Should I Be Stopped?

[Guest]

Nest with 8 eggs. First hatching on the 4th........last on the 9th. Big difference in size of hatchlings and it seems the newest 2 are not being fed. The nest cam is causing me to worry. Almost wish I couldn't see what is going on. They are 1/3 the size of the firstborn. Now, uness someone stops me, I am moving the 2 smallest to nests of same size babies. These prospective new parents for these 2 underfed ones have 4 babies. So it wouldn't be a burden on them. Ok, I'm checking back here in 1 hour, Hope there is an answer for yea or nay.
Last count I have 115 eggs and babies in 20 nests.

[Donna - TX]

I have always moved them to the front (in front of the bigger ones) but I have never had hatchlings with that big of difference before so maybe you are right by moving them. They say if babies are abandoned then put them in the nest with the same size hatchlings but I would still watch them.

Let us know how it goes. Good Luck!

[Guest]

Phyllis,

That's a tough one. Don't rush too fast into this. Your logic sounds good to me, but I would recommend that you wait and hopefully one of the very experienced experts like Emil or Mary Dawnsong will weigh in on this soon. I am interested in what they recommend, also.

Jeff

[Daniel Airola]

If you have an 8 egg clutch and two different sizes, it seems likely that this pair was a victim of egg dumping by another female. Others may know more about how frequently this happens. From what I have read, martins would almost surely not rear 8 young, especially of different sizes, so the younger ones are likely to suffer if they remain. I see no problem with moving them to a nest with similar sized young, if that group is not already at capacity. Pick a nest with 3-4 young, and see what happens. I don't think you have much to lose.