The Fledgling Follies

[Vern1]

OK, I'm retired and spend entirely too much time watching Martins....maybe?

Fledging started a little over a week ago and while we have a small colony, they are pretty active.
When I did a nest check a month ago or so, I had everything from empty nests to approximately 2 week old chicks, maybe a little older.
Having a wide range of ages will be spreading the joy over the weeks to come.

So, here are the stages of The Fledgling Follies
Stage 1: Sitting
Sitting on the porch wondering what to do.

Stage 2: Hanging on!
Hanging on the porch for dear life, usually upside down, flapping like crazy while the adults encourage them.

Stage 3: Walking the rack
OK, I've survived hanging on, and made it safely? to the rack, what do I do next....lessee, I'll walk over here and have a look and walk over there and the adults are still encouraging them.

Stage 4: Sitting in a Tree
Well, I listened to the adults and tried this flying thing out but only made it to the trees as my wings are tired and I don't know what to do. Adults are landing nearby in the tree and and talking up a storm.

Stage 5: Look Ma, I'm flying!
Usually accompanied by other fresh fledglings and a few adults zipping around, showing off for the little ones.

Stage 6: Was that a bug that just flew by?
Usually lead by adults, it's feeding time.
Watching them try to catch a bug and temporarily forgetting they also need to keep flying is sometimes amusing and the gyrations are interesting to say the least.
The adults look like they are in control but the babies, well...not quite.

Stage 7: Get a drink.
I witnessed this for the first time yesterday and it inspired this post.
An adult leads a few fledglings down to my stock tank.
They come in, patrol the area for a minute to make sure there are no threats in the area and the adult does a smooth clean zooming pass, just touches the water with minimum splash and climbs out.
Baby# 1 sets up on the water, overshoots a little, makes a pretty big splash but pulls it off.
Baby# 2 does a little better, a little smoother, small splash and climbs out.
Baby# 3 sets up nicely, zooms in and hit the water pretty well, makes a huge splash and almost comes to a complete stop as he bounces off the water and remembers to fly...
This went on for quite a few cycles and they got better and better then flew off for another lesson.

Stage 8: Go Home!
One of the more interesting shows comes late in the day when the adults are trying to get all the fledges back in the gourd. There is always one that just got going and is having way too much fun flying around and isn't ready to quit sometimes. These guys may spend the night sitting on the rack...

Stage 9: Wash, rinse, repeat.
More of the above until they stay at the roost, migrate South for the winter and hopefully come back next year.
And don't forget learning about hawks, snakes, owls, EHS and Starlings, etc.

[dhjohnson]

Joe,
What a great documentary! I could see the mind pictures of your observations. My first nest of six is about to fledge so I hope to see some of your well described antics in a week or less! My fear is that they will fledge and I will miss everything like last year. This is our second year and we have quadrupled our nesting pairs over last year. Plus 10 SY males that haven't found a mate for this season! Loving our second season as martin hosts!

[DebA]

I loved it too! What a fun read. As far as I am concerned you have my permission to not do much else in your retirement. That works for me!!
Deb

[MM]

I too have been seeing some of these same antics today as my first little ones took to the sky, from hanging upside down on the porch to sitting in the trees to mama and daddy teaching them how to come in the gourd in evening. regretfully I haven't seen them getting water as we don't have a pond within sight.

Love watching all their antics!

[MamaBruff]

Great story! You paint a colorful and action filled word picture like no other artist! You should really make a book or children's story , Yes indeed! Thanks so much for posting this!!

[AvianStewardess]

I loved it too! What a fun read. As far as I am concerned you have my permission to not do much else in your retirement. That works for me!!
Deb

+1 If only I could get Mother Nature to agree to the farming schedule I want to follow...

[Nikkidodi - SATX]

Enjoyed the stories as well. I got my first glimpse this morning. I went out to do my morning nest check and there were 6 martins raising cane! I only have one nesting pair, but have had up to 8 visitors on occasion ( I think they come for the meal worm treats). This morning was different in that a couple were coming within 4 or 5 feet from me as they circled and more vocal than usual. It was then that I noticed a martin about half the size of the others sitting on the top of the housing.

I retreated and watched as that little martin took short excursions (3-4 seconds each) and returned to his perch. I decided not to nest check this morning because I didn't want to interrupt the tutorial session and it is a cool 79 degree overcast day. If the sun breaks through later on, I'll probably lower it just long enough to apply the shade cloth and refill the meal worm cup. The 3 oldest of the 5 chicks are 25 days old today, 1 is 24 and 1 is 23.

[Mr. K.]

Thanks for the great stories. Now I know what's in store for me. Jesse

[JL Murray]

I really enjoyed reading this post, nice job.....Joe

[DakotaLady]

Oh my goodness Joe, I laughed so hard at your descriptions of these adorable young birds antics. You certainly did create a vivid picture of what is going on with your fledglings.

Last year was my first year watching the young take off attempting their first flight. One little fella did so well flying for the first time off of his gourd and landed butt first in my garden skidding and bouncing for several feet. He sat there for awhile shook himself off and tried flying back to his gourd. It was so amusing...wish I could have videoed that event.

I am so glad you are retired and enjoying your birds. I would spend way too much time doing the same thing if I were retired. Enjoy!

[Vern1]

Since it's that time here, I thought I would bring this back up for folks to compare their fledges to mine....

Enjoy!