So 25 of 27 nest have fledged now, so I went out tonight to treat the remaining two nest with sevens dust that are due to fledge in a couple weeks and I found two fledglings on the ground. They should absolutely be able to fly as there's virtually no sheath left on any wing or tail feathers....maybe an eighth inch or less on the two outermost wing feathers. One of them did have some sheath covering several of his wing feathers mid way up, then had exposed feather after the covered part all the way down to its base....almost like it didn't preen well for several days. Most of his tail feathers were the same way. I just barely brushed the feathers with my finger nail and the sheathing just flaked right off and exposed the feather. The second one looks completely healthy. I see nothing wrong physically with either fledgling. When I let them jump off my hand, they just fall to the ground without even flapping their wings. They appear well fed and are not dehydrated, and I suspect they came from the same nest. Any thoughts as to what could be the problem? Has anyone else ever seen this?
One thought I do have is possible neurological issues. I have a couple neighbors who have sprayed their elm trees for Japanese beatles in the last week and I'm wondering if the adults are possibly feeding the chicks beatles that have been contaminated with the chemical. Has anyone had any experience with this?
I have the chicks in a bucket for the night. I've fed them meal worms and some wax worms for added moisture just in case dehydration was setting in. I'm not sure what my next step should be as I suspect quite a few of my birds will be leaving soon. Tonight there were just a couple pairs with fledglings still hanging around on the power lines when I got home from work. However, most of the mob did show up around 7:45 and started roosting either in the housing or in the big oak trees across the road.
Any advice would be appreciated!
Advice Please!!
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TravisF
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Sun May 26, 2019 4:37 pm
- Location: Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2018 1 SY pair, were not successful in nesting
2019 4 pairs. Learned the hard way the importance of predator/pest control. Lost a few eggs to sparrows and lost an entire nest of babies to a black snake. Stepped up sparrow control and installed electric snake guards. Fledged 12
2020 35 cavities offered. 31 pairs with 27 pairs nesting. Fledged 113
2021 69 cavities offered. Another big jump with 61 pairs nesting. Totaled 291 eggs and fledged 274. Almost all the losses were from capped eggs with two chicks dying in the nest from unknown causes. Plan to have 113 cavities available in 2022.
2022 Offered 98 cavities. Jumped up to 83 nesting pairs. Had 3 nests with 7 eggs, and one nest with 8 eggs. 437 total eggs laid and fledged 411. Thought my last chicks had fledged August 14th, but noticed a martin entering a gourd a few times late August. Lowered housing and had 3 young martins probably 2 weeks old. Last fledging on Sept. 7.
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Dave Duit
- Posts: 2145
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Iowa / Nevada
- Martin Colony History: In 2024, 82 pair with 350 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to [email protected]. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.
If you are hand feeding them, you need to do so on a regular basis and often. I recommend soaking the meal worms in pedialyte as it will aid the nestlings in rehydration and electrolytes. If you know where the nestlings came from and the parents are still in the cavity, the parents will do a much better job at raising the youngsters.
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TravisF
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Sun May 26, 2019 4:37 pm
- Location: Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2018 1 SY pair, were not successful in nesting
2019 4 pairs. Learned the hard way the importance of predator/pest control. Lost a few eggs to sparrows and lost an entire nest of babies to a black snake. Stepped up sparrow control and installed electric snake guards. Fledged 12
2020 35 cavities offered. 31 pairs with 27 pairs nesting. Fledged 113
2021 69 cavities offered. Another big jump with 61 pairs nesting. Totaled 291 eggs and fledged 274. Almost all the losses were from capped eggs with two chicks dying in the nest from unknown causes. Plan to have 113 cavities available in 2022.
2022 Offered 98 cavities. Jumped up to 83 nesting pairs. Had 3 nests with 7 eggs, and one nest with 8 eggs. 437 total eggs laid and fledged 411. Thought my last chicks had fledged August 14th, but noticed a martin entering a gourd a few times late August. Lowered housing and had 3 young martins probably 2 weeks old. Last fledging on Sept. 7.
Thanks for the reply, Dave. I believe putting them back in the nest is not an option at this point. To be clear, these two birds are at a minimum 31 days old, so they're definitely at or beyond fledging age. All nest except three are empty now, and these nests are weeks from fledging (I misspoke yesterday by saying 25 of 27 nests have fledged, as it's 24). The last nest of four eggs finished hatching today. At this point, I believe a good portion of my birds have moved off with their young. When I got home tonight, the only martins I observed were the three pair who have the late nestlings .
I don't have a clue what's wrong with these two birds. When I say they don't flap their wings, I mean they literally don't flap at all when I drop them to the ground. They just halfway spread their wings and fall straight to the ground. They are not weak at all, as they're very active in the bucket I have them in. I really think it might be something neurological. There appears to be no evident injuries, and they do have complete use of their wings....they just don't use them to fly.
I don't have a clue what's wrong with these two birds. When I say they don't flap their wings, I mean they literally don't flap at all when I drop them to the ground. They just halfway spread their wings and fall straight to the ground. They are not weak at all, as they're very active in the bucket I have them in. I really think it might be something neurological. There appears to be no evident injuries, and they do have complete use of their wings....they just don't use them to fly.
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Dave Duit
- Posts: 2145
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Iowa / Nevada
- Martin Colony History: In 2024, 82 pair with 350 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to [email protected]. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.
At this time I would try to contact an avian rehabilitator in your state and ask for their advice. If you are near a college or University that has an animal rehab program, (animal sciences department) try to contact them for assistance.
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TravisF
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Sun May 26, 2019 4:37 pm
- Location: Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2018 1 SY pair, were not successful in nesting
2019 4 pairs. Learned the hard way the importance of predator/pest control. Lost a few eggs to sparrows and lost an entire nest of babies to a black snake. Stepped up sparrow control and installed electric snake guards. Fledged 12
2020 35 cavities offered. 31 pairs with 27 pairs nesting. Fledged 113
2021 69 cavities offered. Another big jump with 61 pairs nesting. Totaled 291 eggs and fledged 274. Almost all the losses were from capped eggs with two chicks dying in the nest from unknown causes. Plan to have 113 cavities available in 2022.
2022 Offered 98 cavities. Jumped up to 83 nesting pairs. Had 3 nests with 7 eggs, and one nest with 8 eggs. 437 total eggs laid and fledged 411. Thought my last chicks had fledged August 14th, but noticed a martin entering a gourd a few times late August. Lowered housing and had 3 young martins probably 2 weeks old. Last fledging on Sept. 7.
I'm located just East of Jefferson City. I don't know if they've necessarily left for good, but they're definitely not hanging around the housing much at all anymore.
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Dave Duit
- Posts: 2145
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Iowa / Nevada
- Martin Colony History: In 2024, 82 pair with 350 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to [email protected]. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.
This is good news Travis,
If they have moved on by themsleves, it indicates that natural instinct kicked in and they are well on their way to a new life.
If they have moved on by themsleves, it indicates that natural instinct kicked in and they are well on their way to a new life.