Purple martin diet study Colby College

[SSMartin]

Anyone else here collecting samples for the Colby College study? I received the kit yesterday.

[Phil01]

Yep, I got the sample bag the other day.

[MY FYN 79]

We applied to get my daughter more involved. As of now, I don’t know if we made the cut. Waiting for more info. Hoping we get in.

[SSMartin]

I have 4 gourds with cameras. Eggs just hatched today and I am way behind compared to previous years. I know I have some older chicks I need to check on because I have seen the parents bringing in dragonflies (no cams on those gourds). Might be close to collecting samples and getting it done. I believe the southern kits were sent out first.

I hope your daughter gets one. Keep us posted.

[SSMartin]

Yep, I got the sample bag the other day.

Nice. Any chicks in the nests yet?

[Phil01]

No chicks yet…. Did a nest check Sunday, 111 eggs so far and more to come, my first are due to hatch May 2nd.

We had a much cooler late winter, early spring up here too but they started laying a week earlier this year, no idea why..

Since they want the samples when they are around 21 days old I’m going to pick my 5 oldest nests to try and avoid jumpers..

Let me know how your poop collecting goes and I’ll do the same..

Good luck,
Phil

[SSMartin]

Completed it today and will admit I have been putting it off. Didn’t want to let them down so got it squared away and sending it off this afternoon.

Did you follow their instructions? I did it different and it worked perfectly. The martins here do not leave anything in the nests. The cameras help keep track of their ages as well.

[seth❤️birds]

I got my sample kit last Friday, but I can’t use it yet, are Martins are only now starting to lay eggs

[SSMartin]

I got my sample kit last Friday, but I can’t use it yet, are Martins are only now starting to lay eggs

Awesome, let us know how it goes.

[MY FYN 79]

Has anyone from Wisconsin been chosen yet?

Good luck collecting to those who made the cut.