My babies fledged on Monday. I watched them almost continually from Saturday until Monday when I had to run out for a few hours, of course many were flying around when we got home. They were irradic and seemed unsteady in their flight but they all seemed to do just fine. A few landed on a railing on the porch and many were in the trees. One little one landed right on the screen of the garage window. We thought maybe he was caught, carefully approached him; the elders were having a fit. We got within approx. 4ft from him and he took off. What a relief. I guess they will be leaving soon, I really hate to see them go. Already i can't wait until next year. The silence will be deafening.
Jayne
Fledgling, Martins at dusk
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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.
Hi Jayne.
Thanks for sharing your pictures. They're great! I love the little one hanging on the screen. It is a treat to get to see them close up - they are so-o-o beautiful. Every season, I have at least one who gets himself into such a predicament that I must rescue him.
Did your entire colony fledge at one time? Our first nest fledged on June 5, the last on July 18. That's a pretty good spread among 43 pair. You're well on your way to a sizeable colony. Next year should be even more exciting.
Keep up the good work and best wishes for many successful seasons in the future.
Thanks for sharing your pictures. They're great! I love the little one hanging on the screen. It is a treat to get to see them close up - they are so-o-o beautiful. Every season, I have at least one who gets himself into such a predicament that I must rescue him.
Did your entire colony fledge at one time? Our first nest fledged on June 5, the last on July 18. That's a pretty good spread among 43 pair. You're well on your way to a sizeable colony. Next year should be even more exciting.
Keep up the good work and best wishes for many successful seasons in the future.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
Most people think that the fledging time is the cause of most concern! They land anywhere, even on the cable that holds up the house.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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No my fledglings did not all fledge at once, however, within a few days of each other. The family I kept my camera on steadily fledged in a few hours, there always seems to be a straggler or two. We only had four breeding pair. We have not been at this very long, this is our forth year. Had none the first two years, then steadily we get a few more each following year. I have a lot of Martins here on and off but only know they don't all breed every year or there are single ones among the group. Although the last fledged Monday we still have several still hanging out at the gourds, the young seem clumsy trying to enter the grouds, they miss and hang on to each other trying to get in; it's really funny to see. The numbers are dwindling. I hope to see them again on August 6th at the NC roost site. They are here for only such a short time, its never enough. I sighted my first Martins on March 15th, they fledged July 16th through 21st - such a short time.
I noticed that points south of here fledged even earlier, I thought they would have a longer season because they arrive so much earlier but that doesn't seem so. Does everyone have generally 4 months with these beauties?
I must have three hundred pictures just this year; hopefully they will get me through until they come back next spring.
Jayne
I noticed that points south of here fledged even earlier, I thought they would have a longer season because they arrive so much earlier but that doesn't seem so. Does everyone have generally 4 months with these beauties?
I must have three hundred pictures just this year; hopefully they will get me through until they come back next spring.
Jayne
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Hi neighbor,
Ours fledged last week. All are gone. We only had the one pair this year, our first in 4 years. Three babies. I had one baby get knocked off the porch of the Trio and after holding him a while, I put him back up there. The next day, all were gone. Since we are only about a mile from y'all, as the crow or martin flys, mine might have come visiting. Very quiet out back these days. Last week prior to that, I had no less than 50 flying overhead and the next day about 25 were buzzing the trio. I took some movies and alot of pics.
Jim
Ours fledged last week. All are gone. We only had the one pair this year, our first in 4 years. Three babies. I had one baby get knocked off the porch of the Trio and after holding him a while, I put him back up there. The next day, all were gone. Since we are only about a mile from y'all, as the crow or martin flys, mine might have come visiting. Very quiet out back these days. Last week prior to that, I had no less than 50 flying overhead and the next day about 25 were buzzing the trio. I took some movies and alot of pics.
Jim
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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.
Yes, Jayne... the season is too short...
My first returning birds this season arrived Feb. 12. So, we enjoyed a full five months with Purple Martins in the yard this season. 4-1/2 months is more normal for us.
As the returning birds age, they return a little bit earlier each season. This continues until they finally reach an absolute earliest and you can count on them to show up within a few days of that date every year.
I hope you continue to enjoy many wonderful seasons in your future.
My first returning birds this season arrived Feb. 12. So, we enjoyed a full five months with Purple Martins in the yard this season. 4-1/2 months is more normal for us.
As the returning birds age, they return a little bit earlier each season. This continues until they finally reach an absolute earliest and you can count on them to show up within a few days of that date every year.
I hope you continue to enjoy many wonderful seasons in your future.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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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.
Jim Y. wrote:one pair this year, our first in 4 years. Three babies. I had one baby get knocked off the porch of the Trio and after holding him a while, I put him back up there.
I love holding baby martins - they are so precious - such a joy! I'm glad you got to hold one before they fledged...
Congratulations, Jim, on the start of your new colony. Best wishes to you for many more martins in your future!
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Guest
Jayne,
Greetings from a neighbor to the south...Do you know where the NC roost site is? I would love to know!
Thanks,
Jane
Greetings from a neighbor to the south...Do you know where the NC roost site is? I would love to know!
Thanks,
Jane
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Jane,
I can't wait for the Martin Festival on the 6th, the site is at Mann's Harbor in Manteo. I can't give you directions because I have not been there in the past, however, I do know you get into Manteo and go towards Roanoke Island. I guess they figure the 6th because most or all of the Martins have gathered by then. I can't wait. I had planned to go last year but for health reasons I couldn't.
Good luck with your site next year. Missing them already.
Jayne
I can't wait for the Martin Festival on the 6th, the site is at Mann's Harbor in Manteo. I can't give you directions because I have not been there in the past, however, I do know you get into Manteo and go towards Roanoke Island. I guess they figure the 6th because most or all of the Martins have gathered by then. I can't wait. I had planned to go last year but for health reasons I couldn't.
Good luck with your site next year. Missing them already.
Jayne
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Jim Y.
Maybe we do exchange Martins from time to time, I know they go great distances to hunt. I don't think I ever had fifty Martins circling but sometimes I have way more than the usual ones.
I still have some hanging around, going in and out of the gourds/house. I want to get outriggers to put on the gourds so there is more space for perching, sometimes it gets crowded up there and there is more fighting than usual.
I only held one Martin in my hands and that was last year, we had a baby tangled in nesting material in the house, he was flailing and trying to take off, we lowered the house and got him free, we weren't sure he could fly, didn't know if he was weak or too tired. We held him a few momehts and set him on the ground, he took off immediately. The adults were having a fit, they seemed to guide him when he did take off. It was the greatest feeling having saved his life. My husband and I just stood there and cried.
Good luck next year. I have four breeding pairs and it has taken me four years to attract that many; hopefully next year I will get even more.
Jayne
Maybe we do exchange Martins from time to time, I know they go great distances to hunt. I don't think I ever had fifty Martins circling but sometimes I have way more than the usual ones.
I still have some hanging around, going in and out of the gourds/house. I want to get outriggers to put on the gourds so there is more space for perching, sometimes it gets crowded up there and there is more fighting than usual.
I only held one Martin in my hands and that was last year, we had a baby tangled in nesting material in the house, he was flailing and trying to take off, we lowered the house and got him free, we weren't sure he could fly, didn't know if he was weak or too tired. We held him a few momehts and set him on the ground, he took off immediately. The adults were having a fit, they seemed to guide him when he did take off. It was the greatest feeling having saved his life. My husband and I just stood there and cried.
Good luck next year. I have four breeding pairs and it has taken me four years to attract that many; hopefully next year I will get even more.
Jayne
FYI See: www.purplemartinroost.com for detailed maps and schedules.
I'm a "nestcamaholic" Is 18 hours a day a bad thing? (I have 2 this year, luckily I have 2 eyes!)
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We are going to put up more housing before the next season. I just got to try to figure out all the choices. It is mind boggling when I read posts about different types of houses and types of gourds. So many choices!!!, so little time!! I might try to enlarge the trio rooms but it is such a shame to start cutting on a perfectly good house. I am definetely going to get rid of those cheezy gourds I got last year. The 2 piece plastic ones on a telescoping pole. No access holes other than the round entrance. Nest changes are impossible or maybe I should say impractible.
Luckily my Wife shares my interest in these awesome birds and that makes everything easy. We saw some PM out hunting last night and was thinking they might be ours. No indication they were though.
Luckily my Wife shares my interest in these awesome birds and that makes everything easy. We saw some PM out hunting last night and was thinking they might be ours. No indication they were though.
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Thank you Laverne, sorry for the late response but have been very busy getting ready for a camping trip and have not read much on here.