What happened???
The pair that has been here for about 2 weeks has been very visible and vocal up until today. Yesterday they were here all day long bringing in all kinds of visitors until almost dark. Two days ago I checked the gourd they have been going into and found a perfect nest bowl. I looked so fast because I was afraid they would catch me I didn't get a real good look, but for sure saw a nest bowl in the back of the gourd. Its a nice day here too so I'm wondering what happened?? Annie
Keep trying and keep your chin up, its easier to see the martins coming!!
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Guest
They may just be out feeding if it is a pretty day! Don't worry about them seeing you doing a nest check. It will not bother them. Just be sure to do it in the afternoon as to not disturb them laying eggs!
Shannon, Thank you for your reply. After I posted this morning the female showed up but not the male. I have this bad feeling something happened to the male. Just my luck. Guess I'm not meant to host martins. 
Annie
AnnieKeep trying and keep your chin up, its easier to see the martins coming!!
On our nest cams we have often observed a sort of hiatus between the completion of the nest and the appearance of the first egg. One pair this year completed the nest three weeks before laying eggs.
I suspect that at this time the female is out gaining weight, preparing for the tremendous metabolic task of laying about half her weight in eggs within the space of a single week.
To the best of my knowledge too the male closely escorts his mate during this time, the interval prior to and during egg laying being the only period when she is actually fertile.
Mike Scully
I suspect that at this time the female is out gaining weight, preparing for the tremendous metabolic task of laying about half her weight in eggs within the space of a single week.
To the best of my knowledge too the male closely escorts his mate during this time, the interval prior to and during egg laying being the only period when she is actually fertile.
Mike Scully
Thank you Scully for your reply. I was feeling pretty low today and what you said gave me a glimmer of light. Guess I'll be playing the waiting game and see what happens. Thanks again! Annie
Keep trying and keep your chin up, its easier to see the martins coming!!
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bwenger
- Posts: 1057
- Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 7:24 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania/Espyville/Pymatuning Reservoir Area
- Martin Colony History: Taking care of 11 active public colonies and trying to start two more in northwestern PA. Also attempting to restart another one in southwestern PA, in Collier Township's Hilltop Park. In 2017, not sure what happened but the ASY male returned and then a couple of weeks later he was gone. It could have been weather related. No other birds showed up. I had a starling nesting at the Public site that I had trouble getting rid of.
In 2018, we fledged 629 martins at all of the sites.
Annie,
It's great to hear this news.
We can tell the excitement in your email. Watch for the green leaves. Hopefully tomorrow or the next day you may have an egg or two.
We're all rooting for you!
Bill
It's great to hear this news.
We can tell the excitement in your email. Watch for the green leaves. Hopefully tomorrow or the next day you may have an egg or two.
We're all rooting for you!
Bill
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Indiana_Tom
- Posts: 288
- Joined: Fri May 15, 2009 10:01 am
- Location: Paragon, Indiana
Hi Annie,
Sure is nerve racking. I have my first pair this year and have been watching them like a hawk. If they read this, that would probably worry them.
I make it a point to walk under their home at least once a day and usually more. I want them to get comfortable with me around. Every time I have lowered the rack, the female has been on the nest. She gives me a (Slight) scolding then just circles until I am finished. I use the term we loosely but we have 4 eggs due to hatch on the 16th. I am checking the nest and eggs every 5 days but I keep a close eye out for HOSP. I have trapped several in a repeater trap and seem to have thinned them out some. Next, I will be keeping a close eye out for bugs that could harm our babies. Haven't decided whether to change out the nest or use 5% Sevin.
Oh yah, my SY male doesn't do much of the work yet. He goes with the female to gather green leaves but lets her pick out and carry all of the furniture. Now that the eggs are in the small nest bowl in the back of the gourd, he is out cruising around most of the day, leaving mom at home knitting. I have heard you can tell which parent is at the nest. The female will set on the eggs most of the time so if she is in the gourd, you probably won't see her. The male does not set on the eggs so he usually has his head out of the door wandering when the heck mom is coming back so he can go out with the boys.
Good luck with your pair. Their need to propagate is strong so if they have made their nest bowl, you are in what we would call tall cotton.
Best of luck to you and yours
Tom
Sure is nerve racking. I have my first pair this year and have been watching them like a hawk. If they read this, that would probably worry them.
I make it a point to walk under their home at least once a day and usually more. I want them to get comfortable with me around. Every time I have lowered the rack, the female has been on the nest. She gives me a (Slight) scolding then just circles until I am finished. I use the term we loosely but we have 4 eggs due to hatch on the 16th. I am checking the nest and eggs every 5 days but I keep a close eye out for HOSP. I have trapped several in a repeater trap and seem to have thinned them out some. Next, I will be keeping a close eye out for bugs that could harm our babies. Haven't decided whether to change out the nest or use 5% Sevin.
Oh yah, my SY male doesn't do much of the work yet. He goes with the female to gather green leaves but lets her pick out and carry all of the furniture. Now that the eggs are in the small nest bowl in the back of the gourd, he is out cruising around most of the day, leaving mom at home knitting. I have heard you can tell which parent is at the nest. The female will set on the eggs most of the time so if she is in the gourd, you probably won't see her. The male does not set on the eggs so he usually has his head out of the door wandering when the heck mom is coming back so he can go out with the boys.
Good luck with your pair. Their need to propagate is strong so if they have made their nest bowl, you are in what we would call tall cotton.
Best of luck to you and yours
Tom
2009, 1 pair of SYs w/4 eggs - wait, no 4 babies and all 4 fledged. What a great experience.
2010, 2 ASY pair and 2 SY pair 18eggs / 14 fledged.
2011, 12 pair with 49 eggs, 43 fledged.
2012, 20 pair with 113 eggs as of 1 June
2013, 22 pair with 112 eggs as of 9 June
2014, 23 pair with 113 eggs
2010, 2 ASY pair and 2 SY pair 18eggs / 14 fledged.
2011, 12 pair with 49 eggs, 43 fledged.
2012, 20 pair with 113 eggs as of 1 June
2013, 22 pair with 112 eggs as of 9 June
2014, 23 pair with 113 eggs
just keep watching when you see green leaves go into the gourd the breading is about to began them they continue to put leave into the gourd until the young hatch good luck i am really excited for you I know what it is like but try to reframe just watch and observe I don't think its good not to disturb them too much while they nest build just enjoy them.
Joeincan, Your place looks beautiful! No wonder the martins love it there. As for the geese, do you get alot of goose droppings all over your yard? At my inlaws place the geese are a real problem. Not nice to step in. 
Annie
AnnieKeep trying and keep your chin up, its easier to see the martins coming!!
No they are not bothersome and only occasionally come up on the beach. This place abounds in wildlife. The martins love it here especially with the fish flys hatching. Food is plentyful. I should end up with a egg count in the 60s. 
Razman, I think I'm still not believeing what I'm seeing. I keep thinking something is going to happen like in the past. 
I'll have to think more positive. Guys like you help so much, thanks!
Today the female was taking dried oak leaves from the mss12 and bringing them into the gourd. I have acouple fake nests in it with wooden eggs.
I'm playing the day chatter now, do you think I should stop playing it? Annie
I'll have to think more positive. Guys like you help so much, thanks! Today the female was taking dried oak leaves from the mss12 and bringing them into the gourd. I have acouple fake nests in it with wooden eggs.
I'm playing the day chatter now, do you think I should stop playing it? Annie
Keep trying and keep your chin up, its easier to see the martins coming!!
annie, i understand your anxiety, but just relax and ENJOY!
as far as the chatter tapes, from everything i have read/heard, once you have a pair actually move in, it is best to stop playing. maybe someone else will throw in their two cents.......rick
as far as the chatter tapes, from everything i have read/heard, once you have a pair actually move in, it is best to stop playing. maybe someone else will throw in their two cents.......rick
Djmains, Thanks, I did not see them at all yesterday or today yet. In the past they would show up around 10:30 or 11:00 and come and go all day long. Maybe they were just playing house to pass the time. 
I'm going to check the gourd this afternoon to see if there are any new developments. Annie
I'm going to check the gourd this afternoon to see if there are any new developments. AnnieKeep trying and keep your chin up, its easier to see the martins coming!!
from what I have noticed it takes a lot of energy to nest build and feed young I don't know how your weather is there but when it is cool they have to travel far for food and until they are ready to nest and insects or plentiful they will stay gone all day and come back right at dark so to seem them come back you have to be looking right at the entrance hole to see them come back they try to be really quiet so not to atract predators at night and they will also leave early like 4:00 in the morning. they have found there home let mother nature take its course. The good thing is they are out feeding up with other martins so they might bring some back with them.just thought I would give you a little incourgement.
Djmains, Well they came back around 9:30 and had what I think was a sy male with them,because the adult male chased him off the house. The female poked around the house grabbing dried oak leaves and dropping them. She did go in the gourd once and then they left. I checked the gourd and not much going on in there, no green leaves. Thanks for the pep talk, I'll keep you posted. Annie
Keep trying and keep your chin up, its easier to see the martins coming!!
annie, what's the latest on your birds???? i thought my SYM had dissapeared, but he showed back up and is still trying hard to attract a mate. there is still another martin hanging out too, don 't know if it is ASY female or SY male........anyway, still encouraged about the activity. sure wish that i would get a pair this year, but it is starting to get a bit late. good luck with yours! rick