I just completed a nest check on my one ASY pair. Previous check on 6/9 found 2 eggs, today 3. I'm sure there is always variability, but is 3 eggs atypical for a ASY pair? Given that my first ever pair of martins (the only martins I've ever seen at my 4 gourd setup) are ASY birds, I've considered the possibility that they suffered a nesting failure at one of the large colonies nearby and this is a subsequent nesting attempt. If so, is it possible that this could account for a lower number of eggs? Do later attempts result in a smaller clutch size?
Based on today's findings and what I've been told, the incubation period should have begun on 6/9 with the laying of the second to last egg. This would put the expected hatch date at June 24 if I am counting 16 days with the June 9 being Day 1. Is this correct? I plan to reapply Sevin on June 23rd, repeat nest checks on a Sunday/Wednesday rotation and continue eliminating S&S. Anything else I should be doing?
Questions following today's nest check
Using the PMCA Prognosticator hatching begins on the 25th with the earliest fledging on July 21. It goes by the date the 1st egg is laid which, in your case would be June 8th. Martin's lay 1 egg per day until a clutch of 1 - 8 eggs is complete. Good luck.
Brent
Brent
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Ed Svetich-WI
- Posts: 815
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
- Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
- Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.
There are always variables in clutch sizes. Your ASY hen could be older and on the downhill side of her productive life, or any other numbers of reasons. They're just birds. I have had ASY lay anywhere from 3 to a high of 8 eggs. The 8 eggs clutch hatched 7.
Hatching is "defined as the number of days between the laying of the last egg and the hatching off the last egg."Hatch days are calculated at 15 days from the date the last egg is laid and indicates the date the first egg will hatch.. However, it can vary from 15 to 17 days. The average is 16 days. This data came from PMCA Update Vol 8(1). I have most nests hatch over two days and occasionally three. The last to hatch in that case was significantly smaller and was losing out to it's nest mates. I placed it in another nest with similarly sized nestlings and it made it.
Congratulations on keeping track of the nests. It makes colony management easier.
Have a successful season.
Ed
Hatching is "defined as the number of days between the laying of the last egg and the hatching off the last egg."Hatch days are calculated at 15 days from the date the last egg is laid and indicates the date the first egg will hatch.. However, it can vary from 15 to 17 days. The average is 16 days. This data came from PMCA Update Vol 8(1). I have most nests hatch over two days and occasionally three. The last to hatch in that case was significantly smaller and was losing out to it's nest mates. I placed it in another nest with similarly sized nestlings and it made it.
Congratulations on keeping track of the nests. It makes colony management easier.
Have a successful season.
Ed