What’s going on with this?

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Otee977
Posts: 50
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2017 8:42 am
Location: Prescott Ar

Doing a nest check today I saw what appeared to be a dead Martin with wings spread open in back of compartment in a trendsetter 12 house , as I reached in to get it out it was alive , I got her out and released her to the air , looked back in and saw the purple male released him to the air , no eggs in the compartment, just wonder why they stayed in so long as they did after lowering house and looking in all the other compartments saw lots of pre egg laying activity in most of my 50 compartments today , only had one nest with eggs
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pmlover
Posts: 805
Joined: Thu Apr 04, 2013 3:30 pm
Location: OH/New Concord

This is normal I get one or two every time I lower my housing. They may be tired . Don't we all need a rest at times ?
Dick
ps just look close to see if there is any injury or they are caught on anything
2015 69 pairs 418 eggs 396 fledged
2019 I have 148 openings now
2016 100 pairs 600 babies fledged added another t-14 and have 126 openings now
2015 Jun 24 360 babies and 58 eggs also found one that had died
2017 632 babies 11died and 20 were killed by hawks
2015 74 pairs and 9 eggs 5/14
2010 3pairss
]JOINED PMCA JUNE 6,2018
2018 651 babies 5 hawk kills 11 floater kills 25 died in houses and 610 fledged

2014 80 pairs 283 babies 282 fledged one died
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lynnh
Posts: 391
Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2007 7:07 am
Location: Iowa, New Sharon

I have encountered this as well on different occasions . Especially during nesting season and when they're fighting for territory the female you seen with her wings spread out in the back of the compartment may have been fighting Or she was just startled by you opening the cavity.
2007 2 pair 8 fledged
2008 4 pair 18 fledged
2009 21 pair 87 fledged
2010 44 pair 174 fledged
2011 68 pair 244 fledged
2012 82 pair 364 fledged
2013 82 pair 359 fledged
2014 86 pair 415 fledged
2015 101 pair 427 fledged
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Otee977
Posts: 50
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2017 8:42 am
Location: Prescott Ar

Ok thanks for reply , they did take off in flight with no apparent injury from my hands to the air
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tor
Posts: 279
Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 4:35 pm
Location: Marlboro County, SC
Martin Colony History: 2025 Capacity: 96
72 Hor / Vert Troyers on 3 X Super-24's.
24 Hor Troyers on Gemini-24.

2026: We'll see.
2025: 92 pair - Fledge: 405
2024: 72 pair - Fledge: 356
2023: 72 pair - Fledge: 342
2022: 72 pair - Fledge: 322
2021: 71 pair - Fledge: 325
2020: 72 pair - Fledge: 336
2019: 70 pair - Fledge: 320
2018: 60 pair - Fledge: 297
2017: 36 pair - Fledge: 189
2016: 16 pair - Fledge: 79
2015: 4 pair - Fledge: 21

I see it all the time. One or two decide to stay when the racks are lowered. For some reason it's mostly females. (they work harder :grin: ).
Tor
Marlboro County
South Carolina

Purple Martins Of South Carolina
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paule
Posts: 135
Joined: Mon Nov 09, 2015 2:06 pm
Location: Central Iowa
Martin Colony History: 5 Modified Trios 10 Gourds and 1 B&B
2025 33 Pair 83 Fledged
2024 39 Pair 75 Fledged
2023 33 Pair 114 Fledged
2022 27 Pair 113 Fledged
2021 31 Pair 115 Fledged
2020 29 Pair 109 Fledged
2019 24 Pair 83 Fledged
2018 23 Pair 92 Fledged
2017 26 Pair 105 Fledged
2016 21 Pair 99 Fledged
2015 15 Pair 59 Fledged
2014 18 Pair 40 Fledged
2013 16 Pair 30 Fledged
2012 10 Pair 30 Fledged
Started in late 1980's

Otee977,
I have two hens that take the ride down and back up when they have eggs. This year I noticed one hen doing this and no eggs yet. As far as the spread wings, this sounds like bird behavior of being overheated. This could be from fighting. I used to see this after capturing a caged bird or sometimes from blowing a warm breath on them they would spread their wings.
Have a great year!
Paul
Project MartinWatch participants and supplemental feeding is provided. I also add heat to housing when needed.
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