Some Martins Are Really Lousy Nest Builders

[Bird Brain]

Got 33 eggs so far. Some martins build a decent nest. You can see the effort. It seems the older martins build better nests than the younger ones. Some of my younger martins don't build a nest at all. They just part the pine needles that were already there and lay eggs directly on the plastic floor of a troyer gourd. There is literally nothing between the egg and the plastic floor of the gourd. Looks irresponsible to me. Almost like they don't care if the egg breaks. Is this normal?

[C.C.Martins]

Its inexperience. Its their first time nesting, so I'd imagine they are very surprised when the eggs arrive.

They don't know yet to stay around the cavity more when eggs are present, nor with chicks.

You could carefully add just a bit of material between the eggs and gourd wall.

[Martintown33]

As Tom said, it’s inexperience… in those cases, I take the eggs out.. I basically build a bowl shaped nests for them, with pine needles… or cover the bare area, with cut pine needles and then put the eggs in the bowl, of the nest.. add a few oak leaves and you’re good to go.. they will build better next year..
Good luck,
Rob

[Bird Brain]

Thanks. I Had no idea that I had to assist rookie birds with nest building as well. I'll fix em up on the next nest check. Hopefully the eggs won't be broken by then.