hello all,i have been trying to get my martins to eat eggs i fling to them
since last year.they do fine eating the crickets,but refuse the eggs,any ideas or help will be appreicated.thank you nestling
martins and egg eating
-
Mary Dawnsong
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:17 pm
- Location: Michigan, Livingston County
Hi nestling,
First, I recommend that you take the next step with crickets and get your birds eating them from a platform feeder. I use the Bed & Breakfast feeder sold by PMCA, which is easy to use because it raises and lowers with a rope/pulley, but you can build your own feeder:
http://shop.purplemartin.org/shopsite/purplem/bb.html
Set the B & B up within 10 feet of your housing and the martins will use it as a perch - it's 10' high!
Make sure it is located in a spot where they will not be especially vulnerable to hawk attack when distracted by feeding.
I have learned that martins love to eat from the B & B early in the morning, when insects are still sleeping around here. Even on days that turn out to have good afternoon hunting, they like to eat a little something on arising. Place dead crickets in the trays first thing in the morning. They should be eating them soon!
Shortly after martins learn to eat from a platform feeder, many will perch together on it whenever they are not finding enough food by hunting.
This is very apparent in a larger colony, probably less so with just a few pairs.
This behavior is a clear indication that they associate the feeder with food.
I believe that at this stage, you have a good chance of converting them to egg.
The real roadblock to training martins to eat egg is lack of faith on the part of the landlord.
In the beginning, each time I offered egg the martins spit it out.
So, I got the impression that they would never like it.
Nothing can be further from the truth! My martins have been eating egg for 4 seasons now and they LOVE it.
Given a choice, 3 out of 4 of the birds in my colony choose scrambled egg over crickets.
The key to my colony's switch from platform feeding crickets to platform feeding eggs was:
1) let them starve almost 24 hours during a no-hunting period before offering them egg
2) offer small pieces, roughly 3/16" x 3/16" x 1/8". Martins can eat larger pieces, but mine
seemed to learn more easily with very small pieces. They have to learn to open mouth wide and gulp
it down, rather than pulling it into their mouths as they do with the more rigid insects.
3) prepare their favorite egg recipe
For anyone who already has their martins eating crickets or mealworms - if you run out of insects or run out of money during the next no-hunting spell, try feeding eggs. Starving martins already dependent on you for food are very likely to accept eggs. This worked for PMCA in 2002 when they ran out of insects to feed and has worked for many other landlords, including myself, since then.
Here's my recipe
Break 6 eggs into a ceramic bowl, add 1/4 cup water, beat vigorously with a fork until yolk, white, and water are very well mixed.
Put bowl in microwave on high for 45 sec., remove and stir well with fork, microwave 45 more sec, remove and stir with fork ... repeat until eggs are no longer runny. Eggs will be puffed up and fluffy.
Using fork, stir eggs while still hot and mash with tines of the fork to break it into small pieces. Try to break most of them into 1/8" - 3/16" pieces. Let cool to room temperature. (It is faster to spread them out on a cutting board, breaking into pieces with the fork as they cool - more cleanup, though.) Store cooked egg covered in refrigerator until you want to feed it.
If you are platform feeding, serve eggs along with some insects. Martins will try pieces of egg after they run out of insects. If you are tossing crickets, try tossing egg pieces. They may be messy to slingshot, but are easily flipped with a plastic spoon. Do not be discouraged if birds don't eat egg right away. Keep trying. If they are truly starving, some will eat it and others will learn from it. Do not assume they won't like it because they keep spitting it out. Once martins learn to eat egg, they love it!
Of course, moist eggs will grow bacteria and can become dangerous. I serve eggs on top of damp paper towels and change them with each feeding. I discard eggs that have set out in sun or on a warm day after just a couple hours of exposure.
Here is an excellent PMCA Update article on supplemental feeding of martins, including egg:
http://purplemartin.org/update/14.3-Sup ... eeding.pdf
Here is PMCA's story of training their martins to eat egg:
http://www.purplemartin.org/update/Supp ... g11(3).pdf
Here is New Jersey landlord Stephen Pendino's story of saving his colony by feeding crickets and egg:
http://purplemartin.org/update/12(3)NJSupFeed.pdf
PMCA sells an excellent professionally made video by New Jersey landlord and super-mentor Tim Shaheen. He shows you step-by-step how to prepare the egg and feed it to martins:
http://shop.purplemartin.org/shopsite/p ... video.html
Good luck feeding scrambled egg,
Mary
First, I recommend that you take the next step with crickets and get your birds eating them from a platform feeder. I use the Bed & Breakfast feeder sold by PMCA, which is easy to use because it raises and lowers with a rope/pulley, but you can build your own feeder:
http://shop.purplemartin.org/shopsite/purplem/bb.html
Set the B & B up within 10 feet of your housing and the martins will use it as a perch - it's 10' high!
