Update - Will they ever fledge?!

[switchgrass2001]

Thought I would give an update on my lone SY pair in SW Minnesota. Once again, my first pair after 8 years of no success. What a learning experience it has been. I'm on day 27 after first hatched bird and they are still looking out the gourd. None have fully emerged from the gourd yet. It seems as if they never will! Do they all of the sudden come out or is it always this painful? Looking forward to seeing them fledge. 5 eggs, 5 hatched, and 5 were looking good at 20-day nest check. I've had a few other birds hanging out here the last couple days as I'm sure most adult birds have fledged. I'll continue watching intently.

Todd

[flyin-lowe]

26 to 32 days is the estimated days to fledge after hatching. So depending on if you are 100 % certain on what day the hatched you could have a few more days to go. I usually see them peaking out the opening for several days. Eventually they will come out and the parents will coax them off. What I noticed when I had smaller colony was that area martins seem to know when they take their first flight. I have seen a colony with a pair or two have 10-15 ASY's show up when the young ones take their first flight.
The type of housing can also make a difference if there are large porches etc.

[switchgrass2001]

I did a nest check on July 1st and the first chick had just hatched so I am confident about July 1. That being said, I don't know when the remaining 4 hatched.

[defed]

mine were looking out the door forever too. i believe they were 29 days when they finally left.

i checked my post about them looking out, and they did it at least for a week. it might have been a cpl days longer.

[switchgrass2001]

They fledged!!! I was out and about so I only saw the last one fly off. It was very anti-climactic. Have not seen any sign of them the rest of the day. It will be interesting to see if they return at all given how late in the year it is. I'm cautiously optimistic about next year. I have had quite a funny and embarrassing portable setup (to allow moving around the yard from year to year), so I will be replacing that with a permanent setup. Trying to decide if I should put up the 12-unit deluxe rack or round rack. I'm leaning toward the round rack at this point, but I have not decided yet. What a learning experience it has been this season. I've been birding for 22 years, but never have I watched a species' season so closely, hanging on pins and needles the whole time. In the end, the SY pair I was blessed with were absolute rock stars, going 5 for 5 (hatched eggs to fledge). I also had some SY male visitors off and on throughout the year, so I am hoping for some birds to return. Time will tell. Whatever happens, I am thankful that the Lord blessed with this pair this summer.

One last note, I did end up with a mite infestation that erupted on about day 24. I did not do a nest change as I said my setup was less than ideal. I had to check the nests with a ladder and the loader on my tractor, so I did not feel safe doing a complete nest change. I added about 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of seven dust at day 10. Nevertheless, on day 24, I was looking through my spotting scope at the end of the day and thought the top of the gourd looked a little darker. I inspected it and there were mites all over the outside of the gourd. I grabbed the ladder quickly before it got dark and put some seven dust in the bottom of the gourd through the drain holes in the base. I had no signs of mites by the next day. I was beside myself as I imagined them leaving the nest early. In the end, they fledged on Day 29 and appeared to be healthy. As I said, quite a learning experience. Thanks to all the members who answered my questions along the way.

[defed]

when mine fledged, i never saw them all day, but they came back for the night, at least 2x. they fledged on sunday and i was up in time to see them leave on monday and tuesday. i got up later the rest of the wk, so not sure if they were back or not....but i do not see them all day. i will check saturday if they come in for the night.

[C.C.Martins]

Switchgrass,
Congrats on your fledges! They made it, hope the visitors you had and your pair all come back next year. Those mites bloom quick, but sevin works just as fast thank goodness.
Yes there is something about them that draws you in. We all say "my birds" with real passion.
So, I'm picturing a step ladder in a front end loader. Do you put the ladder in the bucket, raise it up, turn off the engine, climb into the bucket, put the ladder up and check nests?
Tom

[switchgrass2001]

Not quite that bad, Tom. Used a ladder to get up in the loader. Unfortunately, I needed the loader to go about a foot higher and I was not willing to stand on anything in the loader as I value my health. Planning to mount something permanent with a winch system for next year. FYI, none of the young birds returned today - I feel jilted!!!

Curious if there are any other Minnesotans on the forum. If so, when do they typically leave for the year?

[defed]

i verified saturday evening that mine are still returning for the night. about 8pm, i heard them, mom and dad trying to wrangle a herd of cats. took a while to verify that all 4 were there as they were coming and going, entering and exiting different gourds, but finally saw all of them. looks like they do not all use the original gourd any more.

it was a ton of activity w/ just the 6 of them, can't imagine what it's like having 10+ pairs.

[randyM]

Switchgrass, I have a substantial colony to the west of you in central SD. Most of my resident martins leave for the season by about Aug. 20. I have a very late nesting pair this year that initiated on July 4 and didn't hatch until July 22...earliest fledging will be Aug. 17, so might have martins here until after Aug. 20 this year. Typically I have migrants visit my site until around Sept. 15.

I too use a tractor bucket and ladder to check my 10 house and 4 gourd systems! I designed my own wooden houses with 5 rooms on each of 4 floors, rooms are 6 x 12 or 6 x 9. I also offer Bo 11, Big Bo, and Super gourds, but the martins prefer the wooden housing about 10:1. When these houses eventually need to be replaced, I will design a new system that raises and lowers with a winch as I'm getting too old to be climbing 12' ladders.

[switchgrass2001]

Thanks randyM for the information. I'm planning on leaving the ole rickety portable house up until labor day. Had a brief sighting of a pair last evening, but they didn't stay long and definitely no young of the year with them.