Nest Check 5-17

[Tim Mangan-Kansas]

Just completed my 3rd nest check. Had a total of 29 eggs in six nests. My concern about the temps in the 30's the past few nights proved to be correct. All eggs were cold and I haven't seen a martin the past couple of hours. I am sure they are all out feeding. Hope they decide to re-nest. My first year getting martins and this has to happen. I am really bummed!

All other landlords who have experienced these cold nighttime temps need to check their nests.

[Louise Chambers]

Tim, there is plenty of time for the martins to renest, and they probably will all do that. Our martins lost almost every clutch of eggs in late April when we had several days of cold. They renested, and young fledged a few wees later than usual.

All landlords can do is wait, the martins may add new eggs to existing clutches - don't be quick to remove eggs, just in case they are still viable.

Hang in there, it's great that you are getting a new site established.

[akp]

It got in the 30s for two nights and it hasn't even crossed my mind removing eggs. Like she said, I would not be quick to remove them. The birds would have been in the houses during the night. It probably would not have been as cold in the compartments/gourds anyway with all of the nest material. Hope they turn out alright.

[John Miller]

Very concerned here too, but found this in the Book of Martin archives:

http://www.purplemartin.org/forumarchiv ... e/eggs.htm

[Tim Mangan-Kansas]

Thanks for comments. I did not toss any eggs just in case they are still viable. I recall at my previous site one year where several nests hatched five days late. I will hope for the best.

Tim