I have only 3 nesting pair in one of my houses and 2 in another. My colony decreased year before last year from about 15 nesting pair. I looked in on my nest and it looks like there are 6 nest in one house (the one with 3 pair) and eggs laid in 4 of them. Most of the eggs were laid right by the opening, off the nest. I moved the eggs in each compartment back a little in the nest so that they could sit on them.
My question is, why have they laid eggs in compartments that they are not in all the time and did I do the right thing by moving the eggs away from the opening and back into the nest?
Also...My colony decreased for no reason that I can tell. No tree encroachment or predators. Last year I only had 2 pair return but I was encouraged to see 5 pair this year. I want to be sure to hatch all that I can so I can possibly build my colony again.
Thanks,
Hope
egg question
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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.
Boy that is a big dunno. There might be so many variables at play. Maybe they were laid in the nest bowl and a SY male threw them out. Or a storm with winds come through? Possibly dislodging them. Maybe the nest became abandoned if something happened to the female?
As far as the decline in colony numbers that too is a strange one if void of the usual factors such as S&S pressure, tree encroachment, snake/hawk/owl predation. Since a colony doesn't migrate together on the same path it is unlikely a natural cause to drop your pairs that significantly.
So you see, I dunno. However as far as things to do...I would have done just as you did and watch to see how things play out.
Good luck and hope you rebound your numbers.
Deb
As far as the decline in colony numbers that too is a strange one if void of the usual factors such as S&S pressure, tree encroachment, snake/hawk/owl predation. Since a colony doesn't migrate together on the same path it is unlikely a natural cause to drop your pairs that significantly.
So you see, I dunno. However as far as things to do...I would have done just as you did and watch to see how things play out.
Good luck and hope you rebound your numbers.
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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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Predation and bad weather would be strong possibilities for a big drop in numbers from one year to the next. Do you have pole guards, do you do nest checks and keep records? The records can be very helpful in providing clues.
Read through this list: http://www.purplemartin.org/main/toptwelve.html and maybe something will make sense for your situation.
Snake predation can be virtually impossible to detect if you don't keep records.
Read through this list: http://www.purplemartin.org/main/toptwelve.html and maybe something will make sense for your situation.
Snake predation can be virtually impossible to detect if you don't keep records.