Variety of nests

jspurgin · Wed May 11, 2011 8:55 am

Nest check yesterday. I am always amazed at the variety in the types of nest built by the martins. I have 14 nests right now. Some have a few twigs and green leaves haphazardly thrown in, and others look like a well decorated room complete with a layer of green leaves and a tidy little nest bowl. No eggs to far, but several of the nest looked complete, so I expect eggs soon.

Vern1 · Wed May 11, 2011 10:04 am

Greetings,
Yes, they do build a variety!
Some just move in and compact the pine needles and lay right there.
Some bring in a variety of leaves both green and brown and line the whole area.
Some are stick crazy and only bring in sticks.

Doing nest checks is enlightening, to say the least....

D'Nese · Wed May 11, 2011 2:11 pm

I certainly would agree. I've seen alot of straw use this year, but this nest takes the cake for beauty.
http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i32 ... 796ee2.jpg
http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i32 ... eee150.jpg

last year, new parents I think.....no skill in this nest
http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i32 ... 7e7219.jpg

Guest · Wed May 11, 2011 6:06 pm

D'Nese, those pictures are great! You are right, that first nest is a work of art! Did the martin line the eggs up so perfectly or did you help a little?

Also what is the white looking stuff on the outer edge of the nest?

Guest · Wed May 11, 2011 6:15 pm

delete...double post

chickadee · Wed May 11, 2011 8:56 pm

If their was a nest beauty pageant I'm sure that nest would be the winner! What all do you find in these nest? All I can think of to offer is small sticks and straw. I never see any of mine use mud? But I am amazed that I looked at the nest in the making today and the th gourds and super and bo11 are so packed full and high up! Theirs as much room as a small gourd. Seems like a lot of wasted space. When I change the nest I never put it back this way. Then the young have more room to move around and get off each other when its so hot. But I am enjoying the sreh for the first time and watching them try to cram stuff threw it.

Winger · Thu May 12, 2011 12:09 am

jspurgin....I agree, the different styles & designs of the nest are truly a work of art for many. We currently offer 20 cavities, 18 have nest. We offered pre-nest material of pine straw. "Everyone" has added much, much more than we originally offered. (2) nest (one in a gourd, the other in a house) have AMAZING mud dams.

Last year (1st yr landlords/no pre-nest material provided) we had 5 successfully fledge that only had about 10 pieces of pine straw! I hope that "Mom" learned something about decorating! Note: I know "Dad" was a SY..not sure about the mom!

And you D'Nese... your pics are Great!

Wishing the best to all! Tammy

ToyinPA · Thu May 12, 2011 2:20 am

I have 4 pair nesting so far. 3 of the 4 are LOVING mud. I swear one female went to college & has a Masters Degree in MUD...OMG her whole nest is THICK with mud & not only that she has built 2 nests like that side by side. There are clumps of mud on the balcony.

Another pair built a high mud dam. They did the same last year.

One pair only has a few twigs for a nest.

All have used allot of twigs this year so far.

Toy in PA

D'Nese · Thu May 12, 2011 7:15 am

Geri,
That nest is in a supergourd. So I think that is what the white you are seeing. Believe it or not the eggs are arranged by her I just snapped the pic because I was surprised to see she has adopted an egg I put in there. it's the one with the tiny black dot. I have another nest that I put the other egg from a nest I lost the female due to wing entrapment

So we shall see if my orphans will hatch.

This is only my second year and our yard is wet in the spring so that must be where they are getting the mud? It's funny to see the entrances of the nests covered with mud.