Bunch Of Beautiful Nests But No Eggs
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3788
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
More then likely it is the weather. They don't always start laying eggs right away but I have noticed (and other have too) that the cool weather and constant rain we received over the last couple of weeks has slowed things down. I am just taking a guess that you have been receiving a lot of rain similar to what we have had in Indiana and Ohio.
2026 HOSP 26
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
I live 30 miles north of Louisville and you described my situation too. I have 42 nest and only 6 have eggs. And those 6 nests with eggs are only in one of three racks and only on the lower tier.
I believe its weather. Also the lunar calendar is about as late as it gets on the solar calendar we use. Could be the seasons and the martins are on the lunar system!
I believe its weather. Also the lunar calendar is about as late as it gets on the solar calendar we use. Could be the seasons and the martins are on the lunar system!
Fledged over 3,000 martins in beautiful southern Indiana since 1996.
Started 2 colonies and mentored 3 colonies with total fledged >4,000 martins into the world.
Started 2 colonies and mentored 3 colonies with total fledged >4,000 martins into the world.
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Mary Dawnsong
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:17 pm
- Location: Michigan, Livingston County
2011 is officially the rainiest spring on record for my area. In addition, the weather has been much cooler than average, with a lot of wind.
It is not possible for female martins to incubate eggs in these conditions and they know it! They have to spend most of the day hunting for food just to survive. That doesn't leave enough time for sitting in the nest warming eggs.
I have observed that supplemental feeding can affect the timing of egg-laying. If I provide a constant supply of scrambled eggs on bad weather days, then many of my ASY females lay their clutches regardless of the weather. This year I am trying to avoid that - I'm feeding them enough to keep up their strength, but not enough to promote egg-laying.
It is not possible for female martins to incubate eggs in these conditions and they know it! They have to spend most of the day hunting for food just to survive. That doesn't leave enough time for sitting in the nest warming eggs.
I have observed that supplemental feeding can affect the timing of egg-laying. If I provide a constant supply of scrambled eggs on bad weather days, then many of my ASY females lay their clutches regardless of the weather. This year I am trying to avoid that - I'm feeding them enough to keep up their strength, but not enough to promote egg-laying.
Click here to see my colony
"In Michigan every martin matters"
"In Michigan every martin matters"
Same here in Southern Illinois, at least I hope the weather is the reason at my place. My birds have started a couple times, and then had to strenghten back up after another bout of cool, rainy weather. I had one nest with eggs, then the weather turned bad. They re-nested and the weather turned bad again. Hope it finally straightens out here soon.
Dennis D