Cracked Corn - learn something new everyday

[Jones4381]

I didn't expect to see what I just saw and haven't seen it in my 4 years of Martining. I threw down 5 or 6 cups of cracked corn in the backyard near some fruit trees in bearing spots and low and behold about 10+ martins have been landing on the ground picking up some cracked corn in these spots...or at least that's what it appears to be. This was intended for the doves that are nesting and fairly plentiful around the property. I haven't read anything on this on the forum or seen it before. Has anyone else seen this behavior? Guess I will know what to do if bad weather occurs again...throw out some more cracked corn.

[Conrad Baker]

That's a new one on me. I thought they only ate bugs and insects.

[SSMartin]

I have a dirt pile with small rocks in it. At times several martins will land on it and appear to be eating the small stones. I have also observed similar behavior on my asphalt millings drive. Maybe they are gathering grit for their digestion or mineral needs?

Small hard pieces of corn may be viewed in a similar manner as small stones. Just a theory

[Unk Bond]

Hello
I would think crack corn would draw in A lot of sparrows [ Ltaer

[Jones4381]

yeah, I can't say for certain other than about 15 were hovering and pecking where I threw the cracked corn. I have oyster shell on a pole that they typically get for digestion. It would be ironic if they were getting grit as they were definately in the 5 foot area with no grass doing whatever they were doing. Don't have any sparrows but good point, it certainly could bring em in....The doves, deer, crows, love it....and now maybe the Martins???....or maybe they were using in place of the oyster....questions questions. Nest check showed 72 eggs and 62 babies from day 1 to guessing day 14 as some nest had pin feathers.....Take care and thanks for any other thoughts on this unusual observation.

[C.C.Martins]

Well I wonder what they were after. Its a puzzle, have oyster shells available, yet down amongst the corn. They seem to be follow the leader types, wonder if one or two curious ones drew in a crowd.

[Jones4381]

Well I wonder what they were after. Its a puzzle, have oyster shells available, yet down amongst the corn. They seem to be follow the leader types, wonder if one or two curious ones drew in a crowd.

All of what everyone is saying makes sense...I can say 5-6 were on the ground (awkward looking) with about 6 or so hovering above. 3 hours later I get a text from wife 8-10 there again on the ground walking around. 1 hour after that female got attacked by SY male for breeding while she was on the ground...etc etc... They were definitely in the spot where I scattered a few solo cups of it on the patch grass/dirt area in the fruit tree area intended for the doves. (never ever been there before...they had been in the dirt in the garden gathering nesting materials a month earlier...only time I ever saw them on the ground on purpose.)
Doves, Cardinals, and other birds eating up this afternoon as I work on my martinproject report and watch the nest with babies recorded on my phone today. I liked that idea whoever it was mentioning they take pictures inside then go back and review.

If i witness it again I'll snap a few photo's...90% of it is gone from 2 evenings ago. Don't really like seeing em like that but hey what's someone to do if they want scratch around on the ground for whatever the reason. I can say it sure wasn't grass gathering for nest building at least...or maybe they were...got quite a few pair still leaf gathering in the pear tree 10 feet from that spot. Surely they weren't eating cracked corn...going crazy up here...thanks for the more plausible explanations everyone.

[Martintown33]

Maybe it’s possible the martins were eating insects that were eating the corn? Very interesting for sure…
Rob

[Jones4381]

Maybe it’s possible the martins were eating insects that were eating the corn? Very interesting for sure…
Rob

good point...I did take down an old almost dead apple tree 3 months ago...definitely possibility there. Apple was about 5-6 away from that spot and corn was spread in and around old stump to the ground too. Could have been some termites or something underground...good thought Rob.

[Jones4381]

After more thorough observation this morning, I think I figured it out...Did a nest check yesterday and noticed I still have quite a few pairs in leaf gathering for nesting. Early this Am their were 5 birds on the ground in the same spot but watched further and 1 pair went to a nest that still has no eggs after 30 minutes of viewing and them returning to the ground. It appears they are gathering 'ground ivy' or other name's creeping charlie, run away robin, anyway attached a few photos. At least this helped me identify another wild flower and haven't seen it in any nest yet but expecting too on gourd 18 next go around.

I see now how people saw mermaids and other things because our eye's and mind's can play tricks on us. Ironic these late nesters found a good spot to gather some nesting material and excited that more eggs to come I suppose but do feel a little foolish after original post but I was just excited with all the babies, eggs, and more to come. Peace,...mystery solved I believe.

After Tom pointed out they do follow and swarm over their colleagues on the ground it makes sense now that a bunch of the look a loos were hovering and joining their comrades on the ground

[C.C.Martins]

Well we know! Iv heard of shrimp being used in a pinch, had my hopes up...6k superworms costs a ton more than a bag of cracked corn lol.