Fledglings on the ground
I have three fledglings on the ground for 3 days now. Mom and dad have been feeding them and they have shelter under neath a covered fire pit. My question is should I try to catch them and throw them in the air to assist them to fly? Mom dad and 5-6 other have been swooping down to try to get them to go!!
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dsonyay
- Posts: 1677
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Broussard
- Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.
2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)
2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.
2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged
2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(
2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.
2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
2025: 14 pairs .. 69 eggs.
Seems to be working out ok. Let things go as they are.
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Bird Brain
- Posts: 338
- Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2016 9:22 am
- Location: Highland Village, TX
- Martin Colony History: 2022-visitors, 2023-visitors, 2024-1 pair, fledged 4, 2025-10 pair, fledged 42, 2026-17 pair, fledged 81
lucky you. My 3 or 4 fledglings that were grounded died. I never saw Mom or Dad help them out. They hid from me so I couldn't find them and help out, so they all died.
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Conrad Baker
- Posts: 762
- Joined: Fri Jan 12, 2007 7:43 pm
- Location: Paulina, Louisiana
If the parents are feeding them, I wouldn't interfere.
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3792
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
I find a few on the ground every year. When my colony was smaller I used to be able to tell where they came from and put them back. Now I have almost 70 pair so I have to many to be able to know where they come from and I don't want to put fledge age martins into a nest that has very young ones in it so I just let nature play out. A few times I just set up a gourd on a shepards hook hoping they would stay in there long enough to build some strength but they always jump right back out. Sometimes if they look like they would be able fly but just can get up off the ground I will give them a slight toss and often times that is all it takes to get them back up to a perch.
2026 HOSP 29
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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Conrad Baker
- Posts: 762
- Joined: Fri Jan 12, 2007 7:43 pm
- Location: Paulina, Louisiana