lots of activity!

[defed]

now that my babies are nearing 20 days old, there has been a lot of activity. at least 3 SY males and 1 ASY male have been coming in and hanging out several times a day. mom and dad usually don't fuss much, but today when i did my nest check, they, and 2 of the others were circling and squawking the whole time. it's like my pair were being egged on by the outsiders to give me a hard time. lol

this gives me a little more optimism about next year, if these visitors come back, i could have up to 5 ASY males and 1 ASY female.

[Birdiegirl]

That's great defed! I'm sort of a newbie (2nd year with birds) but I too experienced more visitors close to fledging day. Reading on the forum it seems that visitors from other colonies often stop by close to fledging- not sure how they know! But it's neat to see them calling (encouraging?) the new chicks to take flight. Always nice to have more martins see your setup. Congrats on a successful season

[C.C.Martins]

Its an exciting time for a colony....yep we are part of the colony haha
Anyway Brent posted an awesome video of him in his garden getting dive bombed by martins. They are less tolerant of us and more protective as the chicks get closer to fledge.
The last nest that went I couldn't even walk under the back porch without them spying me and carrying on. The whole season I was ignored or tolerated but suddenly we are a threat! Too fun.
Yeah your right somehow others know and come by to help, really neat.

[defed]

Its an exciting time for a colony....yep we are part of the colony haha
Anyway Brent posted an awesome video of him in his garden getting dive bombed by martins. They are less tolerant of us and more protective as the chicks get closer to fledge.
The last nest that went I couldn't even walk under the back porch without them spying me and carrying on. The whole season I was ignored or tolerated but suddenly we are a threat! Too fun.
Yeah your right somehow others know and come by to help, really neat.

i had an interesting observation, and i had to leave for work (nights) before it was 'resolved', so of course i'm nervous and can't wait until tomorrow to make sure everything is ok...

after nest check/change, i saw them make a few trips in to feed...everything is fine (always nervous after poking around, especially changing the nest). a cpl hrs later, seems like i hadn't seen them in awhile. then i see dad come land on the porch but take off w/o going in. then i saw mom do the same. i think a cpl times each. then i heard them flying over head, one of them making a constant single 'chirp'. i can't actually see them as they were off past the side yard and there are some small trees/shrubs between them and me. after the chirp went on for 5 mins at least, i see a hawk fly past. after that, the chirp stopped. then i had to leave for work. i wonder if they knew the hawk was in the vicinity so they would not go into the gourd while he was there, and then the one was chirping as a warning until he left?

needless to say, i'm a bit worried.

i should clarify that i don't think the hawk was there for the martins. there is a hedgerow and ditch on the side yard that they will sometimes sit and wait for mice. if the hawk was in fact the reason for their behavior then all should be good, but i just don't know for a fact that was what was causing their behavior.

[C.C.Martins]

More than likely they spotted it, didnt want to draw attention perhaps? They would be real nervous for sure. Think your birds will be fine, its a treat watching everything isnt it, can notice the differences in behavior right off.

[defed]

everything appears to be fine today.

they picked the one gourd that faces directly at my window. i was looking at the gourd w/ my scope waiting for the parents. i saw a bird inside and thought it was mom, until i saw the yellow beak. then dad came on the porch, stuck his head in, and left. mom did the same. similar to what i saw yesterday, so maybe they weren't avoiding going in, perhaps one of the babies was just right there waiting. so now i will have to be careful on next nest check that they aren't by the door waiting to jump out when i lower/open it.

[Sharon - Central TX]

If I understood correctly there was a bird with a yellow beak inside the entrance? If so probably a starling. You might want to check on those babies. They have dark beaks like the parents.
I don’t remember reading what kind of pole you have but in my experience, even at 20 days, once you begin lowering it, they will go to the back. But plug as soon as you can reach entrance.
Hope everything is OK for you. Sounds like the start of a colony. Our first year we only had one nest but the next year several martins showed up and successfully fledged their young.
First martins always exciting. You’re doing a great job!
Sharon

[defed]

maybe i should have been more specific, inside the mouth was yellow. it was definitely one of the babies.

i'm not saying it is not possible, but i have not seen a starling get in the conley ii yet.

[C.C.Martins]

Often the adults want the chicks at the front to encourage them. Your real close!

[defed]

Often the adults want the chicks at the front to encourage them. Your real close!

they are about 20 days today, so still a little time. i happen to be on vacation next wk, so if i'm lucky they will fledge when i am home.

[defed]

Often the adults want the chicks at the front to encourage them. Your real close!

i wonder if one baby will get more food than the rest, if he's the one always in the door. on the troyer horizontal, there isn't a lot of room in the tunnel. i have seen 2 mouths at once, but usually just one...and the fatter he gets, the more he can block the others!

[C.C.Martins]

Dont sweat it, not much you can do anyway. adults know what they are doing. Enjoy the birds, they will be gone soon enough and silence
sets in...

[defed]

Dont sweat it, not much you can do anyway. adults know what they are doing. Enjoy the birds, they will be gone soon enough and silence
sets in...

i'm not too worried about it, just wondering if one does in fact gain an advantage once he gets his position in front of the door.