Hi all -- done a nest check today, everything looks fine.. Counted 57 nests with green leaves and about 33 more nests probable. The good news in there are 13 eggs total in 4 nests, looks like a good start.. I have only lost one male so far looked like a starling or weaver killed a male in a horizontal gourd (crescent entry) also looks like sy birds are at a minimum here, some 2-3 year old and about 2 female sy. On the subject of birds on the ground and in the grass this year I to noticed that, I took a walk thru the yard and the wet grass was full of a mosquito type flying insect and that is what my birds were eating. None went hungry here I was feeding here the first day it rained and the day after the last rain, good old eggs, crickets, mealy worms, all with some blue buffalo (blue) holistic cat food.
Lev
eggs in central east missouri
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Leverett Doehring/Mo
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2004 12:04 pm
- Location: Villa Ridge, Mo
- Martin Colony History: 1st birds 1990. 1 12 room metal house, colony started.
current 2 tr14s, 1 tr18, and 56 gourds, usually average @ 70 pair. 102 rooms available.
above mounted on 4 structures..
itsjustLEV
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Craig Haddox
- Posts: 444
- Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2004 5:13 pm
- Location: Missouri Washington
Leverett, congratulation's on the egg's. I will be doing a nest check tomorrow. There has been a lot on nest building going on the past few day's. Finally spotted some SY'S yesterday 4 males and 2 females.
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John Miller
- Posts: 4863
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Leverett
I was in your neighborhood this morning...!...at Hidden Valley Ski Area checking on the purple martins and a mini bluebird trail of six boxes. Many martin nests with leaves but no eggs, but this is a AA colony while your place is AAA and fills first.
Didn't count them, but seemed I was seeing lots of sub adults though. I tried my best using a borrowed spotting scope to look for bands but saw none.
John
I was in your neighborhood this morning...!...at Hidden Valley Ski Area checking on the purple martins and a mini bluebird trail of six boxes. Many martin nests with leaves but no eggs, but this is a AA colony while your place is AAA and fills first.
Didn't count them, but seemed I was seeing lots of sub adults though. I tried my best using a borrowed spotting scope to look for bands but saw none.
John
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Don & Danielle
- Posts: 111
- Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2003 6:55 pm
- Location: Dardenne Prairie, MO (suburb of St. Louis)
As of yesterday, no eggs here yet. Lots of nests with green leaves though, looks like it will be a good year. Eliminated more sparrows and starlings than in previous years - more come in to take their place. Hope to get a skittish male HOSP soon - his cheeping makes me crazy. Built a repeating nest box trap, but no takers yet.
Bought a spotting scope in preparation for getting our babies banded this year. Should be lots of fun!
They finally seem to be acting like martins now that the cold/rainy weather is gone.
Bought a spotting scope in preparation for getting our babies banded this year. Should be lots of fun!
They finally seem to be acting like martins now that the cold/rainy weather is gone.
I have a lot of nest building going on, and today, first day for green leaves (lilac). I was quite surprised. Our yard was a foot tall, so started to do trimming and a little mowing before the yard man got here. Did they ever enjoy all the bugs I brought up..They're getting more tame by the day, of course I do checks every day, and trap sparrows and starlings. So far so good. Still 3 hosps hanging around, but not for long.. Good luck to all for a great martin year.
ChrisM
NE Kansas
ChrisM
NE Kansas