On Aug. 11th we visited the Roost in Ravenswood and were enjoying the wonder when one of the Purple Martins fell and was struggling to fly. It landed in a driveway. Ronnie Dixon checked it and it acted as though something was wrong with its neck.
I am attaching photos. The first picture is Ronnie Dixon, our most experienced PM landlord, holding the injured purple martin. Ronnie took him home to see if he could make a recovery. Each day I checked Ronnie said it didn't look like he would make it. He wouldn't eat on his own and Ronnie force fed him crickets.
As of yesterday, Aug. 13th I have great news! The little one's neck is better and he is now alright.
Ronnie transported him back to the Purple Martin Roost in Ravenswood and let him go. He flew up into a tree along with the other Martins coming in to roost.
Hurray for somebodys little fledgling!! Hurray for Ronnie!!
Purple Martin injured at Ravenswood Roost returned
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The Olsons
- Posts: 3200
- Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:57 pm
- Location: North Padre Island, TX
zboggess,
This is such a nice story with a happy ending. Good thing you were there when that little one landed in the driveway obviously with an injury of some kind. Those are great pictures and the little guy looks not scared at all. It looks happy and healthy. Could it be that Ronnie was interviewed in one of the Roost videos? I seem to remember his face....Thank you all for saving this sweet little bird and sharing this story and pictures
Astrid
This is such a nice story with a happy ending. Good thing you were there when that little one landed in the driveway obviously with an injury of some kind. Those are great pictures and the little guy looks not scared at all. It looks happy and healthy. Could it be that Ronnie was interviewed in one of the Roost videos? I seem to remember his face....Thank you all for saving this sweet little bird and sharing this story and pictures
Astrid
Love it or leave it~~~Astrid :-)
Yes Astrid, this is the same Ronnie. He has been working with Purple Martins for many years and has kept many of them from dying. He has fed many martins when it was too cold for insects.
He knows how to handle them for sure.
I had one purple martin fly over low over my head the first of April, it was cold and no insects. (I had on a hooded coat--it was that cold)
It flew onto the porch of my martin house. Then it went inside and was huddling there.
I called Ronnie who came, held him on his knee, and fed him with meal worms. The little thing was weak and starving. Ronnie took it home and kept it warm inside his home and fed it for that night, next day, and night. The second day the weather warmed, the sun came out. He brought it back, placed it in the exact same compartment and closed the door.
After about 10 min. it came out on the porch, looked at its audience of 4 adults and started flying in circles all around us for a long time.. as if to say thanks and goodbye; then it went up into the clouds and out of sight. Probably was headed to his landlord farther north.
It was a sight to remember!
He knows how to handle them for sure.
I had one purple martin fly over low over my head the first of April, it was cold and no insects. (I had on a hooded coat--it was that cold)
It flew onto the porch of my martin house. Then it went inside and was huddling there.
I called Ronnie who came, held him on his knee, and fed him with meal worms. The little thing was weak and starving. Ronnie took it home and kept it warm inside his home and fed it for that night, next day, and night. The second day the weather warmed, the sun came out. He brought it back, placed it in the exact same compartment and closed the door.
After about 10 min. it came out on the porch, looked at its audience of 4 adults and started flying in circles all around us for a long time.. as if to say thanks and goodbye; then it went up into the clouds and out of sight. Probably was headed to his landlord farther north.
It was a sight to remember!
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Guest
zboggess - those are two great stories! I envy you having such an experienced landlord to call for help. I'm glad you waited on the Ravenswood story til there was a happy ending 
I think one of my "off season" tasks this year will be to see what kind of purple martin groups are in my area - I know there's landlords, just don't know if there's a "community" of any kind.
I think one of my "off season" tasks this year will be to see what kind of purple martin groups are in my area - I know there's landlords, just don't know if there's a "community" of any kind.
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Guest
Good to know there is so much experience close by. Good job on the rehab. Tell Ronnie I said congrats.