A sweeeet picture of martin babies

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TammyBears
Posts: 135
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:00 pm
Location: Bridgecreek, Oklahoma (SW of OKC)

I just thought I would share these little ones with ya. The two in the back were sleeping beak up chin to chin...it is so cute! :grin:
I'm so lucky, my first year I have 8 nesting pair, 7 with eggs and/or babies, 1 any day now should have eggs and a couple of SY bachelors.
Can't thank you all enough for being here to help all of us new ones with advice, suggestions and support. My first bunch is 22 days old and I'm sure hoping I get to see them fledge.
All the other youngins/eggs are all about a week to 10 days apart, so I too have wide range of age, at least they won't leave all at once.

Right now I have 5-22 days old, 7-15 days old, 5-10 days old, 6-1 day olds. And 3 nests with 6 eggs each all spread out too.

I'm 43 and never was able to have children. My doggies have filled that void and have and always will be my babies.
But now, I feel like I'm getting to fulfill a teensie bit of some different motherly duties i.e. nest checks and changes is like diaper duty :grin:
Getting to see the eggs to the newborn hatchlings grow right before my eyes and making sure they are dry, bug free, getting fed and protected.
It's been a blessing. But now thinking about them all leaving throughout summer...talk about an EMPTY NEST syndrome! :cry:
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Tammy
RIP my precious Josie, 7/5/2000-11/6/2014
2015: 22 pair plus lots of bachelors
2014: 25 pair and some bachelor subbies
2013: 17 pair
2012: 7 pair (first year)
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dhjohnson
Posts: 478
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:24 pm
Location: North Carolina/Clayton
Martin Colony History: 5th year hostess. Currently 58 confirmed breeding pair. 218 Fledged, 35 older nestlings, 2 new nests with 8 nestlings. 100% occupancy

Go Girl,
Cool picture. Great 1st year. I'm with you on the empty nest syndrome looming in the future. For 1st years we both have been blessed.
Congratulations Tammy!,,,, :lol:
Debbie
Debbie Johnson
Clayton/NC (Archer Lodge)
2012 New Site 6 pair, 21 Fledged
2013 24 pair, 102 eggs, 94 hatched, 89 Fledged. What a great year!
2014 37 pair, 211 eggs, 193 Hatched, 178 Fledged, 1 nest of 5 young left! Late start but picked up speed quickly!
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pugsleyhall
Posts: 268
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 4:28 pm
Location: Alabama/Grant

Tammy,

Congratulations on becoming a new landlord, all the animals and wildlife we care for become like children to us. Yours are very lucky to have you.


Melissa
Proud member of the PMCA
2008-0
2009-0
2010-Several Lookers
2011-Quite a few visitors but none stayed
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Gary W
Posts: 431
Joined: Tue May 15, 2007 7:29 am
Location: Florida/Pinellas Park

Congratulations, Tammy on a great first season! I counted 7 young in your picture. That is not a common event! The babies look healthy, so it seems the parents are handling all those hungry mouths so far! I had a successful nest with 7 young five years ago. That was the only time in 8 years of being a landlord.

I wish you the best of success!

Gary
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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.

Congratulations, Tammy! I can tell you from experience - having purple martins is MUCH easier than having kids anyway and much more enjoyable!! I agree - 7 kids is unusual and having all 7 seven SURVIVE is even more unusual!

You've obviously done a wonderful job your first year. During the off season, start planning for what changes you'll make next year (and saving your pennies if you plan on any upgrades!!!). :wink:

Wonderful job, Tammy!
"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
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DebA
Posts: 1941
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
Location: Pratt County/Kansas
Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.

Tammy,
I agree with you, they are cute! I also agree with Kathy, Martins can be more fun than kids!! I'm 43 also...I think. Kinda lose track now. Good thing I can still do math in my head. :grin:

I'm so happy you got the jackpot your first year. I guess we are lucky. I feel guilty when others post they don't have their first nesting pair.

I have my biggest nest this year at 6. Last year it was 5. I think of these parents as my rock stars. I was concerned that only Mama was around this morning diligently feeding. Then finally he joined in too. Thank goodness. I'm sure he had something important to do.

I like houses appearance best (to each his own) but I do like the space a gourd gives. Cannot wait to get both.

Oh yeah on the parental thing...at my last nest check I was handling the babies checking for mites and getting them used to me possibly...and the babies circled my fingers with their feet. Reminded me of an infant when they do the same thing and hold on. Welcome to the party! (And at times the angst.)
Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
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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 an interesting coincidence. I was 43 when I raised my first Purple Martin house into the air. That would have been March 1996. Biggest difference between you and me -- PMCA. My "mentor" was my Daddy who was extremely old school. We didn't even know that the black ones were the males... I have learned so much and I am proud to know that the torch will be passed on to awesome land"ladies" like y'all and then on to everybody that each of you will touch with your purple passion.

Great job by all!! Best wishes for many successful seasons in the years ahead!
Sincerely,
Laverne
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DebA
Posts: 1941
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
Location: Pratt County/Kansas
Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.

Dang it, Laverne. You made me do math in my head again. :lol:
Deb
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pmcharter1
Posts: 110
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2012 2:59 pm
Location: iowa/madrid

tammy bears,
wow., you are doing so well the first yr! , i have 2 12 room tri houses, tough for me to keep track as im on the road, came home last night, one room had 6 babies, 5 other rooms had eggs. my second house had 5 rooms occupied with eggs in each, very eciting!, keep in touch, sens a pm and let me know how they all pan out.
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