Todays Observations

[MM]

Watching the martins today I noticed a couple things, It being windy today I noticed they were feeding closer to the ground, then it made sense, the insects were probably flying lower, less wind resistance.
Second was: they were also flying back and forth along a line of trees, possibly more insects there too, but also I noticed the wind blowing some leaves off the trees and they were right there to scoop them up before they hit the ground and carry them to there nests. what a way for them to take advantage of nature.

One question- when eggs are scrambled for them to eat, how should I fry them? Pam or butter or nothing?

Wishing everyone a bounteous martin season.

[tonyg]

I use a little Pam, so eggs don't stick to pan.

[Louise Chambers]

MM, recommendations are no fat or grease of any kind when fixing eggs for the martins - they do not digest fat well, since it's not normally a part of their diet. Use a non-stick pan and you won't need anything more. Or cook eggs in the microwave (about 1-2 min, stir halfway through) - they fluff up beautifully with just a teaspoon of water added.

[pmlover]

where do you put eggs when feeding them

[MM]

Thanks for the replies. I did put a little water in the pan but nothing else.

pm - I have a tray I put on a wooden post close to the gourds, I also put pine needles on there as well as egg shells, the mockingbird has been feeding eggs shells to their young but yesterday was the first time this year I saw the martins get any egg shells so I thought I would try some scrambled eggs but now today I haven't seen them land on there at all.