Tarrant County was hit by a violent storm last night with one brief wind gust clocked at 90 mph! Meacham field reported a 737 had been blown sideways about 45 degrees. That's some strong wind! I honestly expected my houses and gourds to be on the ground this morning but they survived and my first baby martin was found during today's nest check. My egg count is low this year, though the subbies are just now building so it should go up. I have one nest with 3 eggs and one with only 2. I've had a stray egg and abandoned nest of 3 eggs. Just continues to feel like an odd year. Anyway, more babies should be hatching this week. Hope everyone else survived the winds.
Patrick
Stormy beginning...
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Joe Zorn
Just wondering.
Will other nesting pairs adopt an egg or two from those in the abandoned nest? I would want to try, if I could document another pair whose eggs are within a day or so of the same age.
Again, just wondering. Not a suggestion at this point.
Joe
Will other nesting pairs adopt an egg or two from those in the abandoned nest? I would want to try, if I could document another pair whose eggs are within a day or so of the same age.
Again, just wondering. Not a suggestion at this point.
Joe
Joe,
By the time I realized these eggs were abandoned, it had already been several days. I first found them layed in a cavity with no nesting material. This is the same cavity that had a very early single egg laid. A sparrow got that egg. Four more were laid, another lost to sparrows. When I did the next nest check, the eggs were strewn about the nestbox. There was very little nesting material so I cut some pine needles, arranged them in the box, placed the eggs in a small depression toward the back of the cavity, and went about my business. At the next nest check, I found the same scenario, eggs rolled toward the front, nesting material mashed down. I decided to remove the eggs. The resident pair obviously weren't caring for the eggs and I think they had been unattended too long. I've seen the pair rebuilding, though it's a very poor nest. They are both ASY birds so I don't know what's going on with them. I'll be surprised if they succeed at nesting at all this year. Still got several pairs building but no eggs.
Patrick
By the time I realized these eggs were abandoned, it had already been several days. I first found them layed in a cavity with no nesting material. This is the same cavity that had a very early single egg laid. A sparrow got that egg. Four more were laid, another lost to sparrows. When I did the next nest check, the eggs were strewn about the nestbox. There was very little nesting material so I cut some pine needles, arranged them in the box, placed the eggs in a small depression toward the back of the cavity, and went about my business. At the next nest check, I found the same scenario, eggs rolled toward the front, nesting material mashed down. I decided to remove the eggs. The resident pair obviously weren't caring for the eggs and I think they had been unattended too long. I've seen the pair rebuilding, though it's a very poor nest. They are both ASY birds so I don't know what's going on with them. I'll be surprised if they succeed at nesting at all this year. Still got several pairs building but no eggs.
Patrick
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Joe Zorn
Patrick,
Sounds like these two are at the bottom of the learning curve, huh? Good egg layer, though, and at least she is trying. Maybe she should kick the bum out and get a more industrious man to help here with a better nest!
I was just wondering if Martins would take on an extra egg or two, it it was sneaked into their nest with the others.
Sounds like these two are at the bottom of the learning curve, huh? Good egg layer, though, and at least she is trying. Maybe she should kick the bum out and get a more industrious man to help here with a better nest!
I was just wondering if Martins would take on an extra egg or two, it it was sneaked into their nest with the others.
Joe,
I've been wathching this pair with interest all season. I'm anxious to see what's in that nest at tomorrow's nest check. Surely they've started laying again. They sure come and go alot, definitely loyal to that nest site. Who knows, they may lay and fledge some little ones yet.
I've never done it, but I'm sure martins would accept an additional egg in their nest. I've raised lots of caged bird species in my day and just about all of them are so under the influence of maternal hormones that they would sit on marbles if I put them in there. It's what has made cowbirds so successful.
Hope they've got more eggs and are serious about it this time.
Patrick
I've been wathching this pair with interest all season. I'm anxious to see what's in that nest at tomorrow's nest check. Surely they've started laying again. They sure come and go alot, definitely loyal to that nest site. Who knows, they may lay and fledge some little ones yet.
I've never done it, but I'm sure martins would accept an additional egg in their nest. I've raised lots of caged bird species in my day and just about all of them are so under the influence of maternal hormones that they would sit on marbles if I put them in there. It's what has made cowbirds so successful.
Hope they've got more eggs and are serious about it this time.
Patrick