Our first pair to lay eggs (4/11 laid first egg -- very early for us) has run into trouble. The Adult Male is no longer around. Haven't seen him for several days. The female seems to be incubating the eggs as she will come out of the gourd for 5 minutes or so and then go right back in to the nest. Worried for her future and the future of the eggs/hatchlings. Do we just leave her alone and hope for the best? Should we remove any of the eggs to give her a better chance of fledging say 3 instead of all 6? Will she make that decision herself? Perhaps she could find a replacement who will accept the eggs -- an SY Male? We didn't lose any last year -- it's very sad. Thanks for any advice.
Jacquie
Single Adult Female with 6 eggs
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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.
Did anybody have answers for you? Tough situation. My opinion: don't mess around in Purple Martin business. Leave them alone. Let nature take it's course. Believe it or not, the female is perfectly capable of raising a big clutch to fledgling age and beyond. A mate would help a lot, but she can do it. I have seen clutch size reduce when it's too hot and dry or raining too much. That is just part of it. But, I have always made the wrong decision when I interfered. So, I don't. I think it is illegal anyway. Best of luck to you. May you and your colony be blessed with a successful season.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Curtis Reil
- Posts: 119
- Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2013 7:51 pm
- Location: Alberta/Tofield
- Martin Colony History: I inherited this colony when I purchased the property from my Great Uncle. To the best of my knowledge, he had hosted Martins since 1977. Housing consisted of three twelve compartment units that he had built. Small compartments, round holes and no way to lower for managing. There were maybe 6-8 pairs here when we moved in. Through reading up on information provided by the PMCA and that provided to me by Bob Buskas, the decision was made to upgrade the housing. We are now fully switched over to North Star houses and hosted 58 pairs this season(2017). 60 compartments open for business and being so close to 100% occupancy, I believe we may expand housing offered next season. Expansion will continue contingent to high occupancy, being able to keep up on management and or until it starts to feel like work.
We had a single female raise chicks just fine two or three years ago. I'd have to look at the records but it was five or six chicks. Her mate was snatched by a hawk. She sure was busy but kept up just fine on her own. This was before I had them taking supplemental food as well so just goes to show. If the hunting is good I'd suspect she does her job as she would otherwise.
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Jacquie100
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2016 10:31 am
- Location: Spring Branch, TX
Thank you Laverne and Curtis! I appreciate your advice and it helped to confirm my own thinking that we should just "let it be" and help her anyway we can as she moves through the process of raising the brood. I'll keep mealworm in the bed and breakfast in case she wants to grab a quick bite for herself or the nestlings when its time. We'll Keep the nest mite free, dry, and cool in the heat. The rest will be up to her, but you are correct nature has prepared her for this burden and I'm sure she'll be up to the task. There is a SY male who has taken to sitting on her gourd porch all day. She just flies in and out around him, but he seems interested in guarding the gourd which I take as a positive sign. Haven't seen him enter other than to poke his head in, but she doesn't chase him off either... keeping my fingers crossed he has good intentions!
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Okie
- Posts: 541
- Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2016 3:26 pm
- Location: Claremore, OK
- Martin Colony History: 2016 Informed landlord now Have 2 pair returning from 2015 That is a miracle. Hoping for a very successful year, sparrow population on decline.
First house was plastic with crescent holes Had martins within a few days. Ignorant landlord gradually lost them
Then got Trio House and still lost most of them. Lots of sparrows
Looks like you have your answer but for whatever it's worth I'll put in my 2 cents.
Last year with only one pair, the female disappeared about a week before fledging 6. Papa fed them & fledged them all by himself & did a great job. Hope this helps you to know you have made the right decision.
Good luck
Last year with only one pair, the female disappeared about a week before fledging 6. Papa fed them & fledged them all by himself & did a great job. Hope this helps you to know you have made the right decision.
Good luck
Okie
PMCA member
2016 Started with 2 pair, 1 pair abandoned after HOSP destroyed eggs
1 pair= 6 eggs, 6 fledged
2017 1 pair so far, But they abandoned before nest complete for ?reason? Now Bridless and joined the Wannabes
2018 One pair ASY male SY female 5 eggs, 5 fledged
PMCA member
2016 Started with 2 pair, 1 pair abandoned after HOSP destroyed eggs
1 pair= 6 eggs, 6 fledged
2017 1 pair so far, But they abandoned before nest complete for ?reason? Now Bridless and joined the Wannabes
2018 One pair ASY male SY female 5 eggs, 5 fledged
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Jacquie100
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2016 10:31 am
- Location: Spring Branch, TX
Thank you for sharing Okie -- that's great!
Also bit of an update -- the SY is now entering the gourd and peeking out from the tunnel. I don't see any fighting and I don't see any eggs broken or laying around the rack so hopefully he is taking up where her first mate left off....
Jacquie
Also bit of an update -- the SY is now entering the gourd and peeking out from the tunnel. I don't see any fighting and I don't see any eggs broken or laying around the rack so hopefully he is taking up where her first mate left off....
Jacquie