A group i know of feeds the martins everyday with eggs
tossed in the air.I've been wondering if this is good or bad
for the birds.Will the martins ( especially the fledglings)
become to dependent on this method? Will they still learn
to hunt properly? How will this effect them during migration?
What do all of you think about this?Please give me your thoughts
and opinions on this.Thanks
Martins will take supplemental feed if they are trained to do so during bad weather events where there is no natural food available. Its a great reassurance that know you can feed your martins during this time, it prevents starvation and death. Besides long stretches of bad weather my martins will sometimes ask for food early in the mornings when its too cool for bugs to fly or during times of rain and wind. Once the weather changes to conditions where natural food is available, the martins will no longer accept supplemental feed. By the time fledglings are on the scene, the weather is usually mostly good and the parents teach the young ones how to hunt for food.
2011- first year trying, a few visitors.
2012-One ASY pair, raised two young, lots of subby visitors. So thankfull.
2013-daily subby visits.
2014-Six SY pairs
2015-18 pair, 83 fledglings
2016-36 pair, 147 fledglings
2017-52 pairs, 192 fledglings.
2018-60 pair, 246 fledglings.
2019-59 pair, 238 fledglings.
2020-62 pair.
2021-65 pair.
2022-63 pair.
2023-60 pair
2024-62 pair
A group i know of feeds the martins everyday with eggs