Make sure it is located in a spot where they will not be especially vulnerable to hawk attack when distracted by feeding.
I have learned that martins love to eat from the B & B early in the morning, when insects are still sleeping around here. Even on days that turn out to have good afternoon hunting, they like to eat a little something on arising. Place dead crickets in the trays first thing in the morning. They should be eating them soon!
Shortly after martins learn to eat from a platform feeder, many will perch together on it whenever they are not finding enough food by hunting.
This is very apparent in a larger colony, probably less so with just a few pairs.
This behavior is a clear indication that they associate the feeder with food.
I believe that at this stage, you have a good chance of converting them to egg.
The real roadblock to training martins to eat egg is lack of faith on the part of the landlord.
In the beginning, each time I offered egg the martins spit it out.
So, I got the impression that they would never like it.
Nothing can be further from the truth! My martins have been eating egg for 4 seasons now and they LOVE it.
Given a choice, 3 out of 4 of the birds in my colony choose scrambled egg over crickets.
The key to my colony's switch from platform feeding crickets to platform feeding eggs was:
1) let them starve almost 24 hours during a no-hunting period before offering them egg
2) offer small pieces, roughly 3/16" x 3/16" x 1/8". Martins can eat larger pieces, but mine
seemed to learn more easily with very small pieces. They have to learn to open mouth wide and gulp
it down, rather than pulling it into their mouths as they do with the more rigid insects.
3) prepare their favorite egg recipe
For anyone who already has their martins eating crickets or mealworms - if you run out of insects or run out of money during the next no-hunting spell, try feeding eggs. Starving martins already dependent on you for food are very likely to accept eggs. This worked for PMCA in 2002 when they ran out of insects to feed and has worked for many other landlords, including myself, since then.
Here's my recipe
Break 6 eggs into a ceramic bowl, add 1/4 cup water, beat vigorously with a fork until yolk, white, and water are very well mixed.
Put bowl in microwave on high for 45 sec., remove and stir well with fork, microwave 45 more sec, remove and stir with fork ... repeat until eggs are no longer runny. Eggs will be puffed up and fluffy.
Using fork, stir eggs while still hot and mash with tines of the fork to break it into small pieces. Try to break most of them into 1/8" - 3/16" pieces. Let cool to room temperature. (It is faster to spread them out on a cutting board, breaking into pieces with the fork as they cool - more cleanup, though.) Store cooked egg covered in refrigerator until you want to feed it.
If you are platform feeding, serve eggs along with some insects. Martins will try pieces of egg after they run out of insects. If you are tossing crickets, try tossing egg pieces. They may be messy to slingshot, but are easily flipped with a plastic spoon. Do not be discouraged if birds don't eat egg right away. Keep trying. If they are truly starving, some will eat it and others will learn from it. Do not assume they won't like it because they keep spitting it out. Once martins learn to eat egg, they love it!
Of course, moist eggs will grow bacteria and can become dangerous. I serve eggs on top of damp paper towels and change them with each feeding. I discard eggs that have set out in sun or on a warm day after just a couple hours of exposure.
Here is an excellent PMCA Update article on supplemental feeding of martins, including egg:
http://purplemartin.org/update/14.3-Sup ... eeding.pdf
Here is PMCA's story of training their martins to eat egg:
http://www.purplemartin.org/update/Supp ... g11(3).pdf
Here is New Jersey landlord Stephen Pendino's story of saving his colony by feeding crickets and egg:
http://purplemartin.org/update/12(3)NJSupFeed.pdf
PMCA sells an excellent professionally made video by New Jersey landlord and super-mentor Tim Shaheen. He shows you step-by-step how to prepare the egg and feed it to martins:
http://shop.purplemartin.org/shopsite/p ... video.html
Good luck feeding scrambled egg,
Mary
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- Eggs for breakfast on a cool, cloudy Michigan morning
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Click here to see my colony
"In Michigan every martin matters"
"In Michigan every martin matters"
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Guest
Mary,
I love your cooking directions! You make your scrambled eggs sound delicious. You're going to have martineers from everywhere coming for breakfast. You might just become the 'Martha Stewart' of martineers everywhere. When you're rich and famous will you autograph a copy of your book 'Cooking for Martins' for me? I'll buy the first copy
!
