The attached photo shows some of the insects dropped onto our deck as parent martins attempted to transfer them to their babies. Our martin setup is over a deck so it is easy to recover dropped items. I can identify most of the insects using their common names.
Row#1
Cicada, Dragonfly, Sphinx Moth ( Hummingbird Moth), unidentified Moth
Row#2
Skipper Butterfly, White Sulfur Butterfly, Grape Vine Beetle, June Beetle, Japanese Beetle, unknown brown beetle, unknown insect
Row#3
Queen Carpenter Ant, male flying ant, Mayfly, Assassin Bug and some unidentified insects.
An assortment of insects dropped by Purple Martins
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Bill Pec
- Posts: 545
- Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 9:21 am
- Location: Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta, Virginia
- Martin Colony History: 2010- 2 pr. Fledged 6
2011- 20 pr. Fledged 75
2012- 35 pr. Fledged 143
2013- 37 pr. Fledged 153
2014- 40 pr. Fledged 198
2015- 40 pr. Fledged 183
2016- 42 pr. Fledged 189
2017- 42 pr. Fledged 168
2018- 43 pr. Fledged 172
2019- 43 pr. Fledged 193
2020 -44 pr. Fledged 181
2021 -43 pr. Fledged 184
2022 - 40 pr. Fledged 160
2023 - 39 pr. Fledged 151
2024 - 40 pr. Fledged 154
Last edited by Bill Pec on Mon Jul 25, 2011 4:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
THE MORE ONE LEARNS THE MORE ONE SEES! While the ignorant person sees only a blackbird the enlightened person sees a Purple Martin.
2010- 2 pr. 6 fledged, + many visitors
2011- 20 pr. 75 fledged,
2012- 35 pr. 143 fledged
2013- 37 pr. 153 fledged
2014- 40 pr. 198 fledged
2015- 40 pr. 183 fledged
2016- 42 pr. 189 Fledged
2010- 2 pr. 6 fledged, + many visitors
2011- 20 pr. 75 fledged,
2012- 35 pr. 143 fledged
2013- 37 pr. 153 fledged
2014- 40 pr. 198 fledged
2015- 40 pr. 183 fledged
2016- 42 pr. 189 Fledged
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Linda Reynolds
- Posts: 1308
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 8:33 pm
- Location: Adamsville, TN
Bill, it appears they are offering a very extensive gourmet menu to the young. I only wish your photo was larger so I could see the selections.
This is a great example of what they feed to their young. Perhaps Louise could use this photo in a future issue of The Update?
This is a great example of what they feed to their young. Perhaps Louise could use this photo in a future issue of The Update?
Ever-Grateful,
Linda
Linda
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Bill Pec
- Posts: 545
- Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 9:21 am
- Location: Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta, Virginia
- Martin Colony History: 2010- 2 pr. Fledged 6
2011- 20 pr. Fledged 75
2012- 35 pr. Fledged 143
2013- 37 pr. Fledged 153
2014- 40 pr. Fledged 198
2015- 40 pr. Fledged 183
2016- 42 pr. Fledged 189
2017- 42 pr. Fledged 168
2018- 43 pr. Fledged 172
2019- 43 pr. Fledged 193
2020 -44 pr. Fledged 181
2021 -43 pr. Fledged 184
2022 - 40 pr. Fledged 160
2023 - 39 pr. Fledged 151
2024 - 40 pr. Fledged 154
Linda,
I corrected the photo size. Hope you can now view the insects better.
Bill
I corrected the photo size. Hope you can now view the insects better.
Bill
THE MORE ONE LEARNS THE MORE ONE SEES! While the ignorant person sees only a blackbird the enlightened person sees a Purple Martin.
2010- 2 pr. 6 fledged, + many visitors
2011- 20 pr. 75 fledged,
2012- 35 pr. 143 fledged
2013- 37 pr. 153 fledged
2014- 40 pr. 198 fledged
2015- 40 pr. 183 fledged
2016- 42 pr. 189 Fledged
2010- 2 pr. 6 fledged, + many visitors
2011- 20 pr. 75 fledged,
2012- 35 pr. 143 fledged
2013- 37 pr. 153 fledged
2014- 40 pr. 198 fledged
2015- 40 pr. 183 fledged
2016- 42 pr. 189 Fledged
-
Linda Reynolds
- Posts: 1308
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 8:33 pm
- Location: Adamsville, TN
Bill, that is wonderful! Thanks so much for doing that. Now I can actually see what is being offered at your place.
I think your martins are lucky to have such an assortment of bugs, butterflies, moths, and insects...........
Your post is very interesting, as I do not believe I have ever seen such an assortment of what they feed the young.........Good job!
I think your martins are lucky to have such an assortment of bugs, butterflies, moths, and insects...........
Your post is very interesting, as I do not believe I have ever seen such an assortment of what they feed the young.........Good job!
Ever-Grateful,
Linda
Linda
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Bill Pec
- Posts: 545
- Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 9:21 am
- Location: Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta, Virginia
- Martin Colony History: 2010- 2 pr. Fledged 6
2011- 20 pr. Fledged 75
2012- 35 pr. Fledged 143
2013- 37 pr. Fledged 153
2014- 40 pr. Fledged 198
2015- 40 pr. Fledged 183
2016- 42 pr. Fledged 189
2017- 42 pr. Fledged 168
2018- 43 pr. Fledged 172
2019- 43 pr. Fledged 193
2020 -44 pr. Fledged 181
2021 -43 pr. Fledged 184
2022 - 40 pr. Fledged 160
2023 - 39 pr. Fledged 151
2024 - 40 pr. Fledged 154
Linda,
I doubt the insects pictured are a true representation of the insects eaten by the martins. When the martins were feeding very young chicks small insects and making the transfers inside the nest cavities I found very few dropped insects. Therefor, none of those smaller insects are represented in the photo. The insects shown in the photo were dropped when the older babies had their heads poking out of the entrances and they missed the transfer or couldn't swallow the very large insects. I always got a kick out of watching a parent bird try to feed a Cicada that was almost half the size or the chick. I never did see a chick successfully swallow a Cicada even though the adult birds delivered dozens of them.
I was happy to see a Japanese Beetle and a Queen Carpenter Ant in the mix.
Bill
I doubt the insects pictured are a true representation of the insects eaten by the martins. When the martins were feeding very young chicks small insects and making the transfers inside the nest cavities I found very few dropped insects. Therefor, none of those smaller insects are represented in the photo. The insects shown in the photo were dropped when the older babies had their heads poking out of the entrances and they missed the transfer or couldn't swallow the very large insects. I always got a kick out of watching a parent bird try to feed a Cicada that was almost half the size or the chick. I never did see a chick successfully swallow a Cicada even though the adult birds delivered dozens of them.
I was happy to see a Japanese Beetle and a Queen Carpenter Ant in the mix.
Bill
THE MORE ONE LEARNS THE MORE ONE SEES! While the ignorant person sees only a blackbird the enlightened person sees a Purple Martin.
2010- 2 pr. 6 fledged, + many visitors
2011- 20 pr. 75 fledged,
2012- 35 pr. 143 fledged
2013- 37 pr. 153 fledged
2014- 40 pr. 198 fledged
2015- 40 pr. 183 fledged
2016- 42 pr. 189 Fledged
2010- 2 pr. 6 fledged, + many visitors
2011- 20 pr. 75 fledged,
2012- 35 pr. 143 fledged
2013- 37 pr. 153 fledged
2014- 40 pr. 198 fledged
2015- 40 pr. 183 fledged
2016- 42 pr. 189 Fledged
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Virgil McCoy
- Posts: 302
- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:06 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Alexandria
- Martin Colony History: Purple Martin Landlord since 2006
That's a Buffet ! Glad to see your birds dinning so well !
Proud to be a fourth generation Purple Martin landlord.
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dancingirl76
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2011 10:09 am
- Location: Albia, IA
Awesome post! How neat that you were able to show some of the variety. Yes of course this is a small fraction of what they bring- but how neat to see a group of different insects that show just how versatile their diet is. Anything goes!
dancingirl76
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John Miller
- Posts: 4867
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
This is fascinating.
In the past, I've found some kind of big brown army-ant like "head" attached to the bills of babies.
The other day in a parking lot -- not under martins -- I found this big ant-looking insect, about an inch long, with wings and the big round head, dead on the ground. I picked it up to examine and considered taking a photo, but my dog, Jake, thought I was holding a treat and he was so pestersome that I tossed the bug away -- it also was about 100 degrees.
But glad you were less distracted than me in your pursuit of science.
Any ideas on my bug?
John M
In the past, I've found some kind of big brown army-ant like "head" attached to the bills of babies.
The other day in a parking lot -- not under martins -- I found this big ant-looking insect, about an inch long, with wings and the big round head, dead on the ground. I picked it up to examine and considered taking a photo, but my dog, Jake, thought I was holding a treat and he was so pestersome that I tossed the bug away -- it also was about 100 degrees.
But glad you were less distracted than me in your pursuit of science.
Any ideas on my bug?
John M
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Bill Pec
- Posts: 545
- Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 9:21 am
- Location: Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta, Virginia
- Martin Colony History: 2010- 2 pr. Fledged 6
2011- 20 pr. Fledged 75
2012- 35 pr. Fledged 143
2013- 37 pr. Fledged 153
2014- 40 pr. Fledged 198
2015- 40 pr. Fledged 183
2016- 42 pr. Fledged 189
2017- 42 pr. Fledged 168
2018- 43 pr. Fledged 172
2019- 43 pr. Fledged 193
2020 -44 pr. Fledged 181
2021 -43 pr. Fledged 184
2022 - 40 pr. Fledged 160
2023 - 39 pr. Fledged 151
2024 - 40 pr. Fledged 154
John,
Your description of the insect you found sounds like the Queen Carpenter Ant pictured on the bottom left of my photo. Could it be?
Bill
Your description of the insect you found sounds like the Queen Carpenter Ant pictured on the bottom left of my photo. Could it be?
Bill
THE MORE ONE LEARNS THE MORE ONE SEES! While the ignorant person sees only a blackbird the enlightened person sees a Purple Martin.
2010- 2 pr. 6 fledged, + many visitors
2011- 20 pr. 75 fledged,
2012- 35 pr. 143 fledged
2013- 37 pr. 153 fledged
2014- 40 pr. 198 fledged
2015- 40 pr. 183 fledged
2016- 42 pr. 189 Fledged
2010- 2 pr. 6 fledged, + many visitors
2011- 20 pr. 75 fledged,
2012- 35 pr. 143 fledged
2013- 37 pr. 153 fledged
2014- 40 pr. 198 fledged
2015- 40 pr. 183 fledged
2016- 42 pr. 189 Fledged
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KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
Bill, great post - very interesting! Thanks!
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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GeneP
- Posts: 525
- Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:35 am
- Location: Kansas, Lawrence
- Martin Colony History: 1 gourd rack with 24 gourd capacity. 2018, my 11th year hosting martins.
18 pair in 2017.
Need to make this one a sticky.
I had a couple of questions about their diet, thanks for the post.
I had a couple of questions about their diet, thanks for the post.
PMCA Member, Single Gourd Rack, 2019 marks 12 years hosting martins.
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Chriscreole
- Posts: 781
- Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 9:31 am
- Location: Texas, Hutto
great info there, it may be a gourmet meal to them, but it's not doing much for my apoitite lol
PMCA Member since 2010
Super System 24, All Troyer W/Conley 2 entrances.
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Bill Pec
- Posts: 545
- Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 9:21 am
- Location: Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta, Virginia
- Martin Colony History: 2010- 2 pr. Fledged 6
2011- 20 pr. Fledged 75
2012- 35 pr. Fledged 143
2013- 37 pr. Fledged 153
2014- 40 pr. Fledged 198
2015- 40 pr. Fledged 183
2016- 42 pr. Fledged 189
2017- 42 pr. Fledged 168
2018- 43 pr. Fledged 172
2019- 43 pr. Fledged 193
2020 -44 pr. Fledged 181
2021 -43 pr. Fledged 184
2022 - 40 pr. Fledged 160
2023 - 39 pr. Fledged 151
2024 - 40 pr. Fledged 154
Earlier in this thread I mentioned that I never saw a baby martins swallow an offered Cicada. That changed yesterday evening when three newly fledged babies returned to the area of their natal gourd with their father. A short time later the female showed up with a Cicada and fed it to one of her awaiting brood. It took the young bird several tries to swallow the large insect before it succeeded.
Bill
Bill
THE MORE ONE LEARNS THE MORE ONE SEES! While the ignorant person sees only a blackbird the enlightened person sees a Purple Martin.
2010- 2 pr. 6 fledged, + many visitors
2011- 20 pr. 75 fledged,
2012- 35 pr. 143 fledged
2013- 37 pr. 153 fledged
2014- 40 pr. 198 fledged
2015- 40 pr. 183 fledged
2016- 42 pr. 189 Fledged
2010- 2 pr. 6 fledged, + many visitors
2011- 20 pr. 75 fledged,
2012- 35 pr. 143 fledged
2013- 37 pr. 153 fledged
2014- 40 pr. 198 fledged
2015- 40 pr. 183 fledged
2016- 42 pr. 189 Fledged
-
Tim Mangan-Kansas
- Posts: 1728
- Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2006 7:25 am
- Location: Kansas, Pittsburg
- Martin Colony History: 2016 - 22 Pair
Bill:
Great post. We need to make sure this photo does not get lost as each year there are questions regarding what martins eat and feed to their young.
Tim
Great post. We need to make sure this photo does not get lost as each year there are questions regarding what martins eat and feed to their young.
Tim
Licensed Bander
2015 - 14 Pair - fledged 68
2014 - Moved to Kansas - 7 Pair, 35 eggs, 28 fledged in first year
2010 Thru 2013 - Moved-Tried to start new colony
2009 - 46 pair, 217 eggs, 178 fledged
2015 - 14 Pair - fledged 68
2014 - Moved to Kansas - 7 Pair, 35 eggs, 28 fledged in first year
2010 Thru 2013 - Moved-Tried to start new colony
2009 - 46 pair, 217 eggs, 178 fledged