We just finished a nest check and found two 23-day old fledglings had wondered from their home in the neighboring cavity to a vacant "next-door" cavity. Fearing that the parents would not feed them (since they are not in their correct cavity), my husband tried to move one of the fledglings. The fledgling shreaked and "flew" off. It's flight was initially low to the ground, but, a group of martin (who were flying overhead while we did the nest check) swooped down towards it, and, the martin flew with them to a nearby tree. A little later we noticed a young martin sitting on our deck in the shade. We think it is the martin that prematurely fledged. The fledgling has been sitting here for over an hour, and, I have seen no martins attracted to it. The bird has not attempted to fly. It is hot outside (96 degrees), but, at least it is in the shade. What should I do? Try to lower the house again, and, replug the holes in the cavities & gourds again, and, retry to place this martin back in it's cavity? Catch it and take it to a Wildlife Rehabilitation Center while it is still healthy? Also, there is a sibling still in the vacant cavity next to it's home cavity....since this fledgling flew off while we were trying to transfer it to it's home, we were afraid to touch it. Should I try to move this youngster as well? There are 3 cavities in this house that has babies nearly the same size.
Thanks,
Jodie
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Louise Chambers
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It's best not to touch or handle older nestlings unless absolutely necessary - they are apt to try to fly, even if they are not quite ready. If you do recapture the first fledge - use plug with string to keep it inside awhile after house is raised again. I would not move the other one, but you will need to plug it inside too. The parents will probably find and feed them okay.
Thanks Louise. I just looked outside, and, didn't see the fledgling. I went outside and looked all around and couldn't find it. I know it was safe from predators on the deck, so, I am hopeful that the parents found it, and, had enough energy left to fly back to it's home-about 40 yards away. Jodie 
Joined Feb 2012.
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
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- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
Jodie:
I had chicks move to next door rooms. The parents will feed them, so no need to try to move them back in the nest.
As for the one on the ground...if you can catch it put it back, plug the hole with rag/string, let it in about 5 minutes & then pull it out. I've done this in the past with early fledges. This chick will probably fly off in a day or so.
Toy in PA
I had chicks move to next door rooms. The parents will feed them, so no need to try to move them back in the nest.
As for the one on the ground...if you can catch it put it back, plug the hole with rag/string, let it in about 5 minutes & then pull it out. I've done this in the past with early fledges. This chick will probably fly off in a day or so.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member