My two baby BB chicks are dead. The parents are still buzzing me ..and three unhatched eggs remain. I think one chick has been removed and the other is shriveled up in the nest.
Maybe it was the very cold mornings. Not really sure. No HS are around and the dead one doesn't appear damaged. Might just be a bad batch.
I'm sure they'll be back at it.
Last year at this time they did fine.
my BB babies died.
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dsonyay
- Posts: 1677
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Broussard
- Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.
2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)
2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.
2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged
2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(
2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.
2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
2025: 14 pairs .. 69 eggs.
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ROBINMOULIERE
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2013 5:00 pm
- Location: Alexandria, Louisiana
Sorry to hear this news. It is hard to deal with loss. Thank you for taking care of the blue birds. I hope they will have a successful season. Wishing you well with them...
Robin's Nest for purple martins in memory of Mr. Bands. (Mr. Bands came 2010 from New Jersey as a 2 year old. 2011, he CAME BACK TO US, but found dead inside a cavity at start of 2011 season.) 2010- 53 fledged, 2011- 75 fledged, 2012- 109 fledged. Using 2 28 Trendsetter units.
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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.
Oh no! 
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dsonyay
- Posts: 1677
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Broussard
- Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.
2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)
2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.
2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged
2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(
2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.
2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
2025: 14 pairs .. 69 eggs.
Well looks like mama and papa have removed the remaining chick and also have removed the eggs. That was quick. I'm sure they will be back at it.
I think the timing wasn't good. Last year they laid at this time, but the weather was fine while they were very young.. had a couple of cold mornings but it was after they were bigger and had more feathers.
I'm OK. The parents handle it fine, so I should too.
But I can't look at the video now. That's kind of sad.
I think the timing wasn't good. Last year they laid at this time, but the weather was fine while they were very young.. had a couple of cold mornings but it was after they were bigger and had more feathers.
I'm OK. The parents handle it fine, so I should too.
But I can't look at the video now. That's kind of sad.
Last year my BB's first hatch of 4 died due to late cold snap. I removed the nest, put a little sevin in box, and they went on to raise 4 more broods.
PMCA member
2015 - 18 Gourds offered - 12 active nests, 62 eggs, 51 fledged
2014 - 18 gourds offered - 12 active nests, 52 eggs, 48 fledged
2013 - 12 gourds offered - 9 pairs, 56 eggs, 52 hatched, 49 fledged
2012 - 12 gourds offered -4 pairs, 20 eggs, 19 fledged
2011 - 6 gourds offered -1 pair, 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 fledged !!!!
2015 - 18 Gourds offered - 12 active nests, 62 eggs, 51 fledged
2014 - 18 gourds offered - 12 active nests, 52 eggs, 48 fledged
2013 - 12 gourds offered - 9 pairs, 56 eggs, 52 hatched, 49 fledged
2012 - 12 gourds offered -4 pairs, 20 eggs, 19 fledged
2011 - 6 gourds offered -1 pair, 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 fledged !!!!
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dsonyay
- Posts: 1677
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Broussard
- Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.
2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)
2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.
2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged
2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(
2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.
2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
2025: 14 pairs .. 69 eggs.
I looked in the box again and they've cleaned everything out.
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AidanRois
- Posts: 182
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2012 9:19 am
- Location: Mississippi/Horn Lake
- Martin Colony History: Since 2012
I had the exact same problem last year. Babies looked great, but on their 5th day I found them all dead. We had a few cold nights here then before they died as well. They re-laid, but they were infertile. The pair left after that. I'm hoping to reattract this season. I can hear them, So I know they're around. :-)
Tiffeny N. - Horn Lake, MS - PMCA member
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Since 2012
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Since 2012
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AnnieM
- Posts: 183
- Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2012 3:57 pm
- Location: Spring Branch/Canyon Lake ~ Mystic Shores, Comal County, TX
- Martin Colony History: 2012 - 4 pair
2013 - 11 pair
2014 - 12 pair
2015 - 14 pair
2016 - Arrival Feb 28 - 17 pair
2017 - Full house for first time. 24 gourds all occupied. :-)
So sorry for y'alls BB babies not making it. Hope they try again and raise lots of younguns. Do BBs have the same tenacity for their nesting site as PMs? I've seen BBs at our place for the past month investigating one of our BB houses, but no sign they are setting up housekeeping. Only ones previously using the houses were wrens and tufted titmouse. I think our land is too woody/brushy, but at least they are around for the first time.
PMCA Member
2012 - 4 pair
2013 - 11 pair
2014 - 12 pair
2015 - 14 pair
2016 - Arrival Feb 29/17 pair
2017 - Full house first time-24 gourds all occupied
2012 - 4 pair
2013 - 11 pair
2014 - 12 pair
2015 - 14 pair
2016 - Arrival Feb 29/17 pair
2017 - Full house first time-24 gourds all occupied
A problem we have here in the spring is buffalo gnats.
2010: two pair nested, 1 bird fledged.
2011: starlings/sparrows destroyed nests. I shut down the house early to save PM lives.
2012: new T-14 with SREH, & a Beeman R7. Four fledged this year.
2013: Destroyed many house sparrows, but fledged 21 PM's!
2011: starlings/sparrows destroyed nests. I shut down the house early to save PM lives.
2012: new T-14 with SREH, & a Beeman R7. Four fledged this year.
2013: Destroyed many house sparrows, but fledged 21 PM's!
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ROBINMOULIERE
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2013 5:00 pm
- Location: Alexandria, Louisiana
I had the gnats too !! Mrs. Louise suggested a spray for me to use on the house and BOOM they were gone. I don't have the bottle with me at this time. I had to re apply every other day for a week or two, but they did disappear. Now I watch daily to make sure I don't get them again. That was a bad scene, :( wish you well.
Robin's Nest for purple martins in memory of Mr. Bands. (Mr. Bands came 2010 from New Jersey as a 2 year old. 2011, he CAME BACK TO US, but found dead inside a cavity at start of 2011 season.) 2010- 53 fledged, 2011- 75 fledged, 2012- 109 fledged. Using 2 28 Trendsetter units.
pure vanilla extract also works on the gnats - and smells wonderful as well
2010: two pair nested, 1 bird fledged.
2011: starlings/sparrows destroyed nests. I shut down the house early to save PM lives.
2012: new T-14 with SREH, & a Beeman R7. Four fledged this year.
2013: Destroyed many house sparrows, but fledged 21 PM's!
2011: starlings/sparrows destroyed nests. I shut down the house early to save PM lives.
2012: new T-14 with SREH, & a Beeman R7. Four fledged this year.
2013: Destroyed many house sparrows, but fledged 21 PM's!