I just got back in from checking my PM nests. I have 34 cavities, 25 of which have definite nests. My egg count this morning was 116, not including one hatching chick. I was quite amazed at the number of eggs per nest. Eleven of the nests had six eggs, and another nest had seven eggs. It didn't seem like there were that many per nest last year. Maybe one or two with six eggs, but usually with five or less.
I'll be interested to see how the parents handle this large number of chicks. Maybe all of the eggs won't hatch, as we had a bad cold snap, but I don't remember that many eggs had been laid at that time.
Anyway, this would make a rather large omelet!
Sue P
Purple Martin nest check in West Virginia
Congratulation Sue P
Sounds like your on your way to have a great season this year. This is my third year and right now I just have 1 nesting pair with 5 babies about 2 weeks old. I have about 3 more looks like SY martins staying around 1 has staked out a troyer horizonal gourd and has been here over a week now reaking havik on the nesting pair. He seems to be trying to steal the female away from away from her mate and babies . There seems to be a lot of fighting going on but I think the mama bird is staying her course of helping papa bird feed the babies. I hope these birds finally mate up and have their own families. Hope all your eggs hatch and babies fledge.
Good luck
Chris
Sounds like your on your way to have a great season this year. This is my third year and right now I just have 1 nesting pair with 5 babies about 2 weeks old. I have about 3 more looks like SY martins staying around 1 has staked out a troyer horizonal gourd and has been here over a week now reaking havik on the nesting pair. He seems to be trying to steal the female away from away from her mate and babies . There seems to be a lot of fighting going on but I think the mama bird is staying her course of helping papa bird feed the babies. I hope these birds finally mate up and have their own families. Hope all your eggs hatch and babies fledge.
Good luck
Chris
Thank you, Chris, for your good wishes. I am glad we aren't going on a summer trip this year because this is keeping me busy. Then there will be nest changes, etc.
And congratulations to you, too with your martin family. I know how annoying those SY males can be. They remind me of human teenagers with inflated ideas of their abilities. Unfortunately there isn't much we can do about those SY males, and they will grow up next year.
Sue P
And congratulations to you, too with your martin family. I know how annoying those SY males can be. They remind me of human teenagers with inflated ideas of their abilities. Unfortunately there isn't much we can do about those SY males, and they will grow up next year.
Sue P