Orphans...help!!!
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glmcvickers
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2005 6:15 pm
- Location: Hohenwald/Tennessee
I think I'm going to have a nest of 4 babies left by the parents again this year. Last year when we cleaned out the gourds I found 4 perfect babies with all their feathers petrified in the nest. This year I'm doing nest checks and I found 4 fully feathered babies still sitting in the gourd. I saw the parents feed them yesterday but they did not come back today. Any suggestions for saving them if the parents don't reappear?
Highland Rim Purple Martin's rock!!!!
2014 - 52 cavities, 44 pair, 175 E's
2014 - 52 cavities, 44 pair, 175 E's
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bwenger
- Posts: 1057
- Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 7:24 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania/Espyville/Pymatuning Reservoir Area
- Martin Colony History: Taking care of 11 active public colonies and trying to start two more in northwestern PA. Also attempting to restart another one in southwestern PA, in Collier Township's Hilltop Park. In 2017, not sure what happened but the ASY male returned and then a couple of weeks later he was gone. It could have been weather related. No other birds showed up. I had a starling nesting at the Public site that I had trouble getting rid of.
In 2018, we fledged 629 martins at all of the sites.
Good evening.
Do you have any idea how old they are? If they are ready to fledge, say 24 days or older, I believe the parents will slow down on feeding them, possibly to have them get hungry and want to leave the nest.
I guess when you say fully feathered, that they are ready to go. Hopefully you'll see them fledge tomorrow, or at least get some feeding from the parents.
Let us know how you make out.
Bill in PA
Do you have any idea how old they are? If they are ready to fledge, say 24 days or older, I believe the parents will slow down on feeding them, possibly to have them get hungry and want to leave the nest.
I guess when you say fully feathered, that they are ready to go. Hopefully you'll see them fledge tomorrow, or at least get some feeding from the parents.
Let us know how you make out.
Bill in PA
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glmcvickers
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2005 6:15 pm
- Location: Hohenwald/Tennessee
I check the nest every 3 days so they are anywhere from 21 - 24 days old. I have not seen any heads poking out of this gourd like the other fledglings do but I did see the male and female going in and out yesterday. I waited for their return this afternoon but they never came. I hope they are trying to lure them out. I'll keep an eye out and give an update. We have to leave for a day and I hope when we return they are gone. I would hate to see something happen to them. I had a very successful year this year and don't want to lose these guys.
Highland Rim Purple Martin's rock!!!!
2014 - 52 cavities, 44 pair, 175 E's
2014 - 52 cavities, 44 pair, 175 E's
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glmcvickers
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2005 6:15 pm
- Location: Hohenwald/Tennessee
Good news! The parents were back feeding and peering into the gourd this morning. They are trying to get them to come out I guess. So far no heads appearing.
Highland Rim Purple Martin's rock!!!!
2014 - 52 cavities, 44 pair, 175 E's
2014 - 52 cavities, 44 pair, 175 E's
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MamaBruff
- Posts: 1466
- Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:21 pm
- Location: SW Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
That's wonderful! You are a good landlord to fret and worry over your babies! I hope they all fledge just fine!!
~Mary B~
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
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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.
Exactly what Mary said!!!
It is so understanding with what you found last year that you would worry about that again. Glad to hear things are good.
Deb
It is so understanding with what you found last year that you would worry about that again. Glad to hear things are good.
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
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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glmcvickers
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2005 6:15 pm
- Location: Hohenwald/Tennessee
Thanks for the support! I do worry about them. We have had several we had to put back up that left the nest too early but these 4 do not want to leave the gourd. We had to go out of town yesterday and I'm getting ready to go check on them now. So far we've had a good year with no casualties and I don't want to end it with any. We fledged 142 babies so far...we keep getting bigger and bigger. We had a mini roost several weeks ago when all of them were fledging and they were amazing to watch.
Highland Rim Purple Martin's rock!!!!
2014 - 52 cavities, 44 pair, 175 E's
2014 - 52 cavities, 44 pair, 175 E's