"The Final Four"

[Billy Stephens]

I haven't been on the forum much this year, but, I would like to mention that I was surprised that after the 15 pair that I had this year, had left, and I thought it was over for the year, then I checked my gourds, and it appears that a SYF laid four eggs in one of only two Troyer Horizontal Gourds that I have. This particular gourd is always the first occupied, it faces West by Northwest, and hosted an adult pair at the beginning of the season. I hadn't seen any martins before I went on vacation, I thought they had left to migrate home, but when I got back, there has been at least a dozen returning daily. It looks as if they are hanging around until the "Final Four" have fledged. I only found two eggs that didn't hatch, but I did find two young ones that looked as if they were ready to fledge, but perished in the nest. I do not know if the heat got to them, it has been pretty hot here in Aiken county, SC, but I will venture into adding vents to my gourds next year. And, I will always keep my housing open until mid August, at least, just to be on the safe side. Hope all had a great season this year!,
Billy