Be unobtrusive as possible!

[C.C.Martins]

My only subbie pair has had a tough time during the drought. They have 3 chicks and not much food going in, they would not participate in supplemental food so didn't get any meal worms, June bugs or crickets.
Their gourd is lowest tier facing my porch so I can see right in especially close with a pair of Vortex binoculars.
Most of the day yesterday, and today saw two chicks looking out, no adults...im on vacation so am watching close.
Today its one chick no adults so I debated two things (putting them in another gourd during this dry sh%$ weather is not going to fly), that is taking them out one by one and feeding them or put crickets on the porch and tunnel.
I settled on the porch/tunnel. The other fledges are poking out of their gourds, figured it best. So got some well soaked crickets on a pool cleaning extension pole, put them in the cup and dumped them in the tunnel.
Watched, sure enough the chick came up and started eating the crickets.
Did that twice it ate them all, low and behold here come our wayward subbies with a fledge in tow! They tucked their fledge in and took off for food.
Just put a bunch more crickets up there, chick is at the front but not eating...here comes mom, she saw the crickets, grabbed them up, softened them a bit and fed them all.
This chick may not make it, one of three might. However lesson here (to me anyway) is dont go to the extreme right off extreme would be removing a chick, had I done that they may not return.
Ok back to putting crickets on porches!
Tom

[Martintown33]

Tom, that’s incredible how much success you’re having feeding your martins! Getting chicks to feed themselves on crickets placed on the porch… AMAZING!
Rob

[C.C.Martins]

Rob, it may help may not, have to try. A feed tray is the answer.
Good with the bad- watching them to check on those crickets and saw a male grackle picking at something under my neighbors gourd rack, sure enough its a very thin martin chick. Have it in an extra gourd in back, it ate a bunch initially now resting. Ill feed it before dark and take it with a full belly and a bag of crickets to a rehabber tomorrow. Not worth putting back, it will jump again. ill let the pros take it from here.

[Martintown33]

Very tough Tom,,, you’re doing all you can. The grackles gather in my neighbors yard and eat his german shepherds dog food.. last season, one landed on top of one of my houses, and was making a huge racket. I came inside and googled “what do grackles eat”… on their menu was baby birds.. i had baby Martin chicks inside the house he was standing on.. I took no chances.. grabbed my pellet gun and shot him. Felt kind of bad after, bcuz after I shot him, I realized he was way to big to get in thru an sreh and grab a chick, but my protective instincts kicked in before I thought about it..
Good luck with your noble efforts to save your martins,
Rob

[C.C.Martins]

They have learned to haunt the ground under the gourds for dropped food, yes on dog food Rob, im always washing it out of the bird bath, guess they like to soak it.
The male grackles are constantly chased from roof tops and wherever the martins can find them. They aren't tolerated. Must be a reason for it.
Take no chances, if it can find an opportunity it will exploit it. Martins come first!
Tom

[Martintown33]

Agree 100% Tom!
Rob

[John Evans]

Tom,

Common Grackles or Boat Tails? we have lots of both and they seem to co-exist with the martins? Now Fish Crows are a different story. This is the first year they started to raid our houses. lost several close to fledge young to them. They watch for fledglings to poke their heads out, our venture out on the porches and then make their move. Sad adults couldn't run them off fast enough..

John

[C.C.Martins]

Hi sir,
Boat tailed. This particular bird has an injured foot (off this week so I'm being a martin stalker), hes looking for anything. Iv never seen them mess with chicks or even on the houses but they are opportunists. If they learn a bad habbit.....
Sorry for the losses! These subbies learn some hard lessons at the chicks expense. Crows are very, very smart.
Hope your martins win sir.
Tom

[dsonyay]

Great success. Very good work !

[C.C.Martins]

Thanks, can only try. Went to check on the preserve birds, came home and think those two chicks finally fledged. Put the starving chick back in a the neighbors gourds in a nest with 1 chick like sized (a bit fatter), fed it all day yesterday, stuffed with crickets it really started to perk up, was calling to the other martins today. Didn't have the heart to take it to a rehabber, have not had much luck with survival rate in the past. If it jumps again, off it goes to the rehabber.

Easy to see what gourd it came from; its 4 nest mates not looking good though; damn drought. There no way they make it.

Iv a few more hold outs and thats it, thank God. 2022 close to being in the rear view mirror.