Nest, but no eggs

[Guest]

I must admit this ASY pair has me baffled. Has anyone had a pair complete a beautiful nest, but not lay any eggs? The nest has been complete for about 2 weeks now, but no eggs... not a single one. I've never encountered this before. On the bright side... I had my first 5 hatchlings of the season born yesterday and the subbies are just starting to build nests. I have more Martins than cavities so I don't know how that's going to work out. But what great problem to have.

[John Barrow]

Hi Kelly,

I hope you are off to a great season. I am seeing many of my ASYs hold off on egg laying in Corpus Christi. I believe it is drought related and there is a shortage of insects. Last year the later nesters performed much better than the early nesters, so maybe it is a good thing. We have only had 8/10ths of an inch of rain this year, and none that I can remember in Nov or Dec of '05. I tried putting out some crickets this week and the martins are consuming all of them. Only about half of the nests have layed eggs so far, but 3 or 4 have hatched out--first hatching last Sunday.

On the bright side we do have many martins that have taken residence, and things in Port O'Connor seem to be doing a little better. But rain throughout south Texas in the next few weeks is critcial for all wildlife.

Best wishes, John

[Guest]

Kelly - I can't say that I have any advice, but I'm in the same boat this year. I have a ASY couple that built a beautiful nest about 2 or 3 weeks ago, but no eggs. The other 4 ASY pairs all have eggs ready to hatch any day, but this couple held off. I'm sure there is a good physical reason for it, but they are both still here and waiting with no eggs yet.

Shel

[Scully]

Kelly - Four nests in our school colony fit that description. We do appear to be marginally better off than the South Texas coastal colonies, at least as far as egg production, but as John says, maybe better for them to hold off this year for a spell.

Mike Scully

[~Patrick~]

Same here in Fort Worth. Several nicely built full nests, complete with mud dams and the works, but no eggs. My only consolation is that the martins know what they're doing. I just do what I can to help them along.

Patrick

[Guest]

This just seems unusual and I personally have not had this happen in my colony before. I wouldn't be so concerned if other nests here were that way, but they are the only ones. I have some subbies that are just now building and will keep an eye on them all.

[Guest]

Hi Kelly. I have 5 nesting pairs this year and they all built their nests at about the same time. However, 1 nest had eggs a full 2 weeks later than the other 4. I checked my records from last year and I had a similar situation. It was even in the same compartment that this occurred last year! I did a nest check today and each of the 5 nests has 6 eggs. The 1st are estimated to hatch in the next two days. I suspect my "late" pair is an older pair.

Wynn
Waxahachie, TX

[Guest]

Kelly,

The only things I can think of is maybe she mated later, or she's old enough that she has used up all her egg laying "cells?". I have heard of that happening before.

However, I still have four compartments and 2 SG open..... send em south!!

Chuck