Seriously, Mary knows what she is talking about here. I can tell you that the eggs work wonders for rescued baby birds. Several times my wife and I have attempted rescues of orphaned baby tree swallows and bluebirds. We never had complete success raising them to fledge until we read about and tried feeding scrambled eggs. A number of tree swallows and bluebirds out there somewhere owe their existence to Mary's scrambled egg program.
Jeff Nelson
I love your cooking directions! You make your scrambled eggs sound delicious. You're going to have martineers from everywhere coming for breakfast. You might just become the 'Martha Stewart' of martineers everywhere. When you're rich and famous will you autograph a copy of your book 'Cooking for Martins' for me? I'll buy the first copy
! Seriously, Mary knows what she is talking about here. I can tell you that the eggs work wonders for rescued baby birds. Several times my wife and I have attempted rescues of orphaned baby tree swallows and bluebirds. We never had complete success raising them to fledge until we read about and tried feeding scrambled eggs. A number of tree swallows and bluebirds out there somewhere owe their existence to Mary's scrambled egg program.
Jeff Nelson
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Mary Dawnsong
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:17 pm
- Location: Michigan, Livingston County
Hi Jeff,
It's Bluebird landlords like you who are credited for the amazing recovery of the Eastern Bluebird population in Michigan. From North American Breeding Bird Survey data for Michigan:
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/pl ... /07660.mic
I surely wish the story was the same for Purple Martins. Once a very common bird throughout Michigan, martins are now in worse shape than the Bluebird ever was. The Purple Martin is now listed as a species of concern by the Michigan Audubon Society and our state DNR.
From North American Breeding Bird Survey data for Michigan:
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/pl ... /06110.mic
Supplemental feeding with scrambled egg gives me confidence that colonies like mine can survive. The next trick is figuring out how to rebuild the population statewide.
My best, Mary
It's Bluebird landlords like you who are credited for the amazing recovery of the Eastern Bluebird population in Michigan. From North American Breeding Bird Survey data for Michigan:
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/pl ... /07660.mic
I surely wish the story was the same for Purple Martins. Once a very common bird throughout Michigan, martins are now in worse shape than the Bluebird ever was. The Purple Martin is now listed as a species of concern by the Michigan Audubon Society and our state DNR.
From North American Breeding Bird Survey data for Michigan:
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/pl ... /06110.mic
Supplemental feeding with scrambled egg gives me confidence that colonies like mine can survive. The next trick is figuring out how to rebuild the population statewide.
My best, Mary
Click here to see my colony
"In Michigan every martin matters"
"In Michigan every martin matters"
-
Guest
Mary,
I only wish that it was as easy to attract martins as it is bluebirds. When Cathy and I first moved to our place in 1998 we didn't see any bluebirds in the area. Still, we set up about 10 houses on the trail around and through our 40 acres and the next spring we attracted a pair of blues to nest. Over the next several years we increased our houses to 25 and watched the population of blues (and tree swallows) grow. Today you can drive around our township and see bluebirds everywhere - all year round. It is very rewarding.
I think the things you have learned (and shared) about egg feeding in cold weather is a big help for people that do host Michigan martins. With the uncertain weather we have in the spring, egg feeding has got to be an important practice for us northerners to know about. Life is tougher for the martins that choose to colonize here.
It is very frustrating to know the plight of martins in Michigan and to not be able to help. We have been trying since the first year we moved here to establish a colony with no luck. Of course our early efforts were a bit crude in comparison to what we now know from you and others on this forum, but I think we are doing all the right things now if they would only show up.
We keep watching the sky and hoping....
Jeff
I only wish that it was as easy to attract martins as it is bluebirds. When Cathy and I first moved to our place in 1998 we didn't see any bluebirds in the area. Still, we set up about 10 houses on the trail around and through our 40 acres and the next spring we attracted a pair of blues to nest. Over the next several years we increased our houses to 25 and watched the population of blues (and tree swallows) grow. Today you can drive around our township and see bluebirds everywhere - all year round. It is very rewarding.
I think the things you have learned (and shared) about egg feeding in cold weather is a big help for people that do host Michigan martins. With the uncertain weather we have in the spring, egg feeding has got to be an important practice for us northerners to know about. Life is tougher for the martins that choose to colonize here.
It is very frustrating to know the plight of martins in Michigan and to not be able to help. We have been trying since the first year we moved here to establish a colony with no luck. Of course our early efforts were a bit crude in comparison to what we now know from you and others on this forum, but I think we are doing all the right things now if they would only show up.
We keep watching the sky and hoping....
Jeff
-
Mary Dawnsong
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:17 pm
- Location: Michigan, Livingston County
Hey Jeff,
I understand your frustration, Jeff.
Even as an active landlord I am limited in how much I can help martins.
My mentoring attempts are mostly a bust. I believe my advice has helped grow a few existing colonies, but failed to help anyone start a colony. The population of martins in Michigan is now about half what it was when I started my colony in 1993. If I lost my colony, it might be impossible to start another. That's the big reason I take supplemental feeding so seriously.
A Bluebird question for you:
My female BB completed her clutch on April 15.
She sat on eggs for a week, then disappeared.
I have not seen her for a full week and, yes, I am certain
she's been gone - the nestbox is visible from my office
window and I see it all day long. The male has
been around a lot, defending his nest on occasion
(and eating scrambled eggs).
The cedar BB house still contains a nest and 5 perfect eggs.
Each time I've checked them they have been cold, no
female to incubate them.
There is now a female BB investigating that house and a male
BB is here. I think the female is spending time in the house.
The male is perching in his normal spots and acting like he owns the place.
I assume my male BB has found a new mate, but who knows?
What should I do with the old nest and eggs?
Let them handle it or take some action?
Why can't BBs be easy like martins?:???:
Thanks, Mary
I understand your frustration, Jeff.
Even as an active landlord I am limited in how much I can help martins.
My mentoring attempts are mostly a bust. I believe my advice has helped grow a few existing colonies, but failed to help anyone start a colony. The population of martins in Michigan is now about half what it was when I started my colony in 1993. If I lost my colony, it might be impossible to start another. That's the big reason I take supplemental feeding so seriously.
A Bluebird question for you:
My female BB completed her clutch on April 15.
She sat on eggs for a week, then disappeared.
I have not seen her for a full week and, yes, I am certain
she's been gone - the nestbox is visible from my office
window and I see it all day long. The male has
been around a lot, defending his nest on occasion
(and eating scrambled eggs).
The cedar BB house still contains a nest and 5 perfect eggs.
Each time I've checked them they have been cold, no
female to incubate them.
There is now a female BB investigating that house and a male
BB is here. I think the female is spending time in the house.
The male is perching in his normal spots and acting like he owns the place.
I assume my male BB has found a new mate, but who knows?
What should I do with the old nest and eggs?
Let them handle it or take some action?
Why can't BBs be easy like martins?:???:
Thanks, Mary
Click here to see my colony
"In Michigan every martin matters"
"In Michigan every martin matters"
-
Guest
Mary,
That's a tough call. It sure sounds like the existing eggs would be dead at this point since you say the female actually did sit for a week before disappearing over a week ago.
If you don't clear the old nest it is possible that they will build right on top of it if the box is big enough. In this case the old eggs and nest can be cleared when the new clutch has fledged. If the female is spending time in there I think I would leave it alone for now.
On the other hand, as much as any of us hate to discard the old nest and eggs, remember that bluebirds can have up to three clutches in a summer. If clearing the old nest and eggs is necessary then it sounds like you have waited more than ample time.
Perhaps the most important issue is what happened to the original female? Were there any distinguishing markings that let you confirm that this is definitely a different bird? If she (the first female) was the victim of a predator such as a coon, cat, or skunk, then the same could happen again. I would really try to be sure that the nest box is coon proof as much as possible. Coons are smart and once they learn where they can find an easy meal they will be back.
Good luck - keep us posted.
Jeff
That's a tough call. It sure sounds like the existing eggs would be dead at this point since you say the female actually did sit for a week before disappearing over a week ago.
If you don't clear the old nest it is possible that they will build right on top of it if the box is big enough. In this case the old eggs and nest can be cleared when the new clutch has fledged. If the female is spending time in there I think I would leave it alone for now.
On the other hand, as much as any of us hate to discard the old nest and eggs, remember that bluebirds can have up to three clutches in a summer. If clearing the old nest and eggs is necessary then it sounds like you have waited more than ample time.
Perhaps the most important issue is what happened to the original female? Were there any distinguishing markings that let you confirm that this is definitely a different bird? If she (the first female) was the victim of a predator such as a coon, cat, or skunk, then the same could happen again. I would really try to be sure that the nest box is coon proof as much as possible. Coons are smart and once they learn where they can find an easy meal they will be back.
Good luck - keep us posted.
Jeff