Shocked by 298 eggs today!
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Craig Dyer
- Posts: 500
- Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 2:24 pm
- Location: Nevada, TX
- Martin Colony History: Area is rural. Offer 28 compartments...metal housing (Lonestar Goliad) & Supergourds all w/crescent entrance holes. Purple martins are abundant here and eager for quality, well maintained, safe housing. Expect near 100% occupancy this season.
That's really cool Laverne. I am off to a good start this season too. I have double the eggs for mid April as compared to the last couple of years. I wonder if it is due to the warm weather and abundant rain.
Craig Dyer
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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.
Hello Patrick and Craig.
No, Patrick, I am not concerned about the temperatures predicted for this weekend. The lows are expected to be above 50. If the young get cold at night their mother will cover them and keep them warm with her body and wings. The only thing bothering me is the wind. It's expected to get pretty breezy when these thunderstorms move through our area.
Craig, I'm not sure that the Purple Martins are honestly in a hurry this year. I found some papers from last year where I printed out a predicted fledging order and 43 nests were due to fledge during the month of May. On 4/26/2011, my notes say I found 234 eggs and 79 young. I may be on the same schedule as year's past. My computer crashed, I have no records; just these few pieces of paper that didn't get thrown away.
I'll bet all of y'all have got better records than me. Have a look...
Let us know and good luck to all.
No, Patrick, I am not concerned about the temperatures predicted for this weekend. The lows are expected to be above 50. If the young get cold at night their mother will cover them and keep them warm with her body and wings. The only thing bothering me is the wind. It's expected to get pretty breezy when these thunderstorms move through our area.
Craig, I'm not sure that the Purple Martins are honestly in a hurry this year. I found some papers from last year where I printed out a predicted fledging order and 43 nests were due to fledge during the month of May. On 4/26/2011, my notes say I found 234 eggs and 79 young. I may be on the same schedule as year's past. My computer crashed, I have no records; just these few pieces of paper that didn't get thrown away.
I'll bet all of y'all have got better records than me. Have a look...
Let us know and good luck to all.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
Laverne,
I can't imagine keeping track of all those birds. I have trouble keeping track of my 10 (I think)?
Do you have help with the nest checks?
Congratulations on all the great work. Enjoy!!
I can't imagine keeping track of all those birds. I have trouble keeping track of my 10 (I think)?
Do you have help with the nest checks?
Congratulations on all the great work. Enjoy!!
2010- 1 pair, 5 eggs, 3 fledged (First Year)
2011- 8 pair, 5 nesting pair, 22 eggs, 11 fledges
Lost one female and her 4 eggs, 5 eggs
destroyed by HS!
2012- 12 pair (10 nesting pair), 48 Fledglings!
2013 - 17 pair - 80 Fledglings!!
2011- 8 pair, 5 nesting pair, 22 eggs, 11 fledges
Lost one female and her 4 eggs, 5 eggs
destroyed by HS!
2012- 12 pair (10 nesting pair), 48 Fledglings!
2013 - 17 pair - 80 Fledglings!!
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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.
Kat, we have "only" 80 gourds. I can check them by myself with no problem. My husband, Mike, usually helps me. He does most of the raising and lowering and then writes down what I call out. He's a great secretary. 
We are doing 40 per day to keep the interruption to a minimum. There's a lot of incubating going on right now - later it will be feeding.
Nest checks are fun and informative. As your colony grows, nest checks are the only way to know what if happening inside your colony. Who should have what and where and how old are they is much more important that you realize until the day comes when you've got that grounded nestling in your hand and you don't know where he belongs...
We are doing 40 per day to keep the interruption to a minimum. There's a lot of incubating going on right now - later it will be feeding.
Nest checks are fun and informative. As your colony grows, nest checks are the only way to know what if happening inside your colony. Who should have what and where and how old are they is much more important that you realize until the day comes when you've got that grounded nestling in your hand and you don't know where he belongs...
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne