Lowering the house at night
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Guest
Hope I didn't screw things up tonight - 2 babies on the ground when I got home. They are a few short days away from flying but didn't seem to be there yet. I lowered the house and 7 or 8 martins flew out into the darkness. Will they return? Can they fly at night?
jjerge,
I am no expert, but I read an earlier post that asked the same question. The person that posted said his martins did return that night. I would imagine if they do not, they would roost nearby and return in the morning.
Bob
I am no expert, but I read an earlier post that asked the same question. The person that posted said his martins did return that night. I would imagine if they do not, they would roost nearby and return in the morning.
Bob
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CUL Lou~Mich
PM housing should NEVER be lowered after, or close to dark. The birds are "Day" people so to speak. This would be the same as rousting you and I out into the night, with no lighting to see to get back in by. The babies should have been kept in a small box until morning, then returned to the nests. CUL Lou
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Guest
What was your reasoning for lowering the house? It sounds like to me even if it was the middle of the afternoon you shouldn't have lowered it since there were babies close to fledging. So I am very interested. Why did you need to lower the house?
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Hello jjerge.
Well, how did it go? My guess - all the birds came back and the little ones you found on the ground ended up back on the ground again, and again... The problem with spooking the colony from their housing at night is: 1. It leaves them more vulnerable to predation 2. It leaves the young unprotected at night, with no mother to brood them and keep them warm. (I know, it's hot - so, that is not an issue at this point) But earlier in the season it could be.
I got home yesterday and found a dead fledgling on the ground by my utility shed. Don't know - he looked fine - just dead... We got in the truck to drive to town and when we backed up, there was another one on the ground. I jumped out and went to collect him - he flew, made a big sweeping turn and landed on the gourd racks. They get themselves into such predicaments! Thank God we didn't run over him!
I hope your "groundlings" make it okay. Everybody seems to be in a tizzy about the fact you lowered your housing at night. Please remember to never do that. When you find a nestling on the ground (day or night) put it in a shoebox or small cardboard box (about the size of his nest cavity) to help him feel safe and secure. Place the box in a quiet, dark place such as a closet. Let him settle down for about 1/2 an hour, then check him out for injuries or signs of starvation or excessive mites. If he is extremely thin - feed him some crickets. If he is injured - take him to a rehabber. If he has mites, put him back in the box. In the morning, lower the housing and check out the cavity he belongs in. Does it have mites? If so, treat it accordingly and put the nestling back in his cavity.
Here is a link to information on the PMCA website regarding this matter:
http://www.purplemartin.org/main/rehab.html
Good luck to you and your colony...
Well, how did it go? My guess - all the birds came back and the little ones you found on the ground ended up back on the ground again, and again... The problem with spooking the colony from their housing at night is: 1. It leaves them more vulnerable to predation 2. It leaves the young unprotected at night, with no mother to brood them and keep them warm. (I know, it's hot - so, that is not an issue at this point) But earlier in the season it could be.
I got home yesterday and found a dead fledgling on the ground by my utility shed. Don't know - he looked fine - just dead... We got in the truck to drive to town and when we backed up, there was another one on the ground. I jumped out and went to collect him - he flew, made a big sweeping turn and landed on the gourd racks. They get themselves into such predicaments! Thank God we didn't run over him!
I hope your "groundlings" make it okay. Everybody seems to be in a tizzy about the fact you lowered your housing at night. Please remember to never do that. When you find a nestling on the ground (day or night) put it in a shoebox or small cardboard box (about the size of his nest cavity) to help him feel safe and secure. Place the box in a quiet, dark place such as a closet. Let him settle down for about 1/2 an hour, then check him out for injuries or signs of starvation or excessive mites. If he is extremely thin - feed him some crickets. If he is injured - take him to a rehabber. If he has mites, put him back in the box. In the morning, lower the housing and check out the cavity he belongs in. Does it have mites? If so, treat it accordingly and put the nestling back in his cavity.
Here is a link to information on the PMCA website regarding this matter:
http://www.purplemartin.org/main/rehab.html
Good luck to you and your colony...
Last edited by Laverne on Wed Jun 29, 2005 4:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Guest
Hi there, I am sorry you had to lower your housing, because it must have been imporant, but I would never lower housing after dark if there were already babies inside. I have had to lower ours during a bad storm, but luckily there were no babies involved. If there were babes on the ground, keep them safe until the morning and then lower the housing. I know the stress is scary for the parents, and needless to say the landlord. Best of luck to you 
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Guest
Thanks everyone. I feel pretty stupid after reading the posts. I thought since they migrate over the ocean for approx. 25 hours from brazil, they had night flying abilitites. I think everyone made it back. Also, the same 2 babies have ended up on the back proch again for 3 days. Every day (yes day now), lower the house, put them in the empty cavity, that night, guess who's back???? They seem to be very perky though and alot of friends are curious about them and actually land on the ground to try and encourage them. We have an enclosed backyard so they are safe!!!
Ha! This reminds me of last year. You are not alone jjerge, every landlord will go through this situation of the little ones jumping one time or another. The heat has been real bad this year. In the Houston area, it has been quite hot the last 38 days over 95F and into the 100F range (records) and no rain for that long too. The heat is also a factor in addition to parasites such as mites and that is why my mist system has been on every afternoon this month.
Last year, I had the same fledgling jump out 3 times. The 3rd time he was getting better at flying, but not that great. He flew around the side of the house to get away from me and smacked into the rain gutter
and I had to see if he knocked him self silly or if he was dead. I picked him up and held him till he "woke" up and put him back into the compartment once again. (complaining all the way I might add) I think the little martin learned a lesson, then fledged successfully in two days later.
Last year, I had the same fledgling jump out 3 times. The 3rd time he was getting better at flying, but not that great. He flew around the side of the house to get away from me and smacked into the rain gutter
and I had to see if he knocked him self silly or if he was dead. I picked him up and held him till he "woke" up and put him back into the compartment once again. (complaining all the way I might add) I think the little martin learned a lesson, then fledged successfully in two days later. I'm a "nestcamaholic" Is 18 hours a day a bad thing? (I have 2 this year, luckily I have 2 eyes!)