or back in...

John & Dave,

I would be more than happy to discuss this with both of you. I'll be off on Wednesday, so give me a call on my cell. It would be easier to talk over the phone than trying to e-mail or post back and forth. Thanks.

Cheryl, You might want to contact your Regional USFW offices to see if they can help. The Permits Office # 612-713-5436 Law Enforcement Office # 612-713-5320 If possible, you might ask them if you can conduct a phone interview and record it so nothing is forgotten and you get the correct wording of ...

Toy in PA: The symptoms that Veronica’s Martin is exhibiting are neurological in nature, of which there might be several different causes. In birds, Dehydration and/or malnutrition, head trauma from falls, poisoning, West Nile Virus just to name a few will cause neurological problems. Aspergillosis ...

Dave, I would suggest that a rehabber is probably the best bet, if you have one nearby. If all of your remaining babies are dehydrated and malnourished from being underfed, they will need the most nutritional foods in order to turn them around in time for fledgling. Please do not continue to feed sc...

I was contacted by the USDA person in charge today and had a very lengthy conversation with him regarding the spraying at the Memorial. He informed me that “legal” permission was granted by USFW in Albuquerque for “non-lethal “means of dispersing the Martins. I explained from a Rehabilitators point ...

Diane, I want to caution you and everyone else who is using ice/cold packs or frozen water bottles to keep your babies cool, that it might be necessary to do nest changes. The condensation from these may cause your nesting material to get damp or wet. If so, it could cause a whole new problem with f...