I think I got one that's steril!
My female has been nest building for three weeks, and not an egg yet! Is it normal for it to take that long? When she started building the first morning here I thought, this pair is really down to business. Green leaves during the first week (and every day after that) but no laying at all.
Giving her credit, she may be smarter than tha avrage bird, as my Blue bird babies died Thursday at 3 days old. I guess from the cold, there wasn't a mark on them.
G T
The same thing happened to me last year. A pair stayed for a month. They spent 2 weeks just bulldog a mud dam and never laid eggs.
I hope that doesn't happen for you, its a real bummer. Hopefully they're just waiting on warm weather to stay.
2013, back in the game with a pair at my satelite colony that has eggs due to hatch around July 7th
Tony don't worry! I've got some nests a month old and still empty. Some just lay later. I have had empty nests before and I watched every day to make sure she was still around, she never laid an egg. So I don't doubt some could be infertile.
I have been following your progress with great interest this season! I truly wish you success in starting your colony.
This is my third year trying to start. I have an ASY pair that has been at my site for a month and have been nest building off and on for about a week. I am eagerly awaiting the mother to start laying. This year's weather has been so variable with cold snaps, that it has really slowed them down. They seem to be pretty wise about the weather. This is a very anxious time... I feel very blessed to have gotten this far.
Last edited by Chuck4 on Mon May 13, 2013 9:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
Thank you all,
At least I know it does happen. Not that I want it to happen THIS year!
I did observe the yum yum bouncy bouncy going on this morning so maybe she's been waiting on him.
Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.
I feel very blessed to have gotten this far.