Purple Martin Forum

You're such a good mama Mary! They'll be grown and gone before long.

Peggy

Know what you mean about the hawks. We had no real problem here until fledging got started, then it was several times day. It's slacked off now that most have fledged.

Those snakes just keep coming, don't they!

Your season is going very well!!! Silly martins, no telling why he went into the trap.

Peggy

On 7-4 I found a nest of 4 and I have been watching them feed. Last night I spotted a adult male go into another gourd with a dragonfly. I checked today and there is 1 fat chick. Both of these gourds fledged before 6-22. Since they sneaked up on me I don't know if they are 2nd broods or not. Poor fe...

Those are some mighty big snakes!!

Amazing! Thanks for sharing Kent.

Peggy

Tammy it's not uncommon. Do you have records? Did you notice that they never left after fledging the first brood. If you know they never left then its a second brood. It could be that another pair took over but that would usually happen when there are no other compartments to use. I have one second ...

I was at Lowes yesterday looking at insulation. I found a roll of the reflective stuff for just $17. It is soft and pliable so it can be shaped and sewed, stapled, taped or whatever. During the off season I am going to sew up some gourd covers. Couldn't be too hard and they'll be easy to store. Luck...

Laura sorry about the young one. I assume they were fledging age since one flew off. There's no way to know what happened. He probably wasn't strong enough to fly. Were the parents still feeding?

Putting anything directly on the birds is not suggested. The sevin in the nest will take care of the mites, no need to do anything else!

Pretty bird! I like the mask.

Louise thanks for confirming what I'm seeing. Unless I find another new nest they'll be here several weeks after everybody is usually gone. Hope they stay with it.

Peggy

I don't recall ever having a 2nd nest where the 5 fledges are still coming back to the gourd. The 1st brood fledged 5-31 and I found a new egg on 6-10. These are older adults that returned in Feb. The eggs should hatch 6-29. I've seen the fledges come and go all day long. They come in for the night ...

Didn't that just make your day!!!! Glad you got them both.

Peggy

Glad to see you are OK, Diane. Take it easy!

I'd put them back since you know they are new. Sometime they get moved around for a number of possible reasons. Subbies can be a little reckless!

That would be normal. Now the ASY will be occupied guarding the nest.

James it comes with the territory. It can be hard sometimes but it's all worth it. Some young ones fly good and some are just like rocks.

Glad everything else is going well.

Peggy

I have an SY pair with no eggs either. Can't decide if someone is tossing the eggs out or what. She's still got time but I'd rather not have another July/August nest.

Very nice! What type house is that?

Peggy