Nest Checks

[Thomas Maddox]

I have searched and read through the archives here((TON of great information), but I want to hear your thoughts. I have a 16 compartment house with 4 gourds added. Every time I think about doing a check, at least 3-5 PMs are present. My colony is still very new. I think we have 10-14. I don't want to run them off. So, what do you think is the best time of day to do so and what is the maximum time that you think is ok lower and observe? Also, is once per week, the optimum?

[C.C.Martins]

Hi Thomas,
You won't disturb them. Late afternoon is best like after 12 or 1 here. I found on camera the females who are incubating don't leave until after 12 or so. Never in the am or late evening unless there's a real problem.
Doesn't take long, lower, count, write look for issues put it all back up. Even when feeding chicks, they wait.
Last year was so brutally hot and dry I went to every two weeks so they can maximize food intake.
It gets into their routine. At some point when chicks are present they will dive bomb you. But they forgive quickly.
Hope this helps,
Tom

[Thomas Maddox]

Yes this helps and thank you! I usually get home from work around 4:30. Is that too late? I can wait until the weekend...

[C.C.Martins]

430 is a good time, still broad daylight, soon it will get dark at 9pm! If it slips a day cuz of rain or wind really doesn't matter.
Like alot of us, I try to not bother them too much...ill look all around, no martins...coast is clear! Go out bring it down and here they come!

[Jones4381]

3ish pm weekends for me Thomas. They seem to be away mostly at my place 2-5 or 6ish as the days get longer. After they hatch the feeding never seems to stop but although they seem to mind I enjoy watching the fuss tbh as I do the counts.... I found weekends work best for me, like you, work gets in the way of pleasure. Best of luck.

[Birdiegirl]

Hi Thomas,
When my colony was new, I too was uneasy about the disturbance of nest checks. But I've seen how martins are amazingly resilient- they really don't seem to mind, or just get over it quickly! Nest check information is valuable, but we should do our best to be quick about things to minimize the disruption. Sometimes on nest checks I will use my camera to video document anything I am not sure about, so I can minimize time in the nest and study more closely later. I usually do my nest checks on weekends anywhere from 2-4 pm when most of the birds are out feeding. If weather is bad (raining, windy) I wait until another day.

Right now, there isn't a time of day when all the birds are gone. I guess the males are still busy courting and don't want to leave 'their' cavity or miss the chance to snag a new female. Yesterday I had to do somewhat urgent gourd repairs but couldn't until I got home from work (5:30). I was uneasy because there were about 20 birds around and that was a little later than I normally lower housing. But- with longer days now it doesn't get dark here until about 8:00 pm so I went for it. We lowered the housing at 5:40 and had it back up by 6:00 pm. The birds watched us from the utility lines and returned almost immediately. Like Tom mentioned, they do seem to forgive quickly.

Hope this is encouraging to you. Congratulations on your new colony

[Martintown33]

Hi Thomas. I try to do my checks about 2 pm… as Tom said, try to avoid early am and late evening, as that is when they are feeding their young at the fastest rate. They slack off a bit in the afternoon, and really slack off if it’s very hot. And agree with others… the martins won’t hold it against you. As soon as you raise , they come right back. I think they actually know you’re helping them out, although a couple very protective dads may dive bomb you.. but it’s just parental instinct.. the more time you spend around your colony , the less they will dive bomb. I haven’t had even one swoop down on me this season, as I’ve spent lots of time around them.
Good luck
Rob

[Jones4381]

430 is a good time, still broad daylight, soon it will get dark at 9pm! If it slips a day cuz of rain or wind really doesn't matter.
Like alot of us, I try to not bother them too much...ill look all around, no martins...coast is clear! Go out bring it down and here they come!

"Coast clear'...Bring it down...here they come" You nailed it. lol. Birdie's "don't speak chortle" had me laughing as well. Cool String and Congrats too Thomas on your colony.

[Phil01]

Hi Thomas. Agree with all above. I do mine anytime between 2-5pm when most of the birds are away. Every 5 days during egg laying, weather permitting.. Then about once a week unless I see an issue. I try to keep it under 30 minutes per rack, which is pretty easy to do. Like Tom said, I’ll think they are all gone and as soon as I start to lower the housing, here they come… I don’t know where they watch from but I don’t see them.. lol

I haven’t been dive bombed in a while but it will happen I’m sure, just doing their job. I spend A LOT of time out by the housing so they may recognize me by now. Here comes the crazy guy with buckets and stuff… Last nest check I had a couple of them go in before the rack got to the top of the pole.. Something else I do before I raise the housing is put a teaspoon of crushed egg shells on each porch, only takes a minute. Give them some positive reinforcement for the inconvenience of their housing being lowered… Don’t know if it works but they do peck away at them when they come back…
Good luck with your new colony!
Phil

[Bird Brain]

http://chuckspurplemartinpage.com/

[Thomas Maddox]

First nest check: 16 cavities and 4 gourds. 6 cavities with eggs. 2 gourds with eggs. 3 cavities with babies. I noticed that one of the cavities with babies had some small black ants. I added some Sevin dust to that cavity (hopefully it won't affect the babies) and put some at the base of the pole. Predator guards in place. I'm excited!

[SoIndyDon]

Good advise to wait to early afternoon.
And they do get use to nest checks. In fact this year, number 26, I had 4 females and 2 males stayed in the gourds through lowering, opening and raising the racks. They just look at you like, "Oh, just you again."

[Jones4381]

Bumping this thread on nest check question. Do you space out your nest checks with multiple racks or do them all in one day?
2 24 Gemini racks and 2 SK poles w 6 each. I was thinking of doing one 24 and one 6 on back to back days. Any experience on multiple rack owners on what they have found best for themselves and the birds. Thanks in advance for advice.

[Phil01]

I do them both in the same day Jones. While I’m working on one rack a lot of the birds on the other rack just sit and look at me tilting their heads… lol Some circle but others watch… I think they know I’m come to them next… Then while doing the second the birds from the first land and check everything out. Really cool to see.
Phil

[C.C.Martins]

Up to you really, spacing it out 2 days makes sense. Iv done both, all same day (early on in the season its fairly quick) or spaced out 2 days, if I feel really froggy ill knock out one rack at home, leave the rest for the next day. Public site takes an hour with travel time.
I'm a creature of habit now that I think about it, I always start with the trio, then closest gourd rack and move along.

[flyin-lowe]

A few years ago I started using my iPhone camera to help speed up the process. I have over 60 pair now. I have each cavity numbered and I just take a picture of the cavity number and then a quick picture inside. I can do this pretty quickly and then I keep a word document with a brief description of the findings. When I look at the picture on my computer, if something looks out of place I'll go in and do a more thorough check. It's a lot quicker than the old way of taking a clip board and making notes after lookin in each nest.

[Jones4381]

Thanks guys. Went ahead and did all 60 at once...figured since the one's on the other rack were staring during the 1st rack...I'd let them get some of this next. 53 nest 30 leaves and 19 eggs in 6 thus far... kinda surprised me seeing eggs tbh...more the reason to begin the work of nest checks I suppose.