I have a 6 room house. Back in March 2 pair occupied 2 houses. The first pair had their babies and all have fledged. The second pair's babies will be gone in a few days. However, it seems as though most of the other houses are being occupied now...by the babies or other adults. This can easily be noticed in the mornings and evenings as I have counted 10 martins flying around, landing on the house, and sitting on power lines behind their house.
This is my first year to have a house so I'm not sure what to expect now that the first pairs have fledged their babies. Why are the other rooms being occupied? How long will they stay? Do they have another round of egg laying, or only one round a year? I haven't found a post that explains what will happen next. Does someone have the answers?
Glen
First Set Have Left
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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.
Hi Glen.
Just as your first nest has fledged; so have many - many others in our area. I have a colony near Alvin with 43 nesting pairs this year. There are about 10 nests left that have not fledged - so 33 have (approx 140 fledglings). This is what I have been seeing: The PMs fledge their young and after a couple of days they leave my site in the morning and return late in the evening to sleep inside their original nest cavities. During the day, they visit neighboring sites. Each day they venture farther and farther until one day they reach the premigratory roost in Houston to sleep there. Even after they have reached the premigratory roost, these fledglings (who are now independent - PM fledglings reach independence around 40 days of age) may continue to return to the natal colony if it is close enough. The Houston roost is at Sharpstown Mall this year. Purple Martins can leisurely cover the distance from Pearland/Alvin to Sharpstown in an hour or so. You are seeing these inquisitive, investigating youngsters. They may be still traveling with their parents, or they may be on their own. They will hang out at the roost for about a month and then move on down toward South America for our winter.
They'll be back next spring! Enjoy...
Just as your first nest has fledged; so have many - many others in our area. I have a colony near Alvin with 43 nesting pairs this year. There are about 10 nests left that have not fledged - so 33 have (approx 140 fledglings). This is what I have been seeing: The PMs fledge their young and after a couple of days they leave my site in the morning and return late in the evening to sleep inside their original nest cavities. During the day, they visit neighboring sites. Each day they venture farther and farther until one day they reach the premigratory roost in Houston to sleep there. Even after they have reached the premigratory roost, these fledglings (who are now independent - PM fledglings reach independence around 40 days of age) may continue to return to the natal colony if it is close enough. The Houston roost is at Sharpstown Mall this year. Purple Martins can leisurely cover the distance from Pearland/Alvin to Sharpstown in an hour or so. You are seeing these inquisitive, investigating youngsters. They may be still traveling with their parents, or they may be on their own. They will hang out at the roost for about a month and then move on down toward South America for our winter.
They'll be back next spring! Enjoy...
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne