GREEN Leaves Like Crazy at the Quarry!

[avesrun]

here we go. They must be getting serious. Lots of green leaves going in the gourds today. It seems like they're filling all four gourds below the T 14! thought I was seeing more than one pair but upon closer observation I think its just the one pair doing all the work. still hard to believe that this is actually happening!
couple questions. Should I forgo my Friday nest check?
is it possible that egg laying will begin soon after the green leaves are brought in or will it take some time after the green leaf phase? thank you and best of season to all!
TimG

[taxidermy lady]

Well I hope they get things going quicker than mine! Mine built a nest then left. Rainy cold weather since Sat. I have only seen them when I mowed and very little this morning! Gone most of the day feeding! I can't say if they are spending the night any more! They are still in the area. I hear and see them flying. But no egg laying on their mind! Good luck!

[DannyM]

Just a little information along these lines on my experience. I have my first pair after two years. They are a young pair and seem to be very disorganized on the whole experience. They were here for three weeks or so and finally built a nest. I have six gourds and they actually built a nest in two of the gourds. Went on for another week or so and did a nest check and finally got one egg. Checked them this past Saturday and I had four eggs. They actually didn't use any green leaves. Also the eggs were actually laying on the bottom of the gourd in a small back pocket. As some others on the forum had suggested, I removed the eggs and put some green leaves down on the bare spot and replaced the eggs on top of them for some cushion. I haven't checked them since and will give them a couple more days and do another nest check. At one point I even thought my pair had left as I didn't see them for three or four days. We work during the day so evidently they were here but we just weren't seeing them at the times we were home. Hopefully she is sitting on the nest incubating them now. We'll keep our fingers crossed. Plenty of bugs here in Texas for them to eat!

[avesrun]

thanks Danny for the notes. I'm hopeful mine will begin egg laying sooner being as they started the nest building later. I do have my blunt nosed dowel ready for gently probing around to make sure I don't miss any eggs that are hidden down deep. Still not sure whether the nest check should be done this Friday or not so soon after the green leaf phase. hope all those eggs of yours hatch!

Sharon you mean you don't stay up every night for the last one hour of daylight with eyes fixed on the Martin House to watch to see if your Martins come home? I've never been guilty of that! good luck everyone!

[lynnh]

Tim,nest check friday afternoon should be okay.CONGRATULATIONS

[taxidermy lady]

No I haven't been watching like I was. I don't think they are in a big hurry and they are so unpredictable I can't watch! I just enjoy while they are here! Good luck!!,
Thank Dan, that's just what this pair is doing. Appreciate the info? Good luck!

[DebA]

I would peek too.

I've found that timing after green leaves also varies with the pairs. Some get right on with things...others don't. Hopefully your ASY female means business.

Right now at our place, after all of the rain, mosquitos are so bad I can't enjoy the birds. Unless I spray myself with repellent.

Deb

[avesrun]

DebA thanks I need all the opinions, advice, etc. I can get. Since the advent of the leaf hauling phase should I go into a fairly regular check interval? I don't have one of those prognasticator dealy bobs either and should probably get to ordering one and try to have it expedited? I do have a Martinwatch sheet printed off and ready to go. On Chuck's Purple Martin Page he recommends nest check every 4 days which seems often but he claims it gives you more accurate estimates of date of first egg in order to get most accurate estimate of fledge date? By the way, it was the subject of math that brought my ACT composite score way down back in the day. Uh oh, the rambling is beginning so I'll shut up. Except to say I did go down and watch the female duck into the NE facing gourd for the night......AND
For all you veteran landlords, sorry for all the drama leading up to now on this martin pair that has entered my life. But hey, THEY MAY BE FOUNDERS! Another shout out to the unknown landlord(s) who helped produce them and first and foremost thanks be to Him. I pray now for them to live long and prosper and for best of season to all. End drama.
TimG

[pmartinlover2]

TimG your enthusiasm and drama is great! Every landlord has been exactly where you are now and would not deny you this joy! I love hearing it! Wishing you the best.....
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Jody