Renest? problem with baby?

[Purple_martinfan]

Hi! i have an adult male and female nesting pretty late for here in Texas, all the other martin's babies have fledged... so is it a re-nest attempt? so far the one baby is 11 days old, and we removed 2 unviable eggs. The baby still looks blind, and it's eyes are round and bulgy, with blueish white. otherwise it's growth is good, it has pin feathers on it's wings and tail, but is still naked on everything else. is this normal? what should i do if the baby is blind?
thank you in advanced!

[Sharon - Central TX]

Here is a link to the live PMCA cam in PA. The babies are now 13 days old with eyes open. Maybe you can get an idea by comparing your baby with these.

How is he doing in the TX heat?

https://www.youtube.com/live/8QODLLwtKME?feature=share

[Thomabear]

Their eyes usually open on day 10-11 so I would give it another day or two. They look very bulgy before they open. Also, pin feathers on the wings and tail start breaking through on the same days. Other than that, the nestling will have only furry looking gray down on it with no feathers. Some places will have bare skin showing. Good luck with that lil one.

[Purple_martinfan]

So far seems ok, the parents are still visiting and feeding. i will keep checking to make sure he is alright!

[Purple_martinfan]

Update:
unfortunately I checked it today, and the baby has died :( so sad....

[BillieJR]

Aww, I'm so sorry you lost that one last baby. :(

[Purple_martinfan]

Hi, i know this is late, but i have also lost several babies last year, and all of them looked like they had just died, but they had a bunch of maggots on them, including the poor only baby this year. is there some sort of infestation? or is it just a coincidence? good news is that thankfully last year we fledged twenty babies, and this year twenty-three!

[C.C.Martins]

Were they blowfly larva? Perhaps not, think they would drop off if the host dies....it doesn't take long for flies to find dead things. Sorry for that, was a tough stretch there at the end, hotter n crap, and dry. Those that got fed alot and early enough seemed to do ok. One late nest here had me worried but all 5 pulled through thank God. Surprised me, dont know where they found the food.

[Martintown33]

Agree with Tom.. it doesn’t take long for flies to find them.. especially in the heat.. sorry for the tough end.. it’s not easy to witness.. Tom, martins are amazing aren’t they? We worry so much, but most of the time they find a way !
Rob