No Foolin' - Hatchlings!!

[Laverne]

I count six and I'll bet they hatched on Friday -- look how big they are!!



Here's a link to my post regarding the discovery of the eggs -- just last Tuesday!!

http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22111

[KathyF]

Wow Laverne! They are so cute .... and early!

I had seen your earlier post about eggs, so I decided to do a nest check yesterday too, just to be sure. No eggs, but they're already picking up nest material today - a whole month earlier than usual!

[D'Nese]

OOOOHHHH, little piggies!!!! I even have my daughter calling them that!!!! Aren't they so cute and cuddly LOL

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

That sure is early, congrats! I just went out and checked ours, I checked 10 nests, 2 had 6 egg clusters, 2 had 5 egg clusters, 1 had 2 eggs, the rest had nests. Have not seen any feeding activity, so I doubt that we have babies here.

Maybe they are trying to beat the heat this year, I sure hope so

[Laverne]

Wow, Emil... see you've got loads of eggs!! I'm gonna have to do another full nest check again early this week. These birds are getting a head start on us this year!!

Their behavior has changed again in the last few days. They are hanging around the housing until 1 or 2 o'clock. It's an indication that more females are staying in the nest longer due to laying eggs.

[Brad-AL]

Seems awful early for nestlings. Laverne, I checked a few nests yesterday to make sure whether I had any eggs or not. I didn't find any. Green leaf carrying has been going on for a week. I was sort of suprised to see any eggs, although it's still early for that.

Wow Laverne! They are so cute ..

Cute, you say? An adult Martin is a beautiful creature. The babies uglier than a mud fence to me at least.

[Laverne]

We know, Al. But, did you read what Emil found? In 10 nests he found 24 eggs...

That sure is early, congrats! I just went out and checked ours, I checked 10 nests, 2 had 6 egg clusters, 2 had 5 egg clusters, 1 had 2 eggs, the rest had nests. Have not seen any feeding activity, so I doubt that we have babies here.

Maybe they are trying to beat the heat this year, I sure hope so

so, it's not just me!!

And rrmartins in Round Rock, TX said: "Been gone to Colorado all week. Just lowered the house and found a gourd with three eggs in it. Have nine other nest built and a couple more have started building."

The season is cranking up -- hope everybody has a good one!!

[LDCLSU]

Thats great. I also did nest checks. 1 gourd with 1 egg and 26 nest

[Brad-AL]

We know, Al. But, did you read what Emil found? In 10 nests he found 24 eggs...

That sure is early, congrats! I just went out and checked ours, I checked 10 nests, 2 had 6 egg clusters, 2 had 5 egg clusters, 1 had 2 eggs, the rest had nests. Have not seen any feeding activity, so I doubt that we have babies here.

Maybe they are trying to beat the heat this year, I sure hope so

so, it's not just me!!

And rrmartins in Round Rock, TX said: "Been gone to Colorado all week. Just lowered the house and found a gourd with three eggs in it. Have nine other nest built and a couple more have started building."

The season is cranking up -- hope everybody has a good one!!

Brad from AL (Alabama) here. I wasn't doubting you on your nestlings, just commenting that it's really early, or it seems to me that it's really early. I KNOW you have them. With the green leaf picking that has been going on here, I figured I'd I have eggs, but I didn't see any in the nests that I checked. I was especially surprised that there were no eggs in one nest, it was started a good week before the majority of them started. Eggs aren't far away, it seems that nest building is slowing down.

[Patrick W. Dusek]

WOW!!!!! congrats! Patrick

[Laverne]

I'm so sorry, Brad! I hate making a mistake like that. Please forgive me?

[steve r]

Congrats on the babies. last count I had 33 with a lot more still to come. I still have 129 eggs and more nest building going on.

[Laverne]

Hey Steve. When are the first hatchlings of 2012 (in all of North America) going to fledge?

I hope you're enjoying your abundantly productive season...

[Chriscreole]

That is so kewl, i better check mine too......

[Matt@atx]

Those are very cute healthy looking youngsters you have there. This is very early for them which is good news.

I really like those pine needles too. Good nesting materials. they look very comfortable on that pine needle nest.

[Brad-AL]

I'm so sorry, Brad! I hate making a mistake like that. Please forgive me?

It's all good Laverne. Don't give it another thought.

[Sparky]

Wow Laverne! Early for sure. I've got lots of eggs as well. I've been too busy trapping S & S to check until today. It's been a frenzy of S & S here lately. Many of my adults just came in last week. I guess they were cruising around this season. Just the early ASY's have eggs.

[DebA]

Laverne,
Loved the pic! It'll be a little while for us to be at that stage. My husband concurs with Brad's thinking of "ugly". I am the type to see them as so cute and cuddly, too! The rapid growth and changes we get to see up close amazes me, but through all stages I think they look precious.

Deb

[steve r]

Hey Laverne they should fledge in about 15 days. I just posted I now have over 100 babies.

Steve

[trisha]

I have one nest with 4 eggs! I knew she had been staying on the nest a lot!