Completed my 6th check today. Takes me about 30 minutes to check the 24 gourds on Colony 2. Upper gourd 1 now has 5 eggs and was empty last week. Projected hatch 5/23. Upper 2 - 4 young. Lower 2 - 4 young and 1 egg. Projected hatch was 5/5. Pretty close. Lower 5 - 4 young. Lower 8 - 5 eggs. Projected hatch 5/18. Lower 11 - 2 young and 3 eggs, one was pipping during my check. 5/5 was my projected hatch. The "wheel" works wonders!
Good to see another gourd with activity since the 27 April check. Of my six active gourds 2 are S and K B011s and 4 are 9s.
My projected "last to touch young" dates begin on 5/19 and my first gourd to fledge young is 5/23.
Happy Martining and Geaux Tigers to my Boyce and Raceland, Louisiana landlords, Mike
6th Nest Check - old landlords, check my projections
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mjfog
- Posts: 449
- Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2017 3:40 pm
- Location: Palm City, FL
- Martin Colony History: 2018 will be my first try. 6 S&K B09s. 29 eggs - 8 fledged
2019 - 12 Troyer Horizontals with tunnels, 6 S&K B09s and 12 B011s all with tunnels. 43 eggs - 36 fledged
2020 - Rack 1 - 6 B011s, Rack 2 - 24 B011s, and Rack 3 - 24 Troyer Horizontals. All gourds have tunnels, porches and crescent/Conley 11 entrances; racks have predator guards. 161 eggs - 88 fledged.
2021 - 54 gourds-214 eggs, 184 hatched, 168 fledged.
2022 - 3 racks of 24 gourds. 363 eggs, 294 hatched, 278 fledged.
2023 - 3 racks of 24 gourds. 321 eggs, 276 hatched, 246 fledged.
2024 - 3 racks of 24 gourds. 330 eggs, 283 hatched, 250 fledged.
2025 - 3 racks of 24 gourds. 347 eggs, 281 hatched, 266 fledged.
Hi Mike,
Lots happening in Palm City. I started to use the wheel this year and it's proven to be exact on my first hatchlings. I'm on my 5th nest check and have 6 young and 85 eggs. I'm going bird crazy with all of my attention on the martins. I have a pair of blue birds who just fledged 5 beautiful baby blues and already they're back checking the nest box out. The martin behavior is so different now. They are much quieter than earlier before. We're all anticipating all the young ones. Had some real nasty weather blow through this morning so I lowered the boxes some. All went well and raised them up again. I opened the vents since the temperatures are rising and milder at night. Keep us posted. Good to hear of all the excitement from beautiful Florida.
Brent
Lots happening in Palm City. I started to use the wheel this year and it's proven to be exact on my first hatchlings. I'm on my 5th nest check and have 6 young and 85 eggs. I'm going bird crazy with all of my attention on the martins. I have a pair of blue birds who just fledged 5 beautiful baby blues and already they're back checking the nest box out. The martin behavior is so different now. They are much quieter than earlier before. We're all anticipating all the young ones. Had some real nasty weather blow through this morning so I lowered the boxes some. All went well and raised them up again. I opened the vents since the temperatures are rising and milder at night. Keep us posted. Good to hear of all the excitement from beautiful Florida.
Brent
Brent
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Dale D
- Posts: 329
- Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2018 10:11 am
- Location: Orlando, Fl
- Martin Colony History: Landlord since 2004
My colony is at 13 nesting pairs, 69 total eggs laid and 33 of the 69 have hatched at this time. 1st Fledged Martins should be on or near 5/13/2019.
Orlando, FL Landlord since 2004
Offer 42 Cavities Total
Offer 42 Cavities Total
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Great job. I'm been doing this since 1997. Does that make me an old landlord?? I prefer experienced... 
I have never stopped learning something new. The birds have taught me more than any book ever could. Nest checks and recordkeeping are valuable tools to help you keep your colony safe and your birds successful in producing healthy young.
Enjoy your season and don't worry about some of the "rules" too much.
I have never stopped learning something new. The birds have taught me more than any book ever could. Nest checks and recordkeeping are valuable tools to help you keep your colony safe and your birds successful in producing healthy young.Enjoy your season and don't worry about some of the "rules" too much.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne