Cleaning out the nest?
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Guest
The Martins have flown the coup, and cleaned out the nest! (Mating pair with 4 off-spring) Is this normal? I mean they have taken their nest down, and cleaned up before they left!
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Dale Davis
yetchtoo, I would have to say this is not normal. My martins have always left the cleanup for me to do.
Someone else may have had this happen. Love to teach mine to do the same cleanup yours did. LOL
Anyway congrats on your successful fledges.
Someone else may have had this happen. Love to teach mine to do the same cleanup yours did. LOL
Anyway congrats on your successful fledges.
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Al Denton
- Posts: 1468
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 7:31 pm
- Location: Carolina Shores NC
- Martin Colony History: New site and housing for 2018...Trendsetter 12. 1 pair of subs. Fledged 5...2019...11 pairs
Not sure about that one....You and a neighbor don't enjoy playing practical jokes on one another do you?.....I guess it's possible some martins do this 
Al
Al2018-new site...1 pair
2019-11 pairs
2020-15 pairs
2019-11 pairs
2020-15 pairs
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Hello
I've found something similar at a first time site. This is a three-story aluminum Trio house, modified with deep compartments. The birds have fledged and I lowered the house for an inspection last week. Of five compartments that had nests, only one still contained an intact nest. In the others, the back rooms were nearly bare, with some poop in the front rooms. I can only surmise that in deep compartments, the martins engaged less in mud dam building, and with less mud to hold the nest material together it got pushed aside or dissentigrated. These also were mostly subadults, which make thinner nests. And I use styrofoam nest bowls, which may lead to thinner nests. But like you, I was very surpised.
John Miller,
St. Louis, Mo
I've found something similar at a first time site. This is a three-story aluminum Trio house, modified with deep compartments. The birds have fledged and I lowered the house for an inspection last week. Of five compartments that had nests, only one still contained an intact nest. In the others, the back rooms were nearly bare, with some poop in the front rooms. I can only surmise that in deep compartments, the martins engaged less in mud dam building, and with less mud to hold the nest material together it got pushed aside or dissentigrated. These also were mostly subadults, which make thinner nests. And I use styrofoam nest bowls, which may lead to thinner nests. But like you, I was very surpised.
John Miller,
St. Louis, Mo