Port O'Connor is having a tough season for the martins. Wind has been 25 mph since March. Only 1" of rain since Jan. I guess we are lucky compared to the good folks along the Mississippi R.
A 6 hr. round trip to POC yields no bugs on the windshield...nothing flying. We have been scrambling at least 3 doz. eggs a day for them. For those of you who think we are "spoiling" the martins, as soon as the bugs show up, they will not touch the eggs anymore.
Nest check yesterday revealed that the egg eaters/feeders have plump healthy babies. Those that don't take eggs have dying young. I threw 4 week old babies in the crematorium yesterday. When we put eggs out before daybreak in the dark, they hear us and come out of the gourds and bombard the tray. I would say that 90% of the 37 occupied gourds eat the eggs. We see martins coming in from neighboring colonies and carrying off the eggs as well.
Still, in spite of the harsh conditions, they are a joy to watch and rewarding to care for. Hope all of you are having a super season.
Pictures show other fowl that have developed a taste for the eggs.
Adrian
High Winds and Drought
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DakotaLady
- Posts: 654
- Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:06 pm
- Location: Bismarck, ND
Adrian,
Great photographs. I've never seen a shrike up close. Nice to see that particular photo. Neat seeing a mallard hen eat your eggs also.
Thank you for sharing.
Great photographs. I've never seen a shrike up close. Nice to see that particular photo. Neat seeing a mallard hen eat your eggs also.
Thank you for sharing.
~Tangula~
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
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Scott D.- La
- Posts: 823
- Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:35 am
- Location: Louisiana
That is terrible and we are in the same drought which runs from your location up to Logansport, La. I just don't know what it will take to get some rain and get out of this pattern. It is interesting that your birds are feeding eggs to the young and have adapted to the drought.
I am very sorry to hear about the drought that is effecting you guys so badly. Central Texas is still listed as under severe draught status but the really good rain fall we have on 05/12, and 2 smaller ones on May 19 and May 20th have helped us. things are turning greener and the ground has softened up.
This last Saturday on 05/21, I was able to spend a few hours at my site and witnessed parents bringing in very large dragon flies for feeding on several occasions which is the first time this season.
Rain is so critical for everything. May God according to His good pleasure bring much rain to all of us who need it and feed our birds.
This last Saturday on 05/21, I was able to spend a few hours at my site and witnessed parents bringing in very large dragon flies for feeding on several occasions which is the first time this season.
Rain is so critical for everything. May God according to His good pleasure bring much rain to all of us who need it and feed our birds.
2008~(1st yr) 4 pairs, 11 to 12 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged