4 nests (5 chicks each) fledged around 6/6. In the evening some (or all) fledglings and parents come back to their house. Yesterday morning I found a fledgling on the ground, unable to fly. I examined it, and it appeared to be healthy (no wounds) and well-fed. The parents were flying over it, squawking and calling. I contacted a nearby Wildlife Rehab Canter, and the person I spoke to said the fledgling was probably tired and the parents would still feed it on the ground. She advised that I leave it alone. I watched the male parent land in a tree and call to the fledgling. The fledgling tried and tried, but could not get in the air. It finally tried to climb a nearby tree and succeeded in getting about a foot up the tree. Then I saw a fox, so I put the fledgling higher in the tree. After some time the fledgling tried to fly out of the tree, but landed on the ground again. The parent never fed the chick during this process. I picked the chick up and put it in a cage and have fed it mealworms and cooked egg whites. I plan on putting the chick out either on a platform or back in the house. It finally started to rain last night, so I assume I shouldn't do this in the rain. Any advice is appreciated.
PS As other Texas landlords have reported we've lost several babies in the 100+ weather. The deaths have stopped now that the temps are back below 100, but this weekend it's supposed to climb back over 100 again. I will do what I can to save these birds.
Recently fledged martin can't fly now
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
We had one yesterday that couldn't fly, and it too looked healthy. The parents were landing beside it but it couldn't lift up. We left the house, and when we got back, it was gone, don't know what happened
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
Try putting it back on the house or a platform. The parents will NOT feed it on the ground. If it still can't fly, get it to a rehabber! It's great that it's taking food from you!
Seems like some rehabbers don't know a lot about martins' feeding behaviors!
Seems like some rehabbers don't know a lot about martins' feeding behaviors!
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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MidTNJerry
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2011 9:14 am
- Location: Tennessee/Murfreesboro
This must be a pretty common situation. I visited my parents last week in Louisiana, and there was a young martin on the ground the entire week I was there. It "lived" in a literal hole in the ground, and would come out no farther than about 12 inches to take food from both the male and female parents.
At times, it would venture out further, and it seemed that the entire colony was flying around trying to encourage it to take to the air. It would try but had no lift. After a while, it would just go back to the hole.
The bird looks completely healthy. I couldn't get close enough to it to examine it because it would just pop back into the hole.
It was still bouncing around when I left at the end of the week. It was healthy and well fed but not flying.
At times, it would venture out further, and it seemed that the entire colony was flying around trying to encourage it to take to the air. It would try but had no lift. After a while, it would just go back to the hole.
The bird looks completely healthy. I couldn't get close enough to it to examine it because it would just pop back into the hole.
It was still bouncing around when I left at the end of the week. It was healthy and well fed but not flying.
2013 -
2012 - Dawnsong CD playing every morning. Many, many visitors.
2011 - Many visitors.
2012 - Dawnsong CD playing every morning. Many, many visitors.
2011 - Many visitors.
[quote="KathyF"]Try putting it back on the house or a platform. The parents will NOT feed it on the ground. If it still can't fly, get it to a rehabber! It's great that it's taking food from you!
How long should I try this before taking it to a rehabber? Should I try it in the rain?
How long should I try this before taking it to a rehabber? Should I try it in the rain?
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MidTNJerry
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2011 9:14 am
- Location: Tennessee/Murfreesboro
Actually, I watched both parents feeding dragon flies on the ground to an early fledgling. They will go on the ground, at least in this instance, to feed early fledglings.
2013 -
2012 - Dawnsong CD playing every morning. Many, many visitors.
2011 - Many visitors.
2012 - Dawnsong CD playing every morning. Many, many visitors.
2011 - Many visitors.
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
This is the reason for nestchecks. The records I have of the number of young in each gourd and their approximate ages gives me a place to start when trying to find where a nestling belongs. Purple Martin babies do not belong on the ground. They will try to survive - of course they will - but, my experience has been that few survive if left on the ground.
The first thing I check when I see a nestling on the ground is how long are his wings. If his wings are within half an inch or so from the end of his tail feathers then he can probably fly. Sometimes all they need is a boost. I will toss them high into the air - if they can fly they will usually go to the nearest tree. I make a big production out of this because I want to be sure the parent birds see that I have their baby in my hands. They need to see where this fledgling goes.
If the tips of the wings appear a little short or if a toss in the air ends with the nestling on the ground again - then I drag out the nestcheck records and start looking for a nest with a missing nestling. When I find a vacancy and the grounded nestling matches the rest of the clutch, I stick him in the cavity and raise the rack back in the air. If I find mites, I will replace the gourd with a clean one.
Nestchecks are extremely important. I have been lost before - standing under my housing racks with a nestling in my hand and no clue where he belongs.
Through the years, I have seen many little PMs die because I was didn't know what to do with them. You can't leave them on the ground. You can't just stick them in any cavity. The same will happen to your little jumpers. You may not find them for a while, maybe never find them, but - they will not survive. Give 'em a chance - do a nestcheck and write down what you find.
The first thing I check when I see a nestling on the ground is how long are his wings. If his wings are within half an inch or so from the end of his tail feathers then he can probably fly. Sometimes all they need is a boost. I will toss them high into the air - if they can fly they will usually go to the nearest tree. I make a big production out of this because I want to be sure the parent birds see that I have their baby in my hands. They need to see where this fledgling goes.
If the tips of the wings appear a little short or if a toss in the air ends with the nestling on the ground again - then I drag out the nestcheck records and start looking for a nest with a missing nestling. When I find a vacancy and the grounded nestling matches the rest of the clutch, I stick him in the cavity and raise the rack back in the air. If I find mites, I will replace the gourd with a clean one.
Nestchecks are extremely important. I have been lost before - standing under my housing racks with a nestling in my hand and no clue where he belongs.
Through the years, I have seen many little PMs die because I was didn't know what to do with them. You can't leave them on the ground. You can't just stick them in any cavity. The same will happen to your little jumpers. You may not find them for a while, maybe never find them, but - they will not survive. Give 'em a chance - do a nestcheck and write down what you find.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
Laverne,
Thank you so much for the info about the length of the wings!
I did try and put the chick on the balcony of the house I thought it came from. It gaped at a female, and she attacked it. The chick went scrambling into the compartment and the female went after it in the compartment. Clearly, I had put it on the wrong house.
What confused me was the male I saw calling to the chick when it was on the ground. It was an ASY male, and the only other active nest that the chick could have come had an SY male parent (I can't tell the difference between ASY and SY females). This nest was missing a chick, which I thought had jumped and died (we had many die last week).
In any case, I put the chick in the active nest. It's being fed, and it hasn't tried to jump again for the past day and a half.
Thank you so much for the info about the length of the wings!
I did try and put the chick on the balcony of the house I thought it came from. It gaped at a female, and she attacked it. The chick went scrambling into the compartment and the female went after it in the compartment. Clearly, I had put it on the wrong house.
What confused me was the male I saw calling to the chick when it was on the ground. It was an ASY male, and the only other active nest that the chick could have come had an SY male parent (I can't tell the difference between ASY and SY females). This nest was missing a chick, which I thought had jumped and died (we had many die last week).
In any case, I put the chick in the active nest. It's being fed, and it hasn't tried to jump again for the past day and a half.