How do you feed the by hand or with tweezers. And what if the refuse to open there mouth.

I have a couple young birds that will not fledge and the parents are no longer coming around. This gourd had 6 guy to begin with one died 3 fledged and these 2 just won’t even try. What to do?? On another note it appears that there is a small roost starting to develop on the tower and power lines be...

I would think it to be snakes I don’t think raccoon could reach that far into the cavities especially with the Owl Guards on the front they would not be able to get their shoulders past the guards. Also the snake would leave very little evidence so to the fact that they would be able to get complete...

I kind of see a point to both ways of doing it but it’s all up to the individual how much they want to interfere with with Mother Nature. I mean if you really think about it they have managed to take care of them self’s form thousands of years. The only real thing that they need from us is what we h...

Thanks Tom. It’s took almost 5 years to get here but I think I’ve made it. Hopefully they will all return next year and bring a few more with them. I have room to grow with 30 cavities. I also have 4 more racks and around 70 more gourds. Hopefully one day I’ll get so many that I’ll have to start put...

I did a quick nest check this morning just before the storms move in. I found that out of the 43 eggs I had the are now 28 babies in varying ages. I have a couple nest where there are just 2 eggs and they are very brown and dirty looking. Is that normal or are they bad eggs. JHCox Heiskell Tennessee...

I’ve read several times on the forum that if you have 10 or more pair a martins you are now an established colony. I have reached my 10 pair of Martins and still had nest building going on. But my question is for next year do I still have to play the Dawn song all the time to attract the Martin’s in...

I didn’t nest check number six or seven today We appear to still be growing we have between 20 and 25 birds. We have 10 nests in different stages some have 2 or 3 most have 5 one of them has 6 eggs. But three of them this morning have new babies. We still have some birds bringing in green leaves so ...

Did another nest check on Sunday June 2nd we are up to 8 nest with eggs from 3 to 6 eggs. Still have several nest that have new green leaves in them. Is it a good assumption that I have at least 8 pair or do you think that maybe I have some males that a breading multiple females and helping build mu...

Thanks guys I hope it continues to grow a little this year. I have a few still building nest so maybe. Hopefully they will fledge all of them and theses pairs will return next year with a few more in tow. I have heard several people saying that your colony is confirmed if you get 10 or more nesting ...

Well I did another nest check today and good news so far I have grown from 1 nesting pair last year. To 5 so far this year 4 with 5 eggs and 1 with 6 eggs and several more nest that are getting green leaves placed in them so maybe we will get a few more. It’s hard to count how many birds I have but ...

Congratulations FL Mike on your first Martin are you playing the Dawn song in the mornings and evenings to help him call in more martins. Good luck I hope you get more Martins soon.

Thanks guys for your assistance. And I agree 7 days seems to long to wait. Its like trying to sleep till 8 or 10 am on Christmas Day when you were a kid.

I have now done 4 nest checks several with green leaves. 2 of the nest have eggs One has 1 egg one has 3. So how often should you do nest check or does it even matter.

Brent you must live really far south to already have chicks that are ready to fledge.

Did my 3rd nest check of the year and found 1 egg and several more with green leaves in them. I still have a total of 14 birds now more males than females. But I’ll check one day next week and hopefully find a few more eggs in multiple gourds. Have a great year all.

Hey beach42 he may just be stilling nest materials for his nest. I have a SY female that is doing the same thing but fortunately for me So far I don’t have many eggs. And she hasn’t broken any yet.

Is it common to have several more SY males than females? And is it common for PM to take nesting material from another nesting pairs compartment. I have one female that is taking nesting material from several other gourds. Almost as fast as the other birds can bring it in. JHCox Heiskell Tennessee

I seem to have way more nest building activity than I have actual Martins. Is that normal for them to build more than one nest?? I have had new green leaves for over a week. When should I expect to see some eggs??

Hey buckdog122 it sure is exciting to get up in the morning and see them zipping around. I think I’m up to 12 or 14 now and the more you get the better it is to sit and watch them.