We have had a very successful year with all 16 cavities filled with Purple Martins and 71 fledglings!
Many of the mature birds are hanging around. There are three nests with youngsters just about ready to fledge, but all other cavities are now empty of youngsters. If many of the pairs still here plan to re-nest and set another clutch before the end of the season, should we clean out the empty cavities and set fresh nesting material? If not new nesting material, should we sprinkle some more diatomaceous earth in the dirty nest cavities to deal with bugs?
We have no experience with re-nesting at our PM setup, so would appreciate any guidance this forum can provide!
Re-nesting require new nesting material?
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karensheehan
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Mon May 18, 2015 1:14 pm
- Location: Haymarket, VA
- Martin Colony History: 2019: 16 cavities - 12 nesting pairs - 51 fledglings
2018: 16 cavities - 16 nesting pairs - 71 fledglings
2017: 16 cavities - 15 nesting pairs - 60 fledglings
2016: 16 cavities - 10 nesting pairs - 44 fledglings
2015: 16 cavities - 2 nesting pairs - 6 fledglings (moved 12 cavity house to front with better flight area, painted all white, and added 4 gourds)
2001: Set up Trio castle in back - no takers...
Karen
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2019: 16 cavities - 12 nesting pairs - 51 fledglings
2018: 16 cavities/nests with 71 fledglings
2017: 16 cavities - 15 nests with 60 fledglings
2016: 16 cavities - 10 nests with 44 fledglings
2015: 16 cavities - 2 nests with 6 fledglings (painted house white, moved house and added gourds)
2001: Trio castle - no takers for years
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2019: 16 cavities - 12 nesting pairs - 51 fledglings
2018: 16 cavities/nests with 71 fledglings
2017: 16 cavities - 15 nests with 60 fledglings
2016: 16 cavities - 10 nests with 44 fledglings
2015: 16 cavities - 2 nests with 6 fledglings (painted house white, moved house and added gourds)
2001: Trio castle - no takers for years
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marcus
- Posts: 314
- Joined: Tue May 10, 2016 10:21 pm
- Location: Fairland OK
- Martin Colony History: Mom n Dad had a plastic 12 unit martin house with some martins as long as I can remember. In 2013 they had 1 pair. I don't think they fledged any. I then started learning how to take care of martins and in 2014 we took that house down and put up a Troyer 18 gourd rack. We had 7 pair with 28 fledged.That summer I built a T-14 (I was only 12). I was also given 4 natural gourds that I hung beneath the T-14. In 2015, we had 23 pair although only 22 pair fledged young. They fledged 88 young. In 2016, we had 36 pair, 210 eggs, 163 hatched, 149 fledge!! One pair fledged 2 broods. In 2017, I had 36 pair with 35 fledging young. They laid 204 eggs, hatched 155, and fledged 152.
Its not common for martins to renest. Occasionally a pair will but it's not like all the pairs will.
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Conrad Baker
- Posts: 762
- Joined: Fri Jan 12, 2007 7:43 pm
- Location: Paulina, Louisiana
I would not do anything with the nests until next year (at the end of this season when cleaning the houses out). Also, what I have been reading lately the diatomaceous earth has been regarded as unsafe to baby birds (breathing and lung problems). Judicious and sparse use of Sevin is the way I go to control mites.
Last edited by Conrad Baker on Tue Jul 17, 2018 12:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3792
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
Martins are not a species that typically re nest or have more then one clutch like some other birds do. If there is a problem with their nest early on they might re nest quickly. But they wont have another clutch after their first nest has fledged.
2026 HOSP 29
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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karensheehan
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Mon May 18, 2015 1:14 pm
- Location: Haymarket, VA
- Martin Colony History: 2019: 16 cavities - 12 nesting pairs - 51 fledglings
2018: 16 cavities - 16 nesting pairs - 71 fledglings
2017: 16 cavities - 15 nesting pairs - 60 fledglings
2016: 16 cavities - 10 nesting pairs - 44 fledglings
2015: 16 cavities - 2 nesting pairs - 6 fledglings (moved 12 cavity house to front with better flight area, painted all white, and added 4 gourds)
2001: Set up Trio castle in back - no takers...
Thanks for the input. So I won't worry about re-nesting or changing nesting material. And will re-think use of diatomaceous earth.
Karen
---------------
2019: 16 cavities - 12 nesting pairs - 51 fledglings
2018: 16 cavities/nests with 71 fledglings
2017: 16 cavities - 15 nests with 60 fledglings
2016: 16 cavities - 10 nests with 44 fledglings
2015: 16 cavities - 2 nests with 6 fledglings (painted house white, moved house and added gourds)
2001: Trio castle - no takers for years
---------------
2019: 16 cavities - 12 nesting pairs - 51 fledglings
2018: 16 cavities/nests with 71 fledglings
2017: 16 cavities - 15 nests with 60 fledglings
2016: 16 cavities - 10 nests with 44 fledglings
2015: 16 cavities - 2 nests with 6 fledglings (painted house white, moved house and added gourds)
2001: Trio castle - no takers for years
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karensheehan
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Mon May 18, 2015 1:14 pm
- Location: Haymarket, VA
- Martin Colony History: 2019: 16 cavities - 12 nesting pairs - 51 fledglings
2018: 16 cavities - 16 nesting pairs - 71 fledglings
2017: 16 cavities - 15 nesting pairs - 60 fledglings
2016: 16 cavities - 10 nesting pairs - 44 fledglings
2015: 16 cavities - 2 nesting pairs - 6 fledglings (moved 12 cavity house to front with better flight area, painted all white, and added 4 gourds)
2001: Set up Trio castle in back - no takers...
Will do normal cleanout after all fledging completes.
Karen
---------------
2019: 16 cavities - 12 nesting pairs - 51 fledglings
2018: 16 cavities/nests with 71 fledglings
2017: 16 cavities - 15 nests with 60 fledglings
2016: 16 cavities - 10 nests with 44 fledglings
2015: 16 cavities - 2 nests with 6 fledglings (painted house white, moved house and added gourds)
2001: Trio castle - no takers for years
---------------
2019: 16 cavities - 12 nesting pairs - 51 fledglings
2018: 16 cavities/nests with 71 fledglings
2017: 16 cavities - 15 nests with 60 fledglings
2016: 16 cavities - 10 nests with 44 fledglings
2015: 16 cavities - 2 nests with 6 fledglings (painted house white, moved house and added gourds)
2001: Trio castle - no takers for years
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marcus
- Posts: 314
- Joined: Tue May 10, 2016 10:21 pm
- Location: Fairland OK
- Martin Colony History: Mom n Dad had a plastic 12 unit martin house with some martins as long as I can remember. In 2013 they had 1 pair. I don't think they fledged any. I then started learning how to take care of martins and in 2014 we took that house down and put up a Troyer 18 gourd rack. We had 7 pair with 28 fledged.That summer I built a T-14 (I was only 12). I was also given 4 natural gourds that I hung beneath the T-14. In 2015, we had 23 pair although only 22 pair fledged young. They fledged 88 young. In 2016, we had 36 pair, 210 eggs, 163 hatched, 149 fledge!! One pair fledged 2 broods. In 2017, I had 36 pair with 35 fledging young. They laid 204 eggs, hatched 155, and fledged 152.
https://www.purplemartin.org/forum/view ... ow#p251632
It can happen that martins will have two broods but it's not very common. It's more common in their southern range. However, I did have one pair do it a number of years ago so it can happen in areas other than the extreme south.
It can happen that martins will have two broods but it's not very common. It's more common in their southern range. However, I did have one pair do it a number of years ago so it can happen in areas other than the extreme